The story of my backwards ball python

[Exotic Ectotherms]

I have had my pastel BP "Otto" for approximately 3 years now. He was my first BP and while I did a TON of research before buying him, I still learned a lot along the way. Ever since I got him I have kept him in an Animal Plastics enclosure that measures 48"L x 18"D x 18"H. I have read in countless places that this size enclosure was too big for him and he would feel stressed out....so I made sure to put lots of furnishings in the tank to get rid of any big empty spaces. Regardless of the size, he was a good eater for me for several months after I got him. He switched from mice to rats without a hitch and didn't miss a meal for 6 months. Winter time came and he went off feed for two months but readily started eating again as spring approached. This pattern repeated itself the next winter as well.

About a year ago, I decided to expand my collection....because as you all know, it is impossible to have one BP. So I got a rack. I decided to move Otto into the rack....thinking that the smaller enclosure might prevent the annual winter fasting. He didn't eat a single meal for approximately 6 months after being put into the rack. I offered food regularly and monitored his weight (which remained steady). I knew that as long as he wasn't loosing weight I could wait him out and eventually he would eat again. Well....he won.

Two weeks ago I moved him out of his studio apartment tub and put him back into his luxurious penthouse Animal Plastics enclosure. I offered a rat for the first time last night since his move and he ate it without hesitation. I guess the lesson that I took out of all of this is that not all BP's "follow the rules" of BP husbandry. They are individuals, with individual likes, dislikes, and personalities. According to the "rules" of BP keeping, his enclosure is probably a little too big for him....but he'll be dammed if he's going to go back into that cramped tub again...lol. (For the record....the rack I had him in was a Reptile Basics 32qt sweaterbox rack with belly heat and a Herpstat controller. Otto is currently approximately 800grams.)

Has anyone else ever had a BP who preferred a larger enclosure?

[tsy72001]

My baby ball, 112 grams is in a 40 gal tank. She loves it and is not stressed at all. I look at it this way, I would rather be able to stretch than hit the dies all the time.

[Exotic Ectotherms]

As far as I'm concerned, an eating BP is a happy and stress-free BP....no matter how big the enclosure is.

[purplemuffin]

Maru has gotten significantly more stressed lately since we moved him into a rack. He's also a wild caught boy(caught as a yearling), so I don't know how that ties into it. He was never stressed out in the large enclosure, the only reason we moved him was keeping a 55 gallon tank humid is tricky. Honestly, I plan to put him into a slightly larger custom built enclosure full of hides in the future, he just seems to do better when he has more space and more hide options. I think some ball pythons are just like that

[kitedemon]

I have always felt smaller is better is a myth. I think that any size correctly set up an maintained is great. A good enclosure starts with a good keeper. Royals seem to not deal with change well, they take time to get be at ease in a new environment I believe that is mostly what is happing a big change needs time some adjust quickly some very very slowly.