New Cage And She's Going Crazy!

[Timiko]

moved my bp to a new cage this past saturday. it's 24"x24"x24"(she was in a 10 gal) . put in a new warm hide and her old hide on the cool side, her old climbing stick, old water dish etc. she has been going nuts the whole weekend. climbing and falling and looking and etc,etc, etc! finaly this morning, after I had taken out the new hide and moved her old hide to the warm side. she had moved it over to the cool side turned it over and knocked her stick down turned over her water dish had tore the paper loose all over the place, and when I found her she had gotten under the paper under her hide laying on the bottom of the cage. I moved everything back to her old tank and she went into her hide. I dont know how she's doing because I had to get to work. Is this normal for a bp to do this? I could use some advice please! shes almost 30" long and that 10 gal tank is getting small. the new one was the white marilite with a glass front.

[Smulkin]

New surroundings will usually get some exploratory behavior from BP's much more so if it is a new enclosure than a familiar enclosure in a new space (room etc). If the floorspace is considerably larger you might consider tossing in an extra hide or two just to offer more security. Sounds like she was just a wee stressed at the change - I would give her some time to get used to it and disturb her as little as possible during the transition.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Many ball pythons are insecure in large spaces ... the new bigger space is just a little wierd for her compared to those "cramped" quarters of the 10 gallon tank that she probably feels very safe in.

Don't be afraid to give her more time in the smaller cage, she'll be fine. I'd wait until much warmer weather to move her into the larger enclosure (to lessen any chance of fasting) and then fill it with lots of crumpled up newspaper to make it seem smaller than it is. Over time you can put less and less crumpled newspaper in with her as she starts to settle in. Eventually, everything will be right in her world again and at that point you'll want to put her in a differenct cage or rack or whatever and start all over!!

-adam

[DrEwTiMe]

Ya and just remember, when you make the change to use as many things thta she is used to as possible, I.E. Keep the sames hides on the same sides of the tank, same climbing branches in same places, same fake vegitation in same places ect. Just so that it does not make the snake think that its totally upsidedown with all the new things. They don't really like change too much but if you do it the right way they should get used to anything.

Very good idea with the newpaper adam hehe, never thought of that before

[Adam_Wysocki]

Very good idea with the newpaper adam hehe, never thought of that before

Definitely not an original ... Kevin @ NERD taught me that one in a previous century!!! Has worked like a charm for me ever since! Kev is wicked smart with little tip and tricks like that.

-adam

[Timiko]

Thanks folks for all the helpful info! I just fed her again back in her old tank, so I dont think that she is too stressed out. I also traded the new cage for a different one. it's a larger glass tank I think they said a critter litter or something. it's like a big fish tank only not so deep and it's wider. so I think it will work out better. also thanks adam I think I will wait till it gets a little warmer to move her into it. I'll probably get some new flex watt and a new thermastat to fit her new cage. Thanks!!!

[alexrls]

ahhhh yes another statisfied customer adam

[justcage]

Tim all you have to do is hit the snake in the head and it will calm down.. Works like a charm....