Ball python suddenly trying to escape

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice. My pet Talia has been eating (large rats) just fine, and as of last week is suddenly spending all night trying to get out of her tank. I'm wondering what could be causing it.

She's in a 31x12 long tank with the warm side at 90 and cool side at 85. She does only have one hide, but she's always been fine with just one. I'm ordering another one now just in case.

Only recent changes are the normal fall drops in temp, and I've noticed she doesn't quite fit in her hide anymore (her head sticks out)

She sleeps through the day with no problem but spends all night moving quickly around the tank and poking at the edges.

Any ideas?


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From what I know, this usually either means 1. hungry or 2. temps/humidity/some husbandry are off.

If you know she's eating the correct sized prey, what are you using to measure your surface and ambient temps? Is it with a temp gun + digital hygrometer/thermometer?

Humidity is at 70% (that's just how humid it is in my room) and she has refused her last 2 rats (2 weeks without eating) she's also currently on plush paper towel for substrate and she seemed to really like that. Thanks for the input! I'm hoping the second/bigger hide will help


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I'm using a digital thermometer with a remote sensor, no temp gun though. Maybe hide is too hot?


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Has anything changed in your activity? Its possible that you may just now be noticing that the snake moves around at night because you are up at night more. Snakes move around a lot more than we realize throughout the day (even ball pythons) because we aren't staring at them 24/7.

Either way having appropriate sized hide is always important so I would fix that situation ASAP.

Been using that for the last two years with no problem though :?


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ETA: Ahh, editing my comment again- I didn't see the new posts yet.

An infrared temp gun would be a good thing to invest in. Mine was just around $15.

Also, she could just be finally hungry after 2 weeks of not eating. :P

Good point on the hides. I tend to glance at her every 10 minutes or so from 5 to midnight so I'm pretty aware of her mannerisms. The hide will be here by next Wednesday, I'm just a paranoid mama and want to make sure she's ok. Her skin looks fine, nice pink mouth and good breathing so idk.


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I offered a rat yesterday but I guess she was still too fussy; she didn't even come near it and she always strikes very quickly


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Also thanks to both of you for your input!


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i think that is a bit high for the cool side.

I've always wondered this: what are the optimal temps for ball pythons? Also if it's a temp issue, would she be wandering during the day or just at night? So far she sleeps just fine all day, it's just nighttime she gets super rowdy

Edit: brought the temps down to 89 hot/ 80 cool, she's still pokey.

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If it's just the hides, I just want to make sure she'll be ok until next week when I get the new one.


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Hey everyone I'm back!

So, new hide came and she refuses to go in it. I took it out and she seemed to calm down. She ate and peed and chilled out for a while. Now she's back at it. Roaming day and night and hardly stopping. Temps are 90 hot side, 83 cool side. Humidity is at 40%. I've tried the following things over the last week.

2 hides
1 hide
raising temp
lowering temp
feeding (adult rat, refused)
bathing (she pooped but didn't stop roaming)
covering all sides with black paper
leaving glass exposed
checking for mites (negative)
checking for RI (breathing is good, pink mouth)

only things left I can think of is the tank is too small (she's a little over 3 feet and about 2 lbs I think) she's currently in a 20 gallon long that she's been in since she was a baby.

Other thing is the lamp is too bright and bothering her cycle, but I've used these lamps before without her acting up.

Any help/advice/input is GREATLY appreciated.