Hungry?

Last week I was wondering why little dude was out and about 3 days before feeding day so I fed him a day early - and he went into his hide and waited 6 days until feeding day this week. He was fed a 36 gram rat last night, he weighs 275 grams (early this week) and hes been cruising around all day now. He has been set-up in this tank for 2 months and has been fed in it 7 times without the excess activity.

I have covered his tank 100% but it has not made a difference this week or last. His temperatures (checked and re-checked) are 83 and 91, ambient 84. His tank is clean, humidity is 58 %, and nothing in his environment has changed.

So the big question - is he still hungry? What other reason could he be out and so restless? Thanks everyone!

You can try and feed him, but for his moving around... could be a lot of things.

Try and feed him, and if he doesn't take, chalk it up to his exploring.

maybe he just felt like going for a stroll. i would get worried if he did it for a long period of time though.

His behavior is identical to what he does every feeding day - half out of the hide or right out waiting for food. Right now hes sitting half out of his hide, when usually he would be curled up in a ball inside it digesting. It's just odd.

Most of mine start to 'lurk' the day before feeding. They'll become more attentive when I'm changing their water. They'll lay halfway out of their hides- waiting...
Then Thursday comes and the pre-scenting starts this afternoon and by dark, these guys and gals will be slammin their meal!!
My snakes cruise around in the evening and at night a lot.
I wonder if balls go through 'growth spurts' and so they get more hungry during those times.....????

I wouldn't be concerned if it was only at night, but he was up all day, right at 7 am till I went to bed, and he did it last week too - I was like "o.k listen to mommy LD, GO TO BED!" lol

Hmmmmmm.......
And you've checked him over thoroughly?
You're gonna hate this Missi: I have a snake who took several weeks before the stress of her environment being too big took its toll and manifested in behavioral stuff.
Could this be happening with Little Dude?

Hes in a 15 gallon, and hes over 2 feet. His tank is full of plants and whatnot. He is longer than the tank itself. Hes finally curled up in his hide now, I don't know I think he might just be being a pig.

Mine have gone through times when they have eaten twice a week for a couple a weeks in a row and then cut back to one feed a week. Then I was stuck with to many rats to care for.My male has always eaten more than the others wish I knew why!

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Originally Posted by missi182

Hes in a 15 gallon, and hes over 2 feet. His tank is full of plants and whatnot. He is longer than the tank itself. Hes finally curled up in his hide now, I don't know I think he might just be being a pig.

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Yeah, that sounds good. I remember now what your tank looks like :D

Thanks for your help starmom, and heather/thor/rooster - its always important to consider every possible issue, and I have not ruled out him being uncomfortable/insecure. I never thought I would be so worried about me snake NOT sleeping all day.

Have you considered other changes in his environment? It could be hundreds of things... maybe warmer weather means the A/C is on in your house and a breeze now blows across his enclosure. Maybe the different angle of the sun makes his enclosure brighter making him insecure, or darker, making him feel secure enough to explore during the day. Has he outgrown his hides and is looking for a new one? I could go on and on.

I would try to consider what might be causing the change in behavior. However, as long as it seems to be a casual exploring type of activity, as opposed to a more panicked level of activity, I don't think I'd worry about it that much. As long as he is eating and appears otherwise ok, a little exploring isn't going to hurt him.

The overall temperature in his tank (ambient) is higher now that the warm weather has arrived. This is one of the only changes I can think of, I don't have a/c but I have been racking my brain to think of any changes.