new ball won't come out and play

Hey ya'll! My boyfriend and I just welcomed our new ball python, Monty, into our home. He's about 16" long and we haven't had him for very long at all. He was great the first night, very active and friendly. I also understood that he was hungry as it was his feeding day, the breeder told me. So we fed him and that night we put him in his new 20 gal tank with climbing stick, water rock, and tunnel home. He scoped out his new habitat thoroughly but i guess he just decided that his tunnel home was where he wanted to be and hasn't come out since the night i got him. Should I be worried? My friend suggested to put him in the sink with some warm water so he would come out and play, but because it's my first snake, i don't want to terrorize him. He hasn't even came out to drink water, that i know of. But do snakes need to drink water? i thought i did all my research, but i guess i have a lot more to experience!

Thanks for the help ya'll!

Jessica

Ok, ballpythins spend 90% of the time hiding they like to check stuff out at night. The reson he was moving alot when you put him in his new cage cuz it was a *new home* and has to check everything out. so he prolly wont move much but at night time :) there very lazy hehe

Just wanted to say Welcome to the forums and hope you enjoy you're stay!

thanks for the input. but what if i want to get him out to spend some socialization time? his tunnel home is, well, a tunnel! i don't want to rip him out.

If it picks up then pick the tunnle up and then pick him up :)

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Originally Posted by jessicav

Hey ya'll! My boyfriend and I just welcomed our new ball python, Monty, into our home. He's about 16" long and we haven't had him for very long at all. He was great the first night, very active and friendly. I also understood that he was hungry as it was his feeding day, the breeder told me. So we fed him and that night we put him in his new 20 gal tank with climbing stick, water rock, and tunnel home. He scoped out his new habitat thoroughly but i guess he just decided that his tunnel home was where he wanted to be and hasn't come out since the night i got him. Should I be worried? My friend suggested to put him in the sink with some warm water so he would come out and play, but because it's my first snake, i don't want to terrorize him. He hasn't even came out to drink water, that i know of. But do snakes need to drink water? i thought i did all my research, but i guess i have a lot more to experience!

Thanks for the help ya'll!

Jessica

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Jessica first off welcome to our group :D.Ok now when you get a new snake its best to totaly leave him alone for a full week.This gives him time to adjust to the new home.They are very shy creatures and stress out very easy.If you give him time to adjust you should see him moving around in the evenings ;)

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

If it picks up then pick the tunnle up and then pick him up :)

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Not a good idea because you could drop it and hurt the snake ;)

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Not a good idea because you could drop it and hurt the snake ;)

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If you watch what you're doing how are you going to drop it?

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

If you watch what you're doing how are you going to drop it?

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Well we are talking about a snake that could get jumpy if removed from his secure hiding spot and this could make someone drop it ;).

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Well we are talking about a snake that could get jumpy if removed from his secure hiding spot and this could make someone drop it ;).

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I disagree. My babie pastel I let stay in his hide for 2 weeks I puled him out *by removing his hide* and he didnt flinch. That being said every snake is diffrent so just wtahc what you're doing when you go to get him out and dont make very fast moves so he gets scared....

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

I disagree. My babie pastel I let stay in his hide for 2 weeks I puled him out *by removing his hide* and he didnt flinch. That being said every snake is diffrent so just wtahc what you're doing when you go to get him out and dont make very fast moves so he gets scared....

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Well its easy to just lift up a hide but she said her snake was in a TUNNEL hide.So thats why i mentioned it being differant ;)

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Well its easy to just lift up a hide but she said her snake was in a TUNNEL hide.So thats why i mentioned it being differant ;)

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Ok Joe, I have never used a tunnle just a hide so 2 diffrent things I'm sorry if my info was wrong. but good luck with you're new BP!:snake:

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Originally Posted by jessicav

his tunnel home is, well, a tunnel! i don't want to rip him out.

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This is what i read.

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

Ok Joe, I have never used a tunnle just a hide so 2 diffrent things I'm sorry if my info was wrong. but good luck with you're new BP!:snake:

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I am not trying to be rude here at all just pointing out the differances.With this member being new its always best to read the full post then give any help :gj:

is your "tunnel" hide a half log? best answer anyone can give you is just leave him be for a week, thats the rule of thumb

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Well its easy to just lift up a hide but she said her snake was in a TUNNEL hide.So thats why i mentioned it being differant ;)

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Originally Posted by joepythons

This is what i read.

I am not trying to be rude here at all just pointing out the differances.With this member being new its always best to read the full post then give any help :gj:

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I did read all of it. That being said I've never seen a tunnle hide I was thinking a half log type thing...

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Jessica first off welcome to our group :D.Ok now when you get a new snake its best to totaly leave him alone for a full week.This gives him time to adjust to the new home.They are very shy creatures and stress out very easy.If you give him time to adjust you should see him moving around in the evenings ;)

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Originally Posted by jeffjr464

is your "tunnel" hide a half log? best answer anyone can give you is just leave him be for a week, thats the rule of thumb

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Done :gj:

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Originally Posted by jeffjr464

is your "tunnel" hide a half log? best answer anyone can give you is just leave him be for a week, thats the rule of thumb

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

I did read all of it. That being said I've never seen a tunnle hide I was thinking a half log type thing...

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Well it might be something man made or something else.If the poster of this thread could explain how this "tunnel" thing is it might help us help you :D

The tunnel is a cylindrical shape, no halves here! But thank you guys so much for the advice. he looks really comfortable in there and he has to come out eventually, but I'll give it a week. I will keep you posted on how Monty is doing. My boyfriend wants me to tell you that the tunnel has a skeleton hand on it. The tank is "pirate" themed and nicknamed "The Thunderdome". hehe...I will post pictures soon for all to see. THANKS YA'LL!

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Originally Posted by jessicav

The tunnel is a cylindrical shape, no halves here! But thank you guys so much for the advice. he looks really comfortable in there and he has to come out eventually, but I'll give it a week. I will keep you posted on how Monty is doing. My boyfriend wants me to tell you that the tunnel has a skeleton hand on it. The tank is "pirate" themed and nicknamed "The Thunderdome". hehe...I will post pictures soon for all to see. THANKS YA'LL!

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Why thank you now we all know :gj:.I will be watching for pics :cool:

That's helpful :)!

Keep in mind that this is a snake, not a puppy. He will never desire to "play" with you.

He sounds like he's behaving like a normal ball python, and your friends advice of soaking him to get him to play with you is just going to be more stressful to him than anything.

Ball pythons are not the most exciting pet to have, they do spend most of their time in their hides. They really have no desire to interact with you. The interactions happen because WE desire them.

I've yet to hear of a ball python that escaped from it's enclosure come seeking out it's owner because it wanted to be with them.

Robin made some excellent points. While snakes are fascinating creatures to own, they aren't the "normal" type of pet or even one of the better display type snakes. They are shy, very nocturnal snakes that like their hides...a lot.

Speaking of hides, I would suggest you might want to rethink that tunnel. Providing any piece of cage furniture that your snake can get into but you can't get it out of, may in the end cause you some problems. Also it's likely to get nasty if the snake toilets in there and it's not easy to see in or clean up after the snake. A hide that will both fit your theme but has an open to the substrate bottom is likely a better choice.

Snakes do drink water, they also pee in two ways - liquid urine and solid white urates as well as defecate. :)