Hi,

I've been a bit worried about my 10 month old ball python. Let me just tell describe my experiences:
The first thing I've noticed is that he doesn't use his warm hide anymore. Normally he would change between his warm and his cold hide on a regular basis but he suddenly decided to stay in his cold hide. He has not gone to his warm hide in like two months. Despite him not going into his hide he still hangs out on top of his hide right under the heat lamp (which is, of course, in a cage).
I thought that the hide might be dirty so I cleaned it thoroughly but he's just not interested. I just let him be and thought that it was ok for him to stay in his cold hide if he wants to.
About two weeks ago he went into shed. He refused to eat (which he has done only once before and that was when I first got him). Again I thought that it might be because he was in shed. Now he has shed (in one piece) and he hasn't left his cold hide ever since (for four days he has just stayed in his hide). Normally he would a least peek out of his hide but he doesn't even get up at night. Today I got a little scarred so I sprayed him with a little bit of water to see if he's still alive which woke him up.
I might be a bit overly worried but I just want to know if it is a sign of something bad or if my husbandry is faulty.


These are a few other details about him:

1. He weighs about 550g and is about 37 inches long.
2. The temperature is at 87 degrees on the warm side and 79 degrees on the cold side.
3. The humidity is around 55% but I have to spray a few times a day.
4. It hasn't been a week since the last time I tried to feed him (the time he refused because he was in shed), so I haven't tried it again. He is due this Sunday.
5. He eats small rats once a week.
6. It's been a bit loud the past few days, since I just got a bigger terrarium for him. It was so big that it was difficult to transport it to the first floor. I'm a bit worried that all the ruckus might have disturbed him.
7. Since he has gotten quite big, I had to buy new caves. I've replaced the hide on the warm side but I still haven't replaced the one on the cold side since that one is a bit bigger.
8. He has not shown any aggressive behaviour.
9. I don't handle him and I only take him out if I have to clean his terrarium. That is also the time when I take a look whether he looks healthy (which he does).
10. I don't use an underheat mat. I do have one and I also have a thermostat but I don't use them anymore since it seems like he is doing better without it.


Thanks to everyone in advance.