Python refusing to leave an unsafe hide!

[lewis97]

I recently picked up a baby ball (4 months, girl) and while i was at the shop I thought I'd pick up a second hide for the cool side of her viv. Being the rookie that I am I didn't check it properly before I let her in it. This was last Tuesday (6 days ago). Upon closer inspection the hide is terrible! It's got a floor on it so I can't get her out, and the entrance point is only about the width of a golf ball so I can't get my hand in to help her out either! The problem that I'm having is that she was due to feed a week ago, and the inside of the hide also has some defects where it's pointy and jagged and i don't like her being in there rubbing against them. I've tried placing her on the cool side and leaving her in the dark overnight in hope that she'll move to the warm but I have to keep abandoning that plan in fear of her getting too cold and suffering a RI like my last snake . I've tried placing the hide at a slightly awkward angle (ensuring she's okay) to coax her out - nothing. Yesterday I tried moving the hide in it's entirety to a separate black box and attempted to feed her (and get her out) with a brained thawed fuzzy mouse - nothing. Left it there for an hour - nothing. She popped her head out and went back in. I'm also worried because she hissed once when I tried to see if I could gently pull her out. I know she is frightened but I think it's about time she came out of there and got ready to feed, as well as being comfortable enough to thermoregulate! I've caught her ONCE half out of the hide in the middle of the night, over her water bowl, but the minute i lifted up my jacket off of the glass and let the light in her viv she zoomed back in to her hide haha.

Any tips for getting her out? SHOULD i get her out? Just want her to be okay. Please help ASAP.

Regards, Lewis.

[michaelt]

I would just leave her alone.. if she wont come out for a dancing dead mouse/rat just lay in in there on some paper towel.. if she eats it great if she dont take it out in the morning.

[DVirginiana]

Are you 100% sure she CAN get out if she wants to? If so, then I'd say try not to worry too much, and she'll come out when she's ready.

[JLC]

The more you mess with it, the more stubborn (afraid) she'll be to come out. Just set it in her enclosure and leave her completely alone until you see her out and about. Then just gently, without any fuss, reach in and remove the offending hide. It won't hurt her to miss a meal or two. (This could take days, or even a week or two before you see her...they live life at a very slow pace, and you won't know if she's out and about while you're not watching. Be patient!)

As for getting an RI for resting on the "cool" side of her enclosure....no place in the enclosure should be so cool that they risk getting sick for hanging out there.