Ball Python Not Sleeping, Trying to Escape

[EL-Ziggy]

I prefer, and keep, higher cool side temps too but I don’t see an issue if the snake has access to a 90 hot spot and ambient temps in the low 70s. It can still thermoregulate itself properly. I have no clue where the notion that BPs, and other snakes, can’t survive in temps below 75 comes from when they’re probably more cold tolerant than heat tolerant. I also don’t think it has anything to do with the OPs issue about the snake continuously trying to escape. Colder temps usually cause them to become more dormant and less active. I’d try offering larger meals or letting him out more often for exercise. When my snakes get really active it’s usually because they’re hungry or they want out of their cage. If I feed them or let them out for a stretch they usually stop with the pacing and pushing.

[Bob212]

What I meant was that I can't do a full room heater constantly. He still has an adequate UTH. 75 degrees is new information to me. Every other source that I've seen has said around 70-75 which is what my cold side is. I think I've figured out what the problem is though. For some reason he really likes this half log but I took it out a while ago to give him a little more room. Within 10 minutes of putting it back in he stopped all weird behavior and fell alseep in his hide.

[Homebody]

I'd put him back in the old enclosure until you figure out what's driving him crazy about the new one.

[Jamiekerk]

Do you weigh your rats I have a jewlry weighing scale and weigh all my rats to make sure they are getting appropriate size meals, if your feeding small rats and he’s surfing around after meals could just be that he is still in feeding more and is just trying to acquire more food, was he doing this when he was on hunger strike or was he chilled out, I’ve had snakes when I’ve fed the wrong size meals keep actively looking for more food hence why I weigh all my food now.


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[Bogertophis]

What I meant was that I can't do a full room heater constantly. He still has an adequate UTH. 75 degrees is new information to me. Every other source that I've seen has said around 70-75 which is what my cold side is. I think I've figured out what the problem is though. For some reason he really likes this half log but I took it out a while ago to give him a little more room. Within 10 minutes of putting it back in he stopped all weird behavior and fell alseep in his hide.

I guess he felt insecure after you messed with his "furniture". Glad you figured that out.

[Bob212]

I don't know what happened, he was doing fine but this morning he just started acting crazy again. I fed him like 3 days ago but tonight he scared the s$!t out of me. He submerged his head under water and wouldn't bring it up. I had to pull him out. Please help I have no idea what to do, I think he's eating plenty but idk, my anxiety is going crazy right now.

[Bogertophis]

Just so you know, snakes can hold their breath for quite a while- I seriously doubt you needed to "pull him out" of the water, & in doing so, you probably scared the heck out of him.

And one reason snakes seek to submerge in water is for relief from mites. Please check THOROUGHLY for mites, they can kill a snake quicker than you'd think, & your snake cannot tell you what's wrong, you have to learn to figure it out from his behavior. We're not seeing your snake at all, so our guesses are just that- guesses.

[Bob212]

I searched him and I can't find any mites. Should I take him to the vet to get looked at?

[Bogertophis]

I searched him and I can't find any mites. Should I take him to the vet to get looked at?

Hard to say- we aren't seeing the snake or the set-up, & btw, what size prey are you feeding him? I wonder if you might be under-feeding him- ever think of that? I've seen it happen. Do you have a scale to weigh him & his food?

If he's eating, & eating ENOUGH, & you've ruled out all the husbandry* issues? (*which most vets can't help you with- they deal with medical issues, not housing/hides/privacy/temps./humidity/& feeding) I'd say it's up to you, if the prey you're feeding checks out as adequate for his size (weight) per the chart below.

One thing I just thought of- maybe this is a female, not a male? Plenty of snakes get sexed wrong- & female BPs eat more than males- that could explain this?
Maybe a vet WOULD be a good idea, if they're qualified to double-check the gender for you?

[Caitlin]

If temps and humidity are correct and the snake is eating normally, the next thing I'd consider is the fact that sometimes snakes just hate their enclosures and need a different one to feel comfortable. You said he settled down when you put an old hide back in with him. That tells you a lot.

I have snakes that act miserable and restless in glass enclosures but settle down in tubs. I have snakes that act miserable and restless in tubs but settle down in glass enclosures. I have snakes that refuse to eat if they are in an enclosure that's too large. I have snakes that try constantly to escape if they are in an enclosure that they feel is too small, or if they don't have sufficient opportunities to explore outside of the enclosure.

I'm not seeing anything in your descriptions that leads me to think that it'd be worth it to stress him further with a veterinary visit. When you say he started going crazy again, are you referring to his behavior in the water (which frankly I wouldn't worry about) or is he also showing other behaviors that indicate distress?