Unusual Activity?

[Hydrolicious]

My ball python's been active(climbing the sides of the tank, entering and exiting his hides repeatedly, and excessively flicking his tongue) almost all day for the past 2 days, whereas usually he's active only at night. Is he hungry, looking for food or something? If so, should I feed him early?

[tsy72001]

I would offer food to him.

[Hydrolicious]

So it's not bad to go off schedule? Alright, then. Thanks.

[wwmjkd]

I would check your temperatures first, both hot side, cold side and ambient. if you're worried about unusual behavior, I'd look to husbandry first.

[Hydrolicious]

I would check your temperatures first, both hot side, cold side and ambient. if you're worried about unusual behavior, I'd look to husbandry first.

I wouldn't worry about this since he's maintained proper eating habits, health, normal shedding, and a set behavior ever since I picked him up at the end of July. I'll post my setup and temps anyway since you suggested it...

-3 month old ball python, about 21-22 inches
-Unable to weigh right now as I lack a sensitive scale

-10 gal glass tank (have a 30 gal tank but need a custom lid for it) w/ screen lid
-heat mat on the underside for warm end, infrared heat lamp above the tank for ambient
-substrate is 1/2 inch depth of aspen shavings, with a single layer of paper towels beneath that to prevent burns if he decides to burrow
-yes, the sides and back are blacked out
-2 hides, constructed out of old trading card boxes - one on the cool end, the other directly above the heating pad
-a small rock
-a branch
-a 4-inch diameter water dish, water depth at 1 1/2 inches

-50-60% daytime humidity, 60-70% at night
-cool end is about 80
-ambient is 85
-warm end is 90

As far as I know, I have everything set up as best as you can for a glass tank setup. Oh, and I feed him a fuzzy(typically of 1 inch girth) every Monday.

[Skittles1101]

If your setup is as good as you are describing and everything is as you say, then you can easily change to a 5 day feeding schedule as opposed to the 7 day. I feed every 5 days for my little ones, and since fuzzies (rat I'm hoping?) are so small, changing to a 5 day schedule will make him "empty" less time, which could be the cause of the roaming.

[Hydrolicious]

If your setup is as good as you are describing and everything is as you say, then you can easily change to a 5 day feeding schedule as opposed to the 7 day. I feed every 5 days for my little ones, and since fuzzies (rat I'm hoping?) are so small, changing to a 5 day schedule will make him "empty" less time, which could be the cause of the roaming.

Alright, I'll try this. From what you people have told me, he just seems to be hungry. I'll start feeding him on a 5 day schedule. I'll drop back to the weekly schedule if he starts to get noticeably fat with visible skin between scales, though.

[Skittles1101]

I keep to a 5 day feeding schedule up until about 400-500 grams...and have yet to have an overweight snake you are referring to rat fuzzies right?

[Hydrolicious]

No, I feed mice... Should I be feeding small rats already? If that's the case, can I just feed him larger mice?
I still have a punch card to use up at the Petland by my house, and I don't want to waste my money.

[Hydrolicious]

Nevermind, I was misinformed and using the wrong term. I think I'm feeding him "crawlers," they're 2-3 inches long, excluding the tail.