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  • 02-22-2018, 12:48 AM
    Masen136
    Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Hello, I am very new to ball pythons and this is my first one. And Iv noticed every night the second I turn off his day lights and turn on the night ones he tried to push the top off his cage for atleast 2 hours straight then will stop, and sometimes in middle of night I’ll hear him trying again. I have owned him for 2 weeks, looks very healthy. But has yet to eat. I have offered him food 2 times a week so 4 times total now and still not the slightest interest in the dead rat. Please help!
    I have also noticed when he is trying to ecscape he makes a weird wheezing sound, I do not this this is a RI. Because this only will happen when he seems stressed trying to escape. I’ve listened to him while he is calm and hear nothing. But second he seems stressed starts wheezing. I know this isn’t like 3 questions but if someone could help I would greatly appreciate it. 1 years old, regular bp.
    SETUP
    20 gallon tank
    95 basking, 95 heated floor(HOTSIDE)
    80 degrees throughout whole (COLDSIDE)
    water bowl on both hot and cold side
    hides on both hot and cold sides
    perfect humidity
  • 02-22-2018, 12:51 AM
    Sunnieskys
    95 is to hot. Decrease to 90 tops.

    What Is your humidity? We dont know what perfect is unless we get an actual # Lol
  • 02-22-2018, 01:11 AM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    62 percent humidity is what it’s saying at the moment. Never goes above 65 never bellow 55

    - - - Updated - - -

    62 percent humidity is what it’s saying at the moment. Never goes above 65 never bellow 55
  • 02-22-2018, 09:24 AM
    Godzilla78
    Too hot!
  • 02-22-2018, 09:31 AM
    MD_Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Could you post a picture of your setup? When they usually don't eat at a younger age it's usually husbandry related. I'd stop offering food for a week and ask whoever you got it from what they fed it before you got it and give it that before trying to switch. Continuing to offer food can be stressful and actually counter productive.
  • 02-22-2018, 09:34 AM
    Booper
    Can you post a picture of your set up? Along with being too hot (have you got your heat on a stat? How are you measuring the temps?) the hides might be inadequate which will be stressing your ball out.
  • 02-22-2018, 10:23 AM
    CALM Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    This is normal nighttime behavior. When I used tanks they did the same. Now that they have PVC enclosures they go all over and climb on the things ive provided. They are Nocturnal. If this happened during the day then id say stressed, nighttime is snake business.
    Hot Spot is to hot. They prefer 88/89. The norm of 88-91 is a min and max because sometimes when temps drop or heat up depending on the weather our heating devices fluctuate.. 91 is a Max.
    This is what I see any night i get up from 9pm till 5am. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2af343a618.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c03419f144.jpg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 10:40 AM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
  • 02-22-2018, 10:43 AM
    Masen136
    [img]img_0577.jpg[/img]
  • 02-22-2018, 10:47 AM
    MD_Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
  • 02-22-2018, 10:52 AM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Having trouble posting picture with my cell phone, but I measure temps with a thermometer on each the hot and cold side. Along with that I have a thermometer laser gun for measuring bedding temperature. Both hides are more then big enough for him. I lowered temperatures, I do not have a sat yet, I have a adujustable lamp so I can change temp. HOTSIDE 90 HOTSIDE bedding 91 coldside 80. Biggest thingim worried about is the eating. The person I got him from said he ate once a week and two weeks still not eating for me
  • 02-22-2018, 10:55 AM
    MD_Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    What did they feed him? Live mice? f/t rats? Whatever they gave him you need to carry that over. Like I said before, figure out what they fed him before wait a week and give him that.
  • 02-22-2018, 10:57 AM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b1d1042839.jpg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 11:00 AM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Mind the messy cords and bedding in water dish, everymorning it looks like thi lol
  • 02-22-2018, 11:26 AM
    MD_Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Well, those hides seem huge. You want snug hides, if they're too big he won't feel secure. I like the RBI hides and those exo terra caves. Nice you've got a tank I'd get at least two so he doesn't choose security over proper thermoregulation. I'd black the sides of the tank out with some poster board, just make sure there isn't any tape on the interior of the tank.
  • 02-22-2018, 12:04 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Those hides are big enough for my 6' boa. The back and sides of the enclosure being covered will definitely help alot. I don't really like the look of paper so I use the same thing that is used on fish aquariums. Neither is better and it's all about personal preference. The hide should be slightly bigger than the snake when coiled or balled. Also, my snakes won't use the half log hides unless I basically bury them with substrate.
  • 02-22-2018, 04:09 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Those hides are big enough for my 6' boa. The back and sides of the enclosure being covered will definitely help alot. I don't really like the look of paper so I use the same thing that is used on fish aquariums. Neither is better and it's all about personal preference. The hide should be slightly bigger than the snake when coiled or balled. Also, my snakes won't use the half log hides unless I basically bury them with substrate.

