BP roaming?

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, I checked the first day I got him, he's clean. What should I do if he's just still hungry?

Can't hurt to double check. Especially if you're new to the hobby and aren't too sure what to look for.

[Bogertophis]

Personally, I'd check again...you could have missed something...they get on & off, & keep multiplying. Just saying...

How soon after eating does he defecate?

[Ditto]

Okay, should I do that now? I'm not sure what the protocol is since he just ate

Usually a few days

[Bogertophis]

While it's better not to handle a snake after they eat, since he's active anyway (& not barfing his meal) it shouldn't hurt for you to handle* him gently-
wipe over him with a slightly damp white cloth or paper towel...look closely in his cage too (water bowl especially for "specks"). *Do keep his head
higher than his body though, that helps his meal "stay down".

OK, that sounds pretty normal. I ask because I've actually had a rescue (temp. 'house-guest') that defecated about 24 hours after I fed him- he had
lots of intestinal worms that were "helping" him digest at warp-speed. I de-wormed him... Internal parasites could certainly account for a restless
(uncomfortable) snake, that's why I asked.

[Ditto]

Okay I just checked, no mites
What should I do now?

[Bogertophis]

Does he have at least 2 hides (one on warm side & one on cool side)? and what kind are they? how big are they compared to the snake (if he was curled up)?
Most snakes prefer a snug feel...only one doorway that's not too big, just enough room for snake with a meal-bulge to fit thru. Hide shouldn't be too tall either-
if you look at House Beautiful magazine, homes w/ big dramatic front doors & high ceilings...snakes want the exact opposite. If he's roaming it's possibly
because he isn't finding a place he feels safe to settle in. Be sure the surface temps. INSIDE the hides are ok too, not too hot...heat can build up.

[Ditto]

Does he have at least 2 hides (one on warm side & one on cool side)? and what kind are they? how big are they compared to the snake (if he was curled up)?
Most snakes prefer a snug feel...only one doorway that's not too big, just enough room for snake with a meal-bulge to fit thru. Hide shouldn't be too tall either-
if you look at House Beautiful magazine, homes w/ big dramatic front doors & high ceilings...snakes want the exact opposite. If he's roaming it's possibly
because he isn't finding a place he feels safe to settle in. Be sure the surface temps. INSIDE the hides are ok too, not too hot...heat can build up.

He has a bigger hide (not too big, just a standard black plastic hide) on the hot side with a toilet paper tube inside in case he needs extra security, and two TP tubes on the cool side (and he has hid in them before so I know he fits), he fits snugly in the TP tubes and a bit loosely in the bigger hide. Also I check his surface temps pretty much hourly with a temp gun so I can make sure he doesn't get too hot again
Sorry this reply took so long, by the time I'm typing this he's hiding again lol. He still has his face sticking out though

[Bogertophis]

I'm glad you checked on temps.- you shouldn't need to check hourly though, are you not using a thermostat?

What you might do in the larger hide (instead of the TP roll, maybe take them out): loosely crumple* a couple paper towels & stuff them in there. He'll be able to smoosh himself in really well & I've found many baby snakes (of all kinds) seem to like how that feels. I have a feeling he tried the tubes but they aren't quite the right thing.

*Another option with paper towels: layer a couple towels & tear/shred them into strips, then toss strips into a jumble, & use inside the hides as before. Snakes love to move thru and hide in things in the wild...grasses, leaves, crevices & holes.

When you use paper towels in a hide this way, they can freely move thru it but everywhere they go they feel 'surrounded', which to them = "safe". It also shouldn't impact the temperature too much (as long as it's not packed in like insulation).

[Ditto]

Oh I'm using a thermostat too, I just had his temps up way too high when I first got him and now I'm kinda paranoid lol
I'll try paper towels, thanks!