Ball python doesn't really come out for long anymore...

Hi all! I'm new to the Forum and am still getting to know you guys...
I have a blue eyed Lucy female ball python who used to come out all the time but now she doesn't come out much anymore and if she does it's not for long. She is healthy and eats well but she just doesn't really find interest in coming out anymore. Is this a problem or does it just come with age. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks so much! :)

She will be 2 in September by the way

First, what do you mean by "coming out"? You mean out of her hides? or out of her enclosure/cage to explore?

How often do you handle her? & for how long at a time?

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Hi all! I'm new to the Forum and am still getting to know you guys...
I have a blue eyed Lucy female ball python who used to come out all the time but now she doesn't come out much anymore and if she does it's not for long. She is healthy and eats well but she just doesn't really find interest in coming out anymore. Is this a problem or does it just come with age. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks so much! :)

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Put a few branches in the viv ( hot glue them in place ) and it should be climbing around in the evenings ..


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I mean out to explore out of her hides in the cage. I typically hold her once a day anywhere from 5-15 minutes but for example today we went to repticon all day so I didn't hold her which would be one of those days I didn't hold her at all.

Yes, I have all sorts of climbing things in the cage like a big log turned vertical against the glass and some largish branches and lots of hanging plants (not too crammed though). She used to love coming out until the past couple of days especially. Could it be temperature related or is she just not interested anymore in coming out to explore?
She is in a 40 gallon glass terrarium with screen lids and locks. Humidity fluctuates between 50s and 60s. Temperature stayes at around 80 as the the ambient temperature (using a heat lamp) with a cold side of 70s, and a heat mat that stayes at about upper 80s to 90 at the hottest.

Kind of to add to that when she does come out she will very strongly scrape her snoot on her log a few times. She is all white so I would notice if she had any mites and I see none. I've read this can mean stress but I can't think of what it is she would not like. Is this normal or not do much?

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Kind of to add to that when she does come out she will very strongly scrape her snoot on her log a few times. She is all white so I would notice if she had any mites and I see none. I've read this can mean stress but I can't think of what it is she would not like. Is this normal or not do much?

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In my experience they don’t just change their behaviour unless they’re going into shed mode , have mites , have some issue / health problem or there’s a problem with the setup

Nose scraping is often the start of then getting the shed skin loose before it comes off ..

It’s rather difficult as all snakes and setups are all so different.

Everyone quotes their perfect temps and humidity levels but then we discover that they’re using useless devices like the ones shown below.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a9f9391a5b.jpg


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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

I mean out to explore out of her hides in the cage. I typically hold her once a day anywhere from 5-15 minutes but for example today we went to repticon all day so I didn't hold her which would be one of those days I didn't hold her at all.

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That's just as well, because you can actually bring home pathogens or mites from reptile expos or pet stores & give them to your pet if you're not careful. Best to shower & change clothes afterwards & before going near your own pets- mites & such are no fun. (mites don't "like" humans but could hitch a ride on your clothes, for example)

She might be going into a shed cycle-? They typically "lay low" even before we can see any changes that indicate a shed cycle- I'm convinced they can feel it coming- they also may refuse food then too.

Also, BPs are more active in the evening & night hours, so you might not be seeing her activity.

A few more things to consider: snakes are basically shy, not social pets. Handling her daily is likely more than she is comfortable with- she may be trying to tell you that. Being picked up (even when they "know us") still goes against their instincts: bear in mind that the only thing that picks up a wild snake is normally a predator about to have them for lunch. Some snakes are calmer or bolder than others too- just like us, they have their own personality. Perhaps yours is more of an "introvert". ;)

Ok thanks! Definitely things to consider. The only animals I held yesterday at repticon were other cresties and I pet a very large yellow snake (I think a Burmese python) and I washed my hands before holding my snake back here at home and took a shower that night.
Thanks again, I'll keep observing and check in later. :)

Good to know about the poorly accurate thermostats and humidity gauges, I'm wondering if mine is not as accurate either and will do more reaserch into the proper ones to use. What do you use?

White or pale snakes are much harder to tell when they're in a shed cycle & as Zincubus already mentioned (above post# 8) the nose-rubbing may indicate she's trying to shed- have you considered this? & if so, have you raised her humidity to about 70% and/or provided her with a humid hide to facilitate her shed? Much better to anticipate their needs than try to help them out of a stuck shed. ;)

And about what you held or touched at Repticon, snake mites don't "discriminate", & neither do pathogens. These days (with some lethal diseases being shared) I'd recommend you always shower completely & change clothes before getting near your own pets. A simple thing that could prevent tragic loss on your part...not to mention expensive vet care.

Yes, I will shower from now on before holding my snake after repticon.
And about the shedding, I could consider shedding but she's shed a little over a week ago so it can't be that and I still see no mites only her snake dirt (eco earth looks identical to mites but I can tell it's dirt because it will come right off by just blowing it off or a simple swipe). Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Yes, I will shower from now on before holding my snake after repticon.
And about the shedding, I could consider shedding but she's shed a little over a week ago so it can't be that and I still see no mites only her snake dirt (eco earth looks identical to mites but I can tell it's dirt because it will come right off by just blowing it off or a simple swipe). Thanks again!

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So she's not likely to be in shed then- maybe she was rubbing her face because she got some ECO-EARTH in her face/pits/nostrils?

Yes, I have found that that is most likely. And again, sometimes when I hold her at night and then put her back into her enclosure she will roam around but not for long, then she just goes and hides for the remainder of the night (unless she comes out when I’m asleep which could very well be true too). You know what they say...a eating hiding ball python is a happy ball python. Thanks and I think I have my answers. The only other thing I was wondering was which thermometers and humidity gauges you use for your ball python tanks. I have just used the zoo-med or Zilla brand, I cant remember which one. I want to make sure I can accurately tell the correct temperature and humidity.

I think people forget just how shy Royal pythons are ...

I have really dim room lighting in the snake room / man-cave and they all have branches so each evening they well all be out climbing at some stage of the evening.


If I’m in there with the ‘big’ light on they all disappear within seconds ..


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he holds his B.P once a day, and i only hold her every other feeding week, but his B.P is like mine, it LIVES in its hide more than a hermit crab stays in its shell, wait, MORE than a Turtle lives in its shell!

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Originally Posted by Thomas S

he holds his B.P once a day, and i only hold her every other feeding week, but his B.P is like mine, it LIVES in its hide more than a hermit crab stays in its shell, wait, MORE than a Turtle lives in its shell!

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What’s in the viv / tub ...

A hide ( or two ) , water bowl ...

Anything else ?


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2 exactly the same hides each end, nice size water bowl in the middle, i had some plastic greens in there before, but i took them out for a REAL nice natural "climbing" wood log, i thought she would love that, but i only seen her once climbing on that, and she scurried back off the log back into her hide when she saw me! i know im ugly but im not that bad, Lol

i just usually have the Red Light on but its more than enough for the B.P to see me,,when ever shes out of the hide and i come into her room she spots me right away

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Originally Posted by Thomas S

2 exactly the same hides each end, nice size water bowl in the middle, i had some plastic greens in there before, but i took them out for a REAL nice natural "climbing" wood log, i thought she would love that, but i only seen her once climbing on that, and she scurried back off the log back into her hide when she saw me! i know im ugly but im not that bad, Lol

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As I said they ‘tend’ to be nervous critters ..

Best observe them in very low / dim light and move extremely slowly around them

The majority of my snakes are in my man-cave .. so I’ll be working ( in low light ) at the computer and most of them will be out exploring in the surrounding vivs


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oh i do realize how shy mine is every time i handle her..today was cage cleaning day, and since i never see my B.P, i was surprised what i found, she looked "Bigger", so i weighed her, she is up 20 grams, in about 6 weeks since i last weighed her, i also found under her hide, a "Full" piece of shed, all this goes on and im clueless as to whats happening because she never comes out. I held her for about 6-7 minutes, she buried her head for about 3 minutes, finally she started to flick and explore, i didnt want to push it anymore. I found something on her skin that looks like a soft blister that people get on their feet, i touched it real lightly and she didn't flinch, so i think??? its not hurting her, anyone else ever see anything like a small bubble on their B.P's skin?

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Originally Posted by Thomas S

oh i do realize how shy mine is every time i handle her..today was cage cleaning day, and since i never see my B.P, i was surprised what i found, she looked "Bigger", so i weighed her, she is up 20 grams, in about 6 weeks since i last weighed her, i also found under her hide, a "Full" piece of shed, all this goes on and im clueless as to whats happening because she never comes out. I held her for about 6-7 minutes, she buried her head for about 3 minutes, finally she started to flick and explore, i didnt want to push it anymore. I found something on her skin that looks like a soft blister that people get on their feet, i touched it real lightly and she didn't flinch, so i think??? its not hurting her, anyone else ever see anything like a small bubble on their B.P's skin?

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May I suggest you start a new (separate) thread for this & post pics if possible- one blister can easily turn into more & should be addressed promptly. Skin diseases in snakes are no fun & often the result of excessive humidity + dirty cage (pathogens) that thrive in the warm temperatures provided & needed by BPs. Or it might indicate something more systemic, so please do not ignore this. Snakes often give very subtle symptoms for us to go by. It's good though that your BP has gained some weight- I take it she's been eating?

oh yes, A very good appetite... when i drop that mouse she comes "flying" out of her hide in less than a minute

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Originally Posted by Thomas S

oh yes, A very good appetite... when i drop that mouse she comes "flying" out of her hide in less than a minute

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I'm glad to hear it, but for this thread, it's just off topic, along with our previous posts.. Thanks for starting a separate thread- it's easier for members to find, comment & help with. ;)