She climbs all over the place and then falls..

I got a new ball python girl today, she's 4 years old and I would guess around 1400-1600 grams.
She's in a big terrarium now, about 120x60x60, and she got her hideboxes, a waterdish and a shelf to climb at.

Thing is, she is really restless. And she's been climbing up the glasses now, standing almost 3/4 of her body-length, and then falls sideways, or backwards! down. BOOM. She once landed on one of her hideboxes, and started to gasp two or three times. She seem unharmed now after I've checked her though.

But, is there anything I can do to prevent her from climbing around like that? :( I'm scared she might hurt herself really bad some day! I can't exactly take out the hideboxes and waterdish.. what can I really do? :(

Well, ball pythons are not arboreal so the climbing shelf isn't needed and they could easily fall down off of it. If she continues to do this after settling in, try to take out any objects that would be sharp or harmful to her falling on them and try to find new hide boxes ext.
Another thing you can do is use newspaper or paper towels (crinkled up), or put some aspen down for cushion, if your already using cushiony substrate then thats fantastic too.
:gj:
Edit: Wow I worded that funny..

Aww poor snake im sure it wont hurt her unless it is a huge drop but it is unusual to see a BP climbing ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chuck1289

Aww poor snake im sure it wont hurt her unless it is a huge drop but it is unusual to see a BP climbing ...

---

She's most likely trying to escape, not climbing. When a new BP is stressed out and doesn't know it's new home very well, it will often try to climb as high as it can on the glass to see if it can get out.

Also double check your temps with a digital thermometer or heat gun. 80-83 degrees F on the cool end (ambient) and 90-93 degrees F on the hot end.
I also second Jess's crinkled up newspaper idea.

She's stressed and is trying to get away to a safer place.

If I read you right, that enclosure is 10'x5'x5'??? That is WAY too big, even for a full grown female Ball. These snakes prefer smaller spaces and a good enclosure for an adult would be 3-4' long, 2' wide and no more than 12" tall. They are not climbers and don't need shelves or tall branches, just nice low branch bundles for exercise and shed assistance are enough.

Please, post some pictures of the snake and enclosure so we can advise changes from there. But if those measurements are correct you REALLY need to get either a 30 gallon Breeder tank or a 41qt(6" tall) or 90qt (12" tall) plastic tub ASAP!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

She's stressed and is trying to get away to a safer place.

If I read you right, that enclosure is 10'x5'x5'??? That is WAY too big, even for a full grown female Ball. These snakes prefer smaller spaces and a good enclosure for an adult would be 3-4' long, 2' wide and no more than 12" tall. They are not climbers and don't need shelves or tall branches, just nice low branch bundles for exercise and shed assistance are enough.

Please, post some pictures of the snake and enclosure so we can advise changes from there. But if those measurements are correct you REALLY need to get either a 30 gallon Breeder tank or a 41qt(6" tall) or 90qt (12" tall) plastic tub ASAP!

---

Wow I'm surprised I didn't pick up on that.. I think I just read the measurements and my brain kinda farted and ignored them because it didn't want to figure it out..
Ahaha.

:) Well, I'm back in classes and had Chemistry today... mind was (sadly) already on stuff like that.

The OP is from Norway, so I'm guessing the 100x60x60 is metric. So about 40" x 24" x 24" if my quick conversions in my head are right... Could you just take the shelf out of the enclosure?

Camstatic lives in europe, they use the metric, so maybe its 120x60x60 cm? because that's only 4'x2'x2'

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by branson

The OP is from Norway, so I'm guessing the 100x60x60 is metric. So about 40" x 24" x 24" if my quick conversions in my head are right... Could you just take the shelf out of the enclosure?

---

Well if that's the size that's a bit better for an adult. :]

yeah, branson is correct. ;)

The temperatures are what they should be, the terra was set up a few days in advance, so it has settled nicely.

The climb shelf isn't big, it creates a nice little cave underneath it. It's not here she's climbing anyways, it's basically just all over.. especially where the sliding doors are connected. There's this 1 inch "shelf" where she manages to cram her fat body on, until she looses balance and tips off. :(


Maybe she's just stressed out for being in a new place then.. I'll keep an eye on her. :/ She seems to have calmed down after I showed her one of the hides.. crammed herself into it, and hasn't moved since.
Poor baby, I feel so bad for her! I hope she'll feel more safe and home soon. :/

But you don't think she'll hurt herself? I almost feel like not sleeping so I can keep an eye on her. :/

I did not know if it's trying to escape it means its stressed. Mines is always trying to escape at night but is eating right and hides during the day...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xbxteen

I did not know if it's trying to escape it means its stressed. Mines is always trying to escape at night but is eating right and hides during the day...

---

BP's are active at night, but if they are climbing the sides and falling constantly, they are trying to find a way out.

Cover up her glass with something to make her feel safe. Remove all furniture she could land on. She can very easily fall and break ribs, internal injuries and even kill herself.

Leave only the necessities and leave her by herself for a minimum of 2 weeks. From the sounds of it, she is VERY stressed and needs to acclimate. From my understanding, she is older and may take more time to calm down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

BP's are active at night, but if they are climbing the sides and falling constantly, they are trying to find a way out.

Cover up her glass with something to make her feel safe. Remove all furniture she could land on. She can very easily fall and break ribs, internal injuries and even kill herself.

Leave only the necessities and leave her by herself for a minimum of 2 weeks. From the sounds of it, she is VERY stressed and needs to acclimate. From my understanding, she is older and may take more time to calm down.

---

I am not the op, i think you confusing me, how you know she is older lol? My bp is like 2 months olds or so, and seems like she is not stressed but she does try to escape alot. I have only 1 side cover with some wall paper thingy ill cover 2 more sides right now

She was replying TO the OP. :) And I agree. Cover the back and sides of the enclosure with opaque material for security and remove all but the hides and water dish. Make sure the dish is in the center of the cage so it's less likely she'll fall onto it.

And sorry for the size confusion... today was the first day in 4 months I've had to get up at 6:30am. Kinda there yet not. :oops:

As for yours xbxteen, if it's a youngster it needs even more security and a nice small enclosure well covered. If you have all that, and the snake isn't climbing the walls frantically, then it's ok they're just exploring. If they are always climbing around and moving fast, pressing against all the surfaces, and being active in the day then that's most likely stress signs. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

She was replying TO the OP. :) And I agree. Cover the back and sides of the enclosure with opaque material for security and remove all but the hides and water dish. Make sure the dish is in the center of the cage so it's less likely she'll fall onto it.

And sorry for the size confusion... today was the first day in 4 months I've had to get up at 6:30am. Kinda there yet not. :oops:

As for yours xbxteen, if it's a youngster it needs even more security and a nice small enclosure well covered. If you have all that, and the snake isn't climbing the walls frantically, then it's ok they're just exploring. If they are always climbing around and moving fast, pressing against all the surfaces, and being active in the day then that's most likely stress signs. :)

---

Yeah i was worried for a second, my set up looks alright...and it seems more like she is exploring stuff..:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

She was replying TO the OP. :) And I agree. Cover the back and sides of the enclosure with opaque material for security and remove all but the hides and water dish. Make sure the dish is in the center of the cage so it's less likely she'll fall onto it.

And sorry for the size confusion... today was the first day in 4 months I've had to get up at 6:30am. Kinda there yet not. :oops:

As for yours xbxteen, if it's a youngster it needs even more security and a nice small enclosure well covered. If you have all that, and the snake isn't climbing the walls frantically, then it's ok they're just exploring. If they are always climbing around and moving fast, pressing against all the surfaces, and being active in the day then that's most likely stress signs. :)

---

Ditto that :salute:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by branson

The OP is from Norway, so I'm guessing the 100x60x60 is metric. So about 40" x 24" x 24" if my quick conversions in my head are right... Could you just take the shelf out of the enclosure?

---

sorry branson, you must have posted this while I was writing mine, didn't mean to steal your thunder ;), lol

Hi,

Just to say narrow gaps between the top and the glass supports can be filled with rolled up newspaper fairly easily.

Plus it is inexpensive and easily replaced - just remember not to use any tape which might come off and stick to the poor snake.

I find if you roll it really tight then put it in it expands slightly and hold in fine on its own. :gj:


dr del