Ball acting like a worm. o.O

[PythonIVXX]

I've finally been able to handle my snake and she is doin incredible. Switched from aspen to cypress bedding yesterday while I had her out, since it retains more moisture. But noticed something different when I placed her into her tank this time that I hadn't witnessed before. She seemed very happy and would go underneath the substrate and then poke her head out like a worm. I had never seen this before and thought it was quite fascinating. She eventually tore up the entire 40 gallon tank and made her own trials. Thought I'd share an see if anyone else has ever witnessed this kind of behavior. Temps are at 84-77 with 68%.

[Annarose15]

Some of mine love to burrow in their cypress, under newspaper, under the water bowls... Basically, anywhere that they think they might find a good place to hide!

[LLLReptile]

Having a layer of moist substrate that they can burrow in sometimes acts like an extra, tank-sized hiding spot. My younger ball pythons often use substrate this way. The older ones seem too lazy to frolic around in the bedding

-Jen

[PythonIVXX]

She is a baby as well. Estimated guess around 26-28 weeks. I have only had her for about a month an half. And I'm only guessing she is a girl based on her rapid growth, about 2 ft now fully stretched. Still on hoppers, thinking about giving her 2 this week.

[LLLReptile]

Try at least an adult mouse. I only offer hoppers to my hatchlings the first couple weeks; after that they're ready for small mice and very, very quickly are large enough for regular mice or larger.

-Jen

[Eric Alan]

Try at least an adult mouse. I only offer hoppers to my hatchlings the first couple weeks; after that they're ready for small mice and very, very quickly are large enough for regular mice or larger.

-Jen

Agreed. My 7 month old girl weights in at 598g and is easily taking down small rats at her size. If the OP has a scale to weigh her on (in grams - like a kitchen scale), I'd do it and let us know. If not, you (OP) should be picking out a prey size that's as big around as the largest part of her body. Mouse hoppers are too small for all but BP hatchlings. Give that girl a real meal!

[PythonIVXX]

Just weighed her in at 163 grams on the dot.

[MsMissy]

I've for a girl slightly larger than yours <177gr> and she takes down two adult mice every Monday. The ones I'm getting only weigh in at about 16 gr. It's a little over the 15% but makes her a very happy snake.

[Eric Alan]

Just weighed her in at 163 grams on the dot.

Sweet! I'd shoot for meals then between 16 and 24 grams (10-15%). I second guess my ability to eyeball, so I still measure everything.

If getting to this range means doubling up on mouse hoppers in a single feeding, then by all means do so. If you're able to get a little larger mouse/rat in order to do a single animal in one feeding, then feeding time becomes that much easier for you. I'd also say that moving feedings up to every 4 days or so would help "pack on the pounds" too (in a healthy way, of course). Most of the fun when they're this size is in watching them grow almost right before your eyes.

[cory9oh4]

Your little worm is doing the worm