    When you say cover sides do you mean the the 3 sides and not front? Or the all 4 sides? Also the hides really do look a lot bigger in the picture, the log he barley fits into, when I side back of his tail hangs out and he is extremely snug inside which is what tempted me into buying the larger hide(Orange one) which he seems to love. He spends almost all of the time in his larger coldside hide. I’m not disagreeing with the advice, just trying to figure everything out and take care of him right


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:10 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MD_Pythons View Post
    Well, those hides seem huge. You want snug hides, if they're too big he won't feel secure. I like the RBI hides and those exo terra caves. Nice you've got a tank I'd get at least two so he doesn't choose security over proper thermoregulation. I'd black the sides of the tank out with some poster board, just make sure there isn't any tape on the interior of the tank.

    Can you explain what you mean by two tanks??


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:12 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Just the back and 2 sides. There's a good chance that it's using the larger cold side hide because it doesn't like the other. They will sacrifice comfort for security and vice versa
  • 02-22-2018, 04:15 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Just the back and 2 sides. There's a good chance that it's using the larger cold side hide because it doesn't like the other. They will sacrifice comfort for security and vice versa

    The log hide actually came with him when I bought him. Apparently had it since he was a baby. Do you think he’s just choosing the new one because he likes it more? And advice on what should do about the hide situation? Or is this okay. Sorry for so many questions. Been trying to get him perfectly setup for two weeks now. Just wanna leave him alone at this point


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:16 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Also, you're doing great. Question everything
  • 02-22-2018, 04:21 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Most people suggest identical hides so they can have equal security and decide what hide to be in for whatever temp they feel like being at the time.

    This forum is a great place to learn with alot of great members so ask as many questions as you can. We are all here to help
  • 02-22-2018, 04:24 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quick question, I can't tell from the picture but, is your probe inside the enclosure and buried in the substrate?
  • 02-22-2018, 04:27 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Quick question, I can't tell from the picture but, is your probe inside the enclosure and buried in the substrate?

    Just a little bit to get it to come out top so it reads air temp not bedding temp. I got temp gun for bedding


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:29 PM
    MD_Pythons
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Masen136 View Post
    Just a little bit to get it to come out top so it reads air temp not bedding temp. I got temp gun for bedding


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Yeah, doing that can cause temp spikes due to your snake moving around, peeing on it ect etc. It should be between your UTH and your enclosure. There's a diagram I'll post it if I can find it.

    Unless you're using overhead heating, than it should be within 5 in of your heat source.
  • 02-22-2018, 04:36 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MD_Pythons View Post
    Yeah, doing that can cause temp spikes due to your snake moving around, peeing on it ect etc. It should be between your UTH and your enclosure. There's a diagram I'll post it if I can find it.

    Unless you're using overhead heating, than it should be within 5 in of your heat source.

    I’m suing 30-40gallon UTH along with a 75W basking light. I live in Wisconsin where it’s extremely cold and dry so two sources of heat was needed


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:37 PM
    MissterDog
  • 02-22-2018, 04:48 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MissterDog View Post

    I like Pitts crayon version better [emoji16]
  • 02-22-2018, 04:53 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    I like Pitts crayon version better [emoji16]

    Is this something I should still do if I have a temp laser gun for bedding? How would I measure air temp?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 04:58 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Masen136 View Post
    Is this something I should still do if I have a temp laser gun for bedding? How would I measure air temp?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    The probeless ones that have 2 gauges. One for temps and one for humidity. It sticks to the inside of the enclosure up close to the top.
  • 02-22-2018, 05:02 PM
    tttaylorrr
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    I like Pitts crayon version better [emoji16]

    :tears:
    :P
  • 02-22-2018, 08:58 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Most people suggest identical hides so they can have equal security and decide what hide to be in for whatever temp they feel like being at the time.

    This forum is a great place to learn with alot of great members so ask as many questions as you can. We are all here to help

    Hey, I have a quick question. So Iv been working all day on all the suggestions. And on the hot side where the heat pad is, the temp is reading at 95 still on the bedding, and there is like 2 inches of bedding. Is this a false reading or is the combination of heat pad plus heat lamp making it this hot. Thankyou!


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  • 02-22-2018, 09:00 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Masen136 View Post
    Hey, I have a quick question. So Iv been working all day on all the suggestions. And on the hot side where the heat pad is, the temp is reading at 95 still on the bedding, and there is like 2 inches of bedding. Is this a false reading or is the combination of heat pad plus heat lamp making it this hot. Thankyou!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Are you running it without a thermostat?
  • 02-22-2018, 09:09 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Are you running it without a thermostat?

    Just re-read from the start. You need a thermostat to regulate the pad and light. You are putting the snake at risk of burns or worse, death. It sounds bad but unplug both heat sources immediately. Your snake will be ok not being warm enough for a couple days until you get the thermostat.
  • 02-22-2018, 09:11 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    I got my first heat mat a little over 3 years ago and didn't know I needed to regulate it. The pad actually heated up so much that it cracked the bottom of the tank
  • 02-22-2018, 09:14 PM
    Godzilla78
    Get a thermostat, place the probe above the unfertank heater, turn the thermostat down to 90. You need to have all your heating sources controlled, to dial in safe temperatures for the health of your snake.
  • 02-22-2018, 09:16 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Godzilla78 View Post
    Get a thermostat, place the probe above the unfertank heater, turn the thermostat down to 90. You need to have all your heating sources controlled, to dial in safe temperatures for the health of your snake.

    I have ordered a thermostat, and replaced the 75 w light with a 50 w and unplugged UTH. I’m sure the 50w won’t burn him, and will keep him warm-ish until the thermostat comes. Thankyou everyone for your help:)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 02-22-2018, 09:22 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Masen136 View Post
    I have ordered a thermostat, and replaced the 75 w light with a 50 w and unplugged UTH. I’m sure the 50w won’t burn him, and will keep him warm-ish until the thermostat comes. Thankyou everyone for your help:)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Which thermostat did you order?

    Be careful, even that low wattage bulb can harm the snake. I don't know what the weather is like in your area but in central Florida right now I almost have the correct temps and humidity in my living room. If I wanted to, I could probably unplug everything and still have to let the a.c. bring the ambient temperature down
  • 02-22-2018, 09:24 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Which thermostat did you order?

    Be careful, even that low wattage bulb can harm the snake. I don't know what the weather is like in your area but in central Florida right now I almost have the correct temps and humidity in my living room. If I wanted to, I could probably unplug everything and still have to let the a.c. bring the ambient temperature down

    I live in Wisconsin where it’s about 5 degrees right now. That’s part of the reason I have so many heat sources and humidity additions(covering top of tank). If I had zero heat sources it would get about 65 in his tank


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  • 02-22-2018, 09:28 PM
    c0r3yr0s3
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Masen136 View Post
    I live in Wisconsin where it’s about 5 degrees right now. That’s part of the reason I have so many heat sources and humidity additions(covering top of tank). If I had zero heat sources it would get about 65 in his tank


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Wow! It's crazy how big of a temperature difference there is. I washed my car earlier and got a sunburn. It's been in the upper 80s for a while now
  • 02-22-2018, 09:37 PM
    Masen136
    Re: Ball PyThon trying to escape at night
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3 View Post
    Wow! It's crazy how big of a temperature difference there is. I washed my car earlier and got a sunburn. It's been in the upper 80s for a while now

    I went outside to get the mail today and felt like I had hypothermia! Haha. Temperatures here Definitely makes owning exotic animals a lot more difficult. Luckily only for half the year. Not long and I’ll be getting sunburnt


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