She ate! And now she's... Basking??

Our ball python, ate for the first time with us last night.
We knew the time was right as she was hiding all day, but poking her head out of her hide at night. It took a few tries to get it to a good temperature but she willingly took a mouse the width of her body. I'm stoked as she is only 78g so I'm happy she can eat.

My question is this! After eating she didn't go back into any of her hides. (She has 4 at varying temps.) She's curled up in the hottest place in the Viv - on top of a hide where the temperature is roughly 33c (It's about 30 on the hot side on the ground), and is all curled up. She doesn't seem stressed, she isn't roaming or trying to escape. Just in a 'resting' pose. Could it be she's trying to aid digestion?

Pic included, she was a little confused about the camera. I don't want to stress her after eating so I don't want to move or change anything unless necessary.

Nb: The hide she's on looks too big for her but inside it's stuffed with leaf litter and stuff to brush up on.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...90cef00bac.jpg

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... Crisis averted. She is back in one of her hides! I'm such a worrier.

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I started with hides similar to yours. Many people on here commented that they are not the best as the opening is too large and they are too big for your BP. I ended up switching to the black plastic hides. I liked the natural look better but realized the BP's health/happiness is better then how I want it to look.

Hi Midwest. She does have other hides that are much smaller that she can fit in with all sides brushing against her. She has 4 hides and a habba hut that's closed off completely at one side, making almost 5 hides. She usually chooses those but on this occasion she has gone to the bigger one which is stuffed with coconut husk and leaves to provide a more secure area. This 'hide' is something for her to grow into and provide some climbing space for her, it's one that she probably uses the least and she has an absolutely tiny one right next to it. Thanks for your concern! I added some hides precisely coz I was worried they were too big. :)

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I wouldn’t worry about hide size and all that unless it effects the snake eating. People tell me all the time my hides are wrong because they have 2 openings, yet the tiny ball python I got eats like a monster and has no issues.

Basking is perfectly normal after a meal. The higher temperature helps with digestion. Don’t worry; she’ll hide when she feels like it 😉

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Originally Posted by Absololol

... Crisis averted. She is back in one of her hides! I'm such a worrier.

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"Crisis"??? :confusd: Yes, you are a card-carrying "worrier". :rofl:

Despite it being said ball pythons don't bask like lizards....sometimes they just have to prove you wrong! Mine "basks" regularly - either on top of his highest branch or wrapped around his hottest hide (the top of which is under the UTH and a steady 92*F). I catch him there in one of these two places a couple of times a week. He has 4 hides that range from is 88*F under the CHE and on the UTH to 78*F - 80*F in his cool hide, but sometimes I guess they just need more heat :)

Glad to hear she is doing well, she's a real cutie! I used to think that BPs didn't bask as well, but after installing a CHE on my enclosure I discovered that my BP comes out at night and sprawls under the CHE to bask :D He even likes to climb on top of the thermometer in his enclosure to get a little closer to the heat, I think.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

I used to think that BPs didn't bask as well, but after installing a CHE on my enclosure I discovered that my BP comes out at night and sprawls under the CHE to bask.

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That's exactly what she's doing right at this moment, actually. I came downstairs and flicked the light on to see her chilling out in the same spot! I guess she's just a basky noodle.

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I joined this forum because all i did was worry about my royals at first. Later realized i should calm down and almost be one with my animals keep a distance , but keep watch , pay attention to tongue flicker and breathing patterns , this way you can easily tell when your pet is stressed. Learning their body language is really a big help. With being said triple check your husbandry and follow the no handling after eating rules and your royal will be just fine.

Beautiful snake btw.:gj:

Yeah my worrying peaked and it's now very much settled. I think the first feeding helped a lot. I think I was told so often that they are basically pet rocks that my instinct is to freak when they're doing something 'not-rock-like' [emoji23]

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Originally Posted by Absololol

...I guess she's just a basky noodle...

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So that would mean she's a baskard? :rofl:

All kidding aside, snakes like to remind us that they don't read our well-intentioned guide books about them, lol.

A snake knows its needs better than us. I'm not sure why you were concerned. It ate and snakes look to increase their body temp for digestive reasons.

Plus, you generously provide 4 heat zones. I trust your snake more than I trust you to know what it needs:). Just drop in a pre-killed prey item and observe/marvel at nature.

I was just being a new snake owner worrying about everything. She actually just loves to bask, after every meal. And pretty much every night. She's the best. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ec1cccbe2a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9840289dca.jpg

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