Worried about daughter's BP

[jknapka]

Hi everyone, new poster...

My daughter has a ball python ("Crowley"). He is about two years old. His home is a 50-gallon glass enclosure, aspen bedding, large under-floor heater in one corner, and two hides, one of which is above the heater. Temp is consistently between 75 and 85, and humidity for the last couple months has been around 60%. She recently switched from feeding him a thawed mouse every 5-6 days to a thawed rat every 7-9 days. He's never had problem eating or defecating, even after switching to rats. We usually handle him once or twice a week for fairly short periods (10-20 minutes). He had a clean shed about 2 weeks ago. He tends to be very active - he's often outside his hides even during the day, and it is very common to see him out and about at night.

However, since his last feeding about 6 days ago, he has not left his hide, as far as I can tell. He did plow a path through the bedding, all the way down to the glass, from his hide to his water bowl, but I have not actually seen him move around. He usually poops within three or four days of a feeding, but there's nothing. I know he's still alive, and he does shift position in his hide, but he has been much less active than usual. I'm wondering if we should be concerned. Reading around on different snake sites I have become worried that maybe he ate some of his bedding and we should take him to the vet.

Should I be worried, or is this within the normal behavior of ball pythons?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

- JK

[PitOnTheProwl]

I am more worried when I see them out and about all the time.
My only real concern in your post is you did not mention how you are regulating your heat mat.

[jknapka]

"My only real concern in your post is you did not mention how you are regulating your heat mat."

It's not regulated, just always on. It covers about 1/10 of the floor area. The floor on the opposite side of the enclosure is quite cool. We thought he'd decide where he wants to hang out... In the winter he spends most of his time over the heater, and recently (before he became totally inactive) he had been going there occasionally but mostly staying in the hide that's away from the heater.

[M.P.C]

You need to unplug that uth asap, also how are you measuring your temps because Its sounds like its getting to hot on the hot side and not warm enough on the cool side. Its not normal to see them out and about alot.. balls are living pet rocks with awsome paintjobs and cute faces

[h20hunter]

Other will address unregulated heat. Maybe he is getting ready to shed? Maybe he is just a fat and happy BP and is laying low?

[redshepherd]

You will need a thermostat for the under-tank heater to regulate the temperature. It's a very required piece of equipment. If you don't want to spent big bucks, there is a good $30 one on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...mostat+reptile

Heat mats that are always on without a thermostat can vastly fluctuate in temperature, going over 100 F, which will burn the snake. It's only a matter of time without a thermostat. :s

Also, happy ball pythons literally are a rock in their hides all day. Coming out once or twice for a drink of water... If a ball python is very active all the time, it usually means there is something not right with your husbandry, whether it's too high/low temperature or humidity.

ETA: Adding about the pