Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 1,319

2 members and 1,317 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,945
Threads: 249,142
Posts: 2,572,364
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, SONOMANOODLES
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: Shy guy?

  1. #1
    Registered User SgtZabka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-01-2014
    Location
    Los Ranchos, NM
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts

    Shy guy?

    Hey all so it has been 4 days since I brought my little BP home and he hasn't left the hide at all, even at night...I know a hidden BP is a happy BP but when I took away the hide he was really curious and moved to every corner of the tank even soaked in his water bowl for a bit but as soon as I replaced the hide he zipped right back in there Also, when I did have him out, he let me hold him a few times! He felt kind of cold to the touch, tank is sitting about 80 degrees right now with 55% humidity, is this normal for a BP? Oh and one more thing, near his rear, his skin creased weird almost like fat folds, what is that about?
    ~University of New Mexico~ GoLobos!
    ΠΚΑ

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member Gerardo's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-30-2012
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,385
    Thanks
    473
    Thanked 400 Times in 301 Posts
    Images: 10
    Its normal for a BP to hide especially if you only had him 4 days. Leave him alone for a few days. How are you measuring the temperature and humidity?

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-26-2014
    Posts
    74
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 57 Times in 35 Posts
    I'm no expert, but everything I've read suggests that it takes at least a week or two--or more--for your new BP to adjust to his surroundings. When I got Nigel, I just wanted to hold him all. The. Time. But it wasn't fair to him to expect that, after being yanked from his place of birth, stuck in a tub, jostled around while being moved from one place to another, and put into a completely unfamiliar environment, that he'd be happy with some giant creature holding him.

    It's good that he's not restless! As much as we like to look at them, the "hiding snake is a happy snake" phrase really is true in most cases. That's how he feels safe and secure.

    I will say that 80 degrees is too cold for him. Is that the ambient temperature, or the temperature in the hot side of his enclosure? His hot spot should be closer to 90 degrees. We had a little bit of trouble getting our temps just right, and for a few days, Nigel was hiding on the cool side exclusively. I researched and found that since the tank wasn't warm enough, he was putting himself in a state of near-hibernation! We warmed things up and he was much happier.

    Good luck to you and your new little (shy) guy!
    3.0 Ball pythons: Nigel (Normal), Stan (Super Pastel), Jack (Bumblebee)

    0.1 German Shepherd: Lucy

  4. #4
    Registered User SgtZabka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-01-2014
    Location
    Los Ranchos, NM
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: Shy guy?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gerardo View Post
    Its normal for a BP to hide especially if you only had him 4 days. Leave him alone for a few days. How are you measuring the temperature and humidity?
    Thermo-Hyrdometer with probe in the middle of the tank half way between soil and screen.
    ~University of New Mexico~ GoLobos!
    ΠΚΑ

  5. #5
    BPnet Senior Member Gerardo's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-30-2012
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,385
    Thanks
    473
    Thanked 400 Times in 301 Posts
    Images: 10
    What about his hot spot?

  6. #6
    Registered User SgtZabka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-01-2014
    Location
    Los Ranchos, NM
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: Shy guy?

    I honestly couldn't tell you, his hot spot is under a 100w ceramic lamp if that can give you an estimate
    ~University of New Mexico~ GoLobos!
    ΠΚΑ

  7. #7
    BPnet Senior Member Gerardo's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-30-2012
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,385
    Thanks
    473
    Thanked 400 Times in 301 Posts
    Images: 10
    Is the lamp the only heat source?
    Last edited by Gerardo; 02-03-2014 at 12:55 PM.

  8. #8
    BPnet Lifer coldbloodaddict's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-19-2006
    Location
    Fredericksburg, Va
    Posts
    3,972
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 1,912 Times in 971 Posts

    Re: Shy guy?

    Quote Originally Posted by SgtZabka View Post
    I honestly couldn't tell you, his hot spot is under a 100w ceramic lamp if that can give you an estimate
    Who could tell us?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to coldbloodaddict For This Useful Post:

    Slim (02-03-2014)

  10. #9
    Registered User SgtZabka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-01-2014
    Location
    Los Ranchos, NM
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: Shy guy?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gerardo View Post
    Is the lamp the only heat source?
    Yes it is.

    Quote Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict View Post
    Who could tell us?
    Haha, I mean I don't know the temperature for the hot spot I just know the ambient temp for inside the tank.
    ~University of New Mexico~ GoLobos!
    ΠΚΑ

  11. #10
    BPnet Senior Member Slim's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-17-2008
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    7,739
    Thanks
    3,258
    Thanked 4,252 Times in 2,630 Posts
    Images: 1
    If it's with in your means, get one of these ASAP:

    http://www.reptilebasics.com/412l-thermometer

    Guessing at the temps in your BP's enclosure is a sure way to have them too hot or too cold.
    Thomas "Slim" Whitman
    Never Met A Ball Python I Didn't Like

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Slim For This Useful Post:

    SgtZabka (02-04-2014)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1