My baby Ball Python is acting abnormally. Help!

Hi, I'm new to this site. About 2 weeks ago I got a baby normal ball python. This morning I woke up to her freaking out and quickly slithering in an abnormal violent fashion through her tank. From one shelter that is on the cool side to the other shelter on the warm side while consistently burying her head into the dirt.

She has yet to shed the skin on her head and eye caps. I've fed her about once a week. At the reptile store, where I got her, they were feeding her pinkies. Once I got her, I started feeding her fuzzy mice from PetCo. Most recent feeding was last night. Last night, before feeding, I moved her from a 5.5 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank and also added a small heat pad under her cave on the warm side. The temperature is telling me it's about 85 degrees with about 50% humidity. I'm also using coconut fiber as the soil.

Can anyone help me in understanding what is going on and/or what I should do? This is her first time doing this.

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Originally Posted by Gentlemen

Hi, I'm new to this site. About 2 weeks ago I got a baby normal ball python. This morning I woke up to her freaking out and quickly slithering in an abnormal fashion through her tank. From one shelter That is on the cool side to the other shelter on the warm side would consistently bury her head into the dirt.

She has yet to shed he skin on her head or eye caps. I've fed her about once a week. At the reptile store, where I got her they we feeding her pinkies. Once I got her I started feeding her fuzzy mice from PetCo. I've recently, last night, moved her from a 5.5 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank and also added a small heat pad under her cave on the warm side. The temperature is telling me it's about 80 degrees with about 50% humidity and I'm using coconut fiber as the soil.

Can anyone help me in understanding what is going on and/or what I should do? This is her first time doing this.

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I'm not sure if I'm wrong but, she could just be exploring the tank getting a feel for her new surroundings.


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But then what do you mean when you say abnormally?


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Originally Posted by Gentlemen

Hi, I'm new to this site. About 2 weeks ago I got a baby normal ball python. This morning I woke up to her freaking out and quickly slithering in an abnormal violent fashion through her tank. From one shelter that is on the cool side to the other shelter on the warm side while consistently burying her head into the dirt.

She has yet to shed the skin on her head and eye caps. I've fed her about once a week. At the reptile store, where I got her, they were feeding her pinkies. Once I got her, I started feeding her fuzzy mice from PetCo. Most recent feeding was last night. Last night, before feeding, I moved her from a 5.5 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank and also added a small heat pad under her cave on the warm side. The temperature is telling me it's about 85 degrees with about 50% humidity. I'm also using coconut fiber as the soil.

Can anyone help me in understanding what is going on and/or what I should do? This is her first time doing this.

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first of all, pinky/fuzzy mice are way too small for the average baby beep; my 60g corn snake eats mice pinkies. how much does she weigh?

also, as others have asked, a more thorough description of the behavior will help us help you. frantic movements and trying to burrow could be a sign of insecurity; what are your hides like? also, what are your temps and humidity? how are you measuring them?

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Originally Posted by Gentlemen

Last night, before feeding, I moved her from a 5.5 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank and also added a small heat pad under her cave on the warm side. The temperature is telling me it's about 85 degrees with about 50% humidity.

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1) Do you have a thermostat regulating the UTH so it does not overheat and burn your snake? Unregulated they can get up to 125*F.

2) Where exactly are you measuring the temperature?

3) What kind of thermometer are you using to measure the temperature?

After recent/inadequate shed, might be rubbing against stuff and burrowing to remove... but you say "violent" which throws me off... bring the humidity up, 50% is not enough (for shed)

New here too btw, best of luck

We could do with full set up details ....

My first thought is that 85F isn't warm enough for the warm hide but the rubbing and burying head suggests that it's trying to remove the old shed and eye caps ... There a ways to help that though ....first thing I'd do is give the Viv a couple of good sprays now and later on and with a bit of luck it may be able to rub the skin off itself overnight .


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I'm not an expert but with her been in a new set up she could be a bit stressed specially when she was fed last night then moved into a new surrounding the day after you should normally leave them alone for 2 days after feeding mine was so calm in the shop and turned really aggressive hissing and striking out when I brought him home it took just under a month to become tame again my steps where
1. Left him for a full weak to get used to his new surroundings he was out and about all over his set up checking everything out
2. I fed him his first pinky then left him for two full days
3. After two full days I kept putting my hands in his set up for 5 mins a time not moving them about 4 times a day just so he could get used to my sent I even put some gloves in his set up that I ware the times I wasn't home I did this for 4 days straight
4. He was starting to come out at night and sit about around his set up I'd put my hands in slowly then just rest my hands on him but not picking him up to get used to contact with me I did this for another 4 days I did this only when he was out of his hide on his own choice
5. After this I started picking him up and removing him from his set up for upto 10 mins at a time for a full week the first two days he did strike out at some point of holding him but I think it was down to too fast of movement when I still fed him weekly during his time and left him for two days but he stage when I was just placing my hands in his set up I still did this after feeding because he was in his hide
6. A happy ending there was no more hissing or striking and he was the humble ball python that they are known for he stopped balling up as much and now explores around my body try these steps if you've had no luck as they worked for me


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During the stages I was picking him up and he was striking out I used this method in this youtube video and it worked with great and immediate success here is the link
https://youtu.be/S7DQssbM0uk

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Have you any picture of her I would like to see her lol

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

We could do with full set up details ....

My first thought is that 85F isn't warm enough for the warm hide but the rubbing and burying head suggests that it's trying to remove the old shed and eye caps ... There a ways to help that though ....first thing I'd do is give the Viv a couple of good sprays now and later on and with a bit of luck it may be able to rub the skin off itself overnight .


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What do you consider warm enough for the warm side I try to keep mine between 86-90 and it stays between 88-90 usually then I have the uth which I need to buy a thermometer for that

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She was running into different things in the tank. Her eyes are still milky so I was thinking with a new set up of the tank she didn't know what was where?

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Originally Posted by Gentlemen

She was running into different things in the tank. Her eyes are still milky so I was thinking with a new set up of the tank she didn't know what was where?

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Milky like she's about to shed?


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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

also, as others have asked, a more thorough description of the behavior will help us help you. frantic movements and trying to burrow could be a sign of insecurity; what are your hides like? also, what are your temps and humidity? how are you measuring them?

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I have a cave on the warm side and a hiding hut on the cool side. there is also foliage and wooden hut from zoo med.

I don't know how much she weighs.

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Originally Posted by imhumpty

What do you consider warm enough for the warm side I try to keep mine between 86-90 and it stays between 88-90 usually then I have the uth which I need to buy a thermometer for that

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No, you need a thermostat for it. A thermostat is not a thermometer. A thermostat regulates a heater or air conditioner so it stays at a constant temperature, a thermometer measures temperature.

If you do not have a thermostat on your UTH then go unplug it before your snake gets burned.

She shed but shes having a difficult time shedding on her head/eye caps

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Originally Posted by bcr229

No, you need a thermostat for it. A thermostat is not a thermometer. A thermostat regulates a heater or air conditioner so it stays at a constant temperature, a thermometer measures temperature.

If you do not have a thermostat on your UTH then go unplug it before your snake gets burned.

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Yeah that's what I meant lol but no I don't currently have one I found out on a different thread I need one and I ordered it from Amazon.


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Originally Posted by Gentlemen

She shed but shes having a difficult time shedding on her head/eye caps

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I wonder how well that one spray works for when shed is left on snakes I forgot what it is called but I've heard it works. I also read people will put their snake in a tank of water and let them stay in there for 20-30 minutes


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

No, you need a thermostat for it. A thermostat is not a thermometer. A thermostat regulates a heater or air conditioner so it stays at a constant temperature, a thermometer measures temperature.

If you do not have a thermostat on your UTH then go unplug it before your snake gets burned.

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What would you recommend I set the temp for the thermostat on the UTH


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I dont have a thermostat so I unplugged the UTH.

I start by setting the thermostat to 90*F and I use an IR point thermometer or temperature gun to monitor the temperature of the floor of the enclosure over the UTH. You want the floor to be 90*F so just bump the thermostat up or down as needed.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I start by setting the thermostat to 90*F and I use an IR point thermometer or temperature gun to monitor the temperature of the floor of the enclosure over the UTH. You want the floor to be 90*F so just bump the thermostat up or down as needed.

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Okay I didn't know that I needed one before but I have been looking into them and that's why I ordered it but good to know now


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