Ball python that thinks its a tree snake! :)

[ms381]

Ok, finally i got my first baby ball python two days ago, with the help from lots of people helping me with my temps from another thread here

So i thought would post a thread about his behaviour.

I have a exo terra fake cave wall background made out of foam (u know the ones) and at the top there is about a small inch long and 1 cm deep cut on each side, i think made by the previous owner. I use the fake wall to shorten the length of my cage.

I assumed that my baby ball would not get any where near the holes to the other side, but first time in his new cage he got straight up to one of the holes and was kinda just exploring around for a while, not actually going over. I then decided to show him his hot hide where he stayed almost all day and night (normal!) Then i woke at two times in the night to find him hanging around both different holes, proped like a tree boa!

Im not particulary worried as his temps are spot on, humidity good and he seems relaxed and not aggresive. But i thought that balls, especially babys would stay practically rooted to the ground, i know some adults do like to climb.

Shall i cover teh holes to stop him getting to the otehr side, although he doesnt seem to want to or let him carry on being a tree python

Just thought i would share with you, and wondered if you have any thoughts?

Thanks

matt

Henry is a 6 week old male pastel, and beautiful!

[ms381]

Ok, finally i got my first baby ball python two days ago, with the help from lots of people helping me with my temps from another thread here

So i thought would post a thread about his behaviour.

I have a exo terra fake cave wall background made out of foam (u know the ones) and at the top there is about a small inch long and 1 cm deep cut on each side, i think made by the previous owner. I use the fake wall to shorten the length of my cage.

I assumed that my baby ball would not get any where near the holes to the other side, but first time in his new cage he got straight up to one of the holes and was kinda just exploring around for a while, not actually going over. I then decided to show him his hot hide where he stayed almost all day and night (normal!) Then i woke at two times in the night to find him hanging around both different holes, proped like a tree boa!

Im not particulary worried as his temps are spot on, humidity good and he seems relaxed and not aggresive. But i thought that balls, especially babys would stay practically rooted to the ground, i know some adults do like to climb.

Shall i cover teh holes to stop him getting to the otehr side, although he doesnt seem to want to or let him carry on being a tree boa

Just thought i would share with you, and wondered if you have any thoughts?

Thanks

matt

Henry is a 6 week old male pastel, and beautiful!

[[]$(@R]

I dont know if its normal cause i just got my ball also, but she gets to places where im like woah! How did you get there! I dont even know if she can get back down! She is extremely active and goes everywhere its actually pretty awesome.

[ms381]

I dont know if its normal cause i just got my ball also, but she gets to places where im like woah! How did you get there! I dont even know if she can get back down! She is extremely active and goes everywhere its actually pretty awesome.

I was thinking about how he may get down as well, but i left him up there over night and he got back down just fine into his warm hide by the morning.
Im am not an expert and also it is my first snake, but i would think it was better that the snake to be active and wanting to explore rather than keeping balled up in his warm hide all the time?

Thats just my thoughts.

Glad your enjoying your snakes habits to, it seems every snake has its own habits and personalities. If you hear aymore about this subject do let me know.

Thanks

Matt

[Python-77]

I had a ball years ago that I alway thought was part tree snake, she would always be found hanging out on her branch in the tank. Snakes are like any other animal, the breed has certain characteristics but each animal is its one individual

[mumps]

This is where I question the almost universal thinking that "balls are perfectly fine in tubs" attitude. Mine ALL like to climb and explore, particularly at night, and I feel we should be providing the option for them to do so.

Impossible to provide for this activity in a tub that is 5" tall...

Chris

[Python-77]

agreed, they dont need monster tanks but they need more than a shoe box

This is where I question the almost universal thinking that "balls are perfectly fine in tubs" attitude. Mine ALL like to climb and explore, particularly at night, and I feel we should be providing the option for them to do so.

Impossible to provide for this activity in a tub that is 5" tall...

Chris

[ms381]

This is where I question the almost universal thinking that "balls are perfectly fine in tubs" attitude. Mine ALL like to climb and explore, particularly at night, and I feel we should be providing the option for them to do so.

Impossible to provide for this activity in a tub that is 5" tall...

Chris

I agree with your comment, and actually have not thought about the tank vs tub issue in that way before. I just naturally thought that it was the owners preferance as it would not effect the snake being in a small tub, this is what most care sheets and you tube videos show. I can understand the use of tubs from a breeders point of view for practicality, but maybe owners should provide more climbing space?

Yes it is harder to keep temps stable and humidity in, but it is possible with a little work. I spent a whole week getting it right before my baby ball went in. Now i think his enjoying his tank with those places to climb and hang out in. When he first went in as i said before he stretched his whole body up to the roof of the cage, so height of the tank and climbing may play an important part of his life.

Would be good to still here others point of view, tank vs tub. Ground dwellers and climbers?

[shelliebear]

My ball pythons do not climb. However, my corn snake is a different story--she burrows into her bedding AND somehow, though she is only 4 months old and teeny tiny, has made it to the top of the 10 gallon tank she resides in, where she hung for several hours (wedged between the lid and the tank itself). I have NO idea how she got there.
As for BP's climbing, you could say it either way, but perhaps it's that "they only use what is there". If they have a log to climb, perhaps some will seem happy to climb and explore, but if they don't have one, they will never miss it or suffer. Ball pythons in the wild prefer to live in grasslands, savannahs, and SPARSELY wooded areas. Most of those places have tall grass but not much for trees.
I definitely think they're happy in a tub, but they're probably just as happy in a tank (with proper temps and humidity), with or without something to climb.
If you didn't know soda existed, you wouldn't want it....right?

[Jeo123]

Mine likes to climb on the thermometers stuck on the side of the cage.

She's not exactly too graceful at getting down from there though.