She ate! And now she's... Basking??

[Absololol]

Our ball python, ate for the first time with us last night.
We knew the time was right as she was hiding all day, but poking her head out of her hide at night. It took a few tries to get it to a good temperature but she willingly took a mouse the width of her body. I'm stoked as she is only 78g so I'm happy she can eat.

My question is this! After eating she didn't go back into any of her hides. (She has 4 at varying temps.) She's curled up in the hottest place in the Viv - on top of a hide where the temperature is roughly 33c (It's about 30 on the hot side on the ground), and is all curled up. She doesn't seem stressed, she isn't roaming or trying to escape. Just in a 'resting' pose. Could it be she's trying to aid digestion?

Pic included, she was a little confused about the camera. I don't want to stress her after eating so I don't want to move or change anything unless necessary.

Nb: The hide she's on looks too big for her but inside it's stuffed with leaf litter and stuff to brush up on.

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[Absololol]

... Crisis averted. She is back in one of her hides! I'm such a worrier.

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[Midwest]

I started with hides similar to yours. Many people on here commented that they are not the best as the opening is too large and they are too big for your BP. I ended up switching to the black plastic hides. I liked the natural look better but realized the BP's health/happiness is better then how I want it to look.

[Absololol]

Hi Midwest. She does have other hides that are much smaller that she can fit in with all sides brushing against her. She has 4 hides and a habba hut that's closed off completely at one side, making almost 5 hides. She usually chooses those but on this occasion she has gone to the bigger one which is stuffed with coconut husk and leaves to provide a more secure area. This 'hide' is something for her to grow into and provide some climbing space for her, it's one that she probably uses the least and she has an absolutely tiny one right next to it. Thanks for your concern! I added some hides precisely coz I was worried they were too big.

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[Waterman]

I wouldn’t worry about hide size and all that unless it effects the snake eating. People tell me all the time my hides are wrong because they have 2 openings, yet the tiny ball python I got eats like a monster and has no issues.

[Team Slytherin]

Basking is perfectly normal after a meal. The higher temperature helps with digestion. Don’t worry; she’ll hide when she feels like it 😉

[Bogertophis]

... Crisis averted. She is back in one of her hides! I'm such a worrier.

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"Crisis"??? Yes, you are a card-carrying "worrier".

[Crowfingers]

Despite it being said ball pythons don't bask like lizards....sometimes they just have to prove you wrong! Mine "basks" regularly - either on top of his highest branch or wrapped around his hottest hide (the top of which is under the UTH and a steady 92*F). I catch him there in one of these two places a couple of times a week. He has 4 hides that range from is 88*F under the CHE and on the UTH to 78*F - 80*F in his cool hide, but sometimes I guess they just need more heat

[Luvyna]

Glad to hear she is doing well, she's a real cutie! I used to think that BPs didn't bask as well, but after installing a CHE on my enclosure I discovered that my BP comes out at night and sprawls under the CHE to bask He even likes to climb on top of the thermometer in his enclosure to get a little closer to the heat, I think.

[Absololol]

I used to think that BPs didn't bask as well, but after installing a CHE on my enclosure I discovered that my BP comes out at night and sprawls under the CHE to bask.

That's exactly what she's doing right at this moment, actually. I came downstairs and flicked the light on to see her chilling out in the same spot! I guess she's just a basky noodle.

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