Doesn't come out of his hide

Just wondering if i should be concerned as he never comes out of his hide. When we first got him he used to come out, since shedding a few weeks ago he doesn't come out anymore. When i take him out he go's right back into his hide.

Info:
Hot side is 92-93
cool side is 80-81
Hum is 45-60

He eats fine once a week, has never refused food. Just never comes out.

http://www.geocities.com/tammy_fillion/NewHome.jpg

Sounds like my BP. Probably many other peoples too.

They are snakes not puppys. The only time my snake pokes out is to get a drink or when its meal time. After I handle him he looks a bit in his aquarium then goes back into his hide.

Was just wondering as he used to come out at night and check things out and now he doesn't.

From what I've read on here, I don't think they really are that active of a snake. The only time they seem to move around is if they are moving to a different side/temperature in the enclosure, and if they are moving around quite a bit, they may be stressed, which is why he may have done it so much when you first got him.

Does he use both of his hides? He may be staying in the hide on the right if the half log on the left is not secure enough for him.

they are nocturnal mine will not leave unless i make her come out to handle her but then shes fine curious and alert like she should be shes actuall slithering all over my keyboard right now makinf this difficult. lol but at night around 10 or so shes all oover the place exploring its nothing to worry about if you canmake the rom itch blck then you can acclimate her to a new time. make it think night is day and day is night so you can see it more often. other then that nothing u can do about it. how long have exactly cus when you first got him he will expliore the cage more but after acclimation he wont care to look around anymore. that y i add new things all the time (plans, rocks, hides,etc.)

He does use both hides, lately he's been in the log. I just got him about a month ago.

I'm glad you made this thread tammy, i was going to ask the same question.

When i first got mine, he was all over the place, curious, always came out at night, now he just keeps to himself. At first i was thinking something was wrong, but i have everything where it's suppose to be, so i'm starting to lean towards that's just how they are, like somebody else said, i don't think they're very active.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TammyF

Was just wondering as he used to come out at night and check things out and now he doesn't.

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Maybe he has gotten used to his environment?

to my eyes... your tank seems awfully large for your ball python. i would cover the ends (as you have the back covered). i'd also change your log hide. it's important to give balls two identical snug hides. they should be able to feel their body on all sides of the hide.

this creates a safe environment and when they feel safe, they can be more active, have fewer (if any) feeding issues and generally be a much happier snake. (if indeed happiness is something they even experience)

;)
aleesha

do you have something in the water dish, causing it to move? i'm asking because a constant vibration can stress out your snake.

Yes i have a pump...used it when i couldn't get the humidity up. Should i remove it? thanks for the info about the hide, altho he seems to like the log hide. He moves from one hide to the other but i'll look into removing it. Should i cover the side?

from what i understand getting the humidity up in a tank can be hard to do. that's why many of us choose to use bins instead of tanks.

yes, i would remove the pump and cover the sides of you tank.

Thanks for the info :) I removed the pump and the humidity seems to stay around 49 :)

i use a mister... like for plants... and that works great as well :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mighty Monty

I'm glad you made this thread tammy, i was going to ask the same question.

When i first got mine, he was all over the place, curious, always came out at night, now he just keeps to himself. At first i was thinking something was wrong, but i have everything where it's suppose to be, so i'm starting to lean towards that's just how they are, like somebody else said, i don't think they're very active.

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Ditto, I got mine about a month ago and he explored his environment the first few weeks, ever since I got him his log hides, he just stays in there, pokes his head out once in a while or lays on top of them. Other than that he is as my wife calls it, "boring". :P

To those new to ball pythons who have commented on them seeming active when you first got them vs. now - it's all perfectly normal.


When they get a new home, they are going to be active, exploring and looking for weaknesses in the enclosure where they could possibly escape. Once they have become more settled, they'll begin to act more "normal" - which is remaining in their hides 80% of the time and only coming out late at night (usually when you are sleeping) to get water or thermo-regulate.

I'd be more concerned about an overactive ball python, as that's a clear stress indicator.

Thanks for your help, i feel much better knowing that he isn't supose to be active hehe guess its the newbie thing hehe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

When they get a new home, they are going to be active, exploring and looking for weaknesses in the enclosure where they could possibly escape.

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Exactly. My BP used to always climb the aquarium walls poking on the lid and corners. I've had him for almost 4 months and he doesn't try to get out anymore. He knows he is on lockdown.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TammyF

Thanks for your help, i feel much better knowing that he isn't supose to be active hehe guess its the newbie thing hehe

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We were all new to keeping ball pythons at some point and had the same questions! :D