After my ball python escaped...

My ball python escaped the other night because I didnt secure the lid correctly. I found my little man in a trash bag, he was cold but not injured thankfully. Ever since then he is constantly trying to escape. I can hear him all night long bumping the lid or moving his hide box. Hes 7 months old, will he ever stop this behavior? Thanks.

I take him out of the tank for an hour or so every day and he didnt behave like this then. I made 6 or 7 home made hides and I would place them on the bed. I made a barrier out of the blankets so he couldn't easily fall off and I let him explore. My wife said I lost my mind lol but even after doing this, he never tried to escape. This is my 2nd ever ball python and my first one I had was over 15 years ago. Any advice is appreciated.

I think we need to know more about your husbandry. Are you able to post a photo of his current setup? Mine is never on the move unless shedding or pooping/peeing, but it took some time to get her husbandry just right.

I will post some pics this evening when I get home from work. The set is basic at the moment. I have a warm side and a cool side, a hide on the cool side and his favorite plant on the warm side. I'm using the brown carpet like stuff that Petco sales, water bowl and that's about it.
Thank you for your reply.

Post exact temps on each side as well as how you are measuring them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Damien79

I will post some pics this evening when I get home from work. The set is basic at the moment. I have a warm side and a cool side, a hide on the cool side and his favorite plant on the warm side. I'm using the brown carpet like stuff that Petco sales, water bowl and that's about it.
Thank you for your reply.

---

Agreed, we'll need to know more about temps and how you're measuring temps.

Also, you should have at least two hides, one on each end, so the snake can hide and thermoregulate as needed.

He's likely trying to find somewhere to hide that also suits his temperature requirements.

I agree with the others, we need exact husbandry info (temps. etc), because his "wanderlust" could be several things...dissatisfaction with his current set-up, but also
snakes DO learn their way around, & in my experience, when they find a way to escape, they do remember that & keep trying. Hopefully, if you get his home more to
his liking, he'll forget in time & settle down. Restlessness can also be hunger-related, or in mature snakes, related to breeding desire. So help us to help you...;)

Sorry I've been away from the forum. I feed him that evening and the behavior I mentioned stopped
I guess he was just letting me know he needed food. I feed him twice a week and it had been 4 days since his last meal. I use one of the double thermometer/humidity gauges. Usually stays around 80 and the humidity is low in the morning but I fix that when I wake up. He seems fine now. Thank you to everyone who replied back to my post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Damien79

Sorry I've been away from the forum. I feed him that evening and the behavior I mentioned stopped
I guess he was just letting me know he needed food. I feed him twice a week and it had been 4 days since his last meal. I use one of the double thermometer/humidity gauges. Usually stays around 80 and the humidity is low in the morning but I fix that when I wake up. He seems fine now. Thank you to everyone who replied back to my post.

---

Feeding twice a week!? You must be feeding prey that's on the small side for him, & anything more appropriately-sized would risk a regurgitation (which is to be avoided,
as it can truly harm a snake). Best to feed not more often than once every 6-7 days to allow adequate digestion, & go longer when the prey size increases. Most captive
snakes are OVER-fed...consider they eat far more often than the typical wild snakes whose meals are not reliably-scheduled. You mentioned he's 7 mos. old, so here's a reliable chart, once you have gotten his accurate weight.


https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7b6e7eecdc.jpg

I'm feeding him hopper mice which I do think is on the small size. When I go through the rest of what I have I'm going to move up a size. I think 4 hoppers left. I need to weigh him soon so I feed him correctly. Thanks for the advice.