My Ball Python isn't hiding! Is that normal?

[Dragon Queen]

I've had my ball python for about a month. He eats really well and seems to get hungry every 3 days or so. I feed him a f/t/ warmed mouse every time he seemes to become really overly active or ever 5 days, whichever comes sooner. In the early evening he will sometimes go sit on top of his log which is on the fool side. For the past few days, he has spent all of his time on top of his hide. It is on the warm side, but I can't imagine he is too warm up there.

My floor temperatures are 91-94 on the hot side, and 79ish on the cold side. He is eating fine. I don't know what my humidity is like, but he has a big water bowl as well as a corner with a damp rag so he has places to go for better humidity.

It does not bother me that he is sitting out, but from what I have read it is not normal for Ball Pythons and I wanted to know what you all think about it. He just lies curled up with his head draping down the side.

Thanks!

-Draba

[Dragon Queen]

I should also add that I turned on the heat lamp this morning so where he is right now is 90. The floor was a little warm, so I turned it down (but still not over 94ish). It's not a particularly cold day but I worry that he won't be warm enough up where he is.

His tank also has a blanket around all sides but the front so it feels pretty secure I would imagine. I don't know if that makes any difference to him.....

[Alexandra V]

Roaming could also be a sign of stress, not necessarily hunger. Do both your hides match? Also, are they both the log hides?

If you ask me, the log hides are only good for one thing - throwing at the person who sold it to you, because they're open on the back and don't really make the snake feel secure at all because they aren't very tight fitting, if you know what I mean. If I were you, I'd go and get a pair of matching rock hides, or get two cheap clay pots or anything else that could work as a hide and cut a hole in them as a doorway. Whatever will fit your snake snugly inside.

[Dragon Queen]

I have a shoe box which is small, a plastic hide thing with is a bit bigger, both on the hot side and a log stretching across the tank. It is more for him to climb over and to look pretty. It has some holes that he loves to go through. I wouldn't use that as his only hide though. I also have some leafy fake plants to provide some cover. And right now he isn't roaming, he is just sitting there. He hasn't been as active at night since he started sitting up there. He'll spend all day on top of the hide with his head hanging down the side. Occasionally I will find him in his hide, but for the past 3 days that is pretty rare.

[Dragon Queen]

Here are some pictures of my setup:

My whole tank:



My snake on top of one of the hides (It might be sideways.... sorry about that)

[Alexandra V]

Here are some pictures of my setup:

My whole tank:



My snake on top of one of the hides (It might be sideways.... sorry about that)

Hmmm. Well the fact that they're both on the hot side could explain why. Perhaps your snake feels that it needs to be close to a hide, but doesn't want to be really warm so is hanging out on top of the hide where it would be cooler but is still close to the hide in case it should need to hide.

The only two things I could tell you to do is perhaps downsize the rock hide (looks a bit big for your snake in the pictures) and add another one that's the same on the cool end, to see if she likes that better. Balls are funny and they'll pick favorite hides for no apparent reason, so it's best that you have at least one matching pair of hides.