What is she doing???

I came home from school today and I found my ball python doing this. What is she doing and what are some reasons for her to do this??? Is she just digging, she cant be gravid because when i got her from petco she was really small and its been like 2 months since i got her maybe even longer.

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/CIMG9309.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/CIMG9310.jpg

She could be cold?!? What are your temps in your enclosure?? Do you have sufficient hides for her? She could be trying to hide.

She has two hides one on the hot side and one on the cold, her hot side is about 85ish and the cold is 70ish, i just ordered $150 worth of heating stuff, so its on its way, because i know its cold in there, but she is doing this on the cold side, so that doesnt make since???

Hmm not sure then. Her cold side should be more near 80. I don't have much experience with animals burying like that, so hopefully someone else will have some advice/answers for ya ;)

If she's not burrowing like that over a heating element then she is burrowing because of security issues. I would re-evaluate your hides and make sure they are small enough for your snake, also your temps could be a bit higher but you seem to know that already. There is also the chance that your snake just likes to burrow, however if you have feeding problems I would think the temp and security would be your issues.

Thanks

If the hides don't touch her on all sides, they're probably too big for her and she's burrowing in order to feel something touching her on all sides to feel more secure.

I guess ill be the first to say GET RID OF THE CAREFRESH.

Worst bedding ever to use for snakes. houses bacteria and causes respiratory infection in snakes like no other. switch to something else ASAP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

I guess ill be the first to say GET RID OF THE CAREFRESH.

Worst bedding ever to use for snakes. houses bacteria and causes respiratory infection in snakes like no other. switch to something else ASAP.

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i was thinking the same thing. just throw some aspen in there.

Ok then what kind of bedding would you suggest???

aspen. paper towels or newspaper if you dont wanna go spend money.

Besides paper towels, and newspaper

now that i did a little research the carefresh should work fine i found no sources that said it causes health problems. but i personally use aspen, it has never failed when i have used it.

We use aspen. It works great and it hold humidity good too.

So what would work better the first picture or the second

Smaller, Aspen
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/CIMG9315.jpg
Larger, Pine
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/CIMG9313.jpg

the first picture for sure.

there are articles out there of bp owners having RI symptoms when using carefresh. it holds tooo much bacteria and mositure.

Use aspen or cypress mulch. NEVER USE PINE OR CEDAR the oils are toxic to reptiles.

i personally use newspaper as its easier to get your hands on and dont have to worry about stores being sold out.

Is the top picture that i posted aspen, i think it is but just want to be sure??

aspen when smaller has same look as pine. only way to be sure is if the bag says aspen

That looks like aspen.


DO NOT USE PINE!!!!!


I recommend aspen, repti-bark, and cypress mulch. When you get your heating and such, get the cool side ~80 and the warm side ~90. :gj:

OK Thanks;):D;)

Ok i put aspen bedding in the cage and she just sat on top of the log, so she doesnt like that, what are some more options for bedding???

Its new, let her get used to it. As already stated, options are aspen, newspaper, papertowels.

Give her a few days to get used to the aspen. Did you say she's on top of the log? Would that be one of those half log hides they sell at Petsmart?

It is one of those half log hides, why???

the half log hides are only good for corn snakes, and many other colubrinds. But they suck for ball pythons and boas.

you can go buy bowls from dollar store that will be just big enough for the bp to fit in. Cut hole on side for snake to get in. Its cheap when needing to upgrade and youll have them for other snakes in future.

Ok thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tjones

It is one of those half log hides, why???

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That might be part of the reason she's burrowing. Those half log hides are the worst hide you could possibly get for a BP. Way too open for them to feel secure.

Like flameethrower said, cut a hole in a bowl or even an empty cereal box, and you'll have a much better hide for your girl.

I even think the half logs are horrible for colubrids...

My almost full grown corn fits perfectly in the medium exo terra cave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

I guess ill be the first to say GET RID OF THE CAREFRESH.

Worst bedding ever to use for snakes. houses bacteria and causes respiratory infection in snakes like no other. switch to something else ASAP.

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Thanks, I didn't know what that stuff was at all, but now do ;)

Another option for bedding could be Coconut Bark (one brand being called CocoSoft). Aspen will be just fine though. I personally like coconut because of its resistance to mold and mildew when kept moist for long periods (more a concern for my cresteds than the BP though).

Just wanted to offer another suggestion, but again, the aspen you bought will be fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joshn6805

i was thinking the same thing. just throw some aspen in there.

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newspaper works best for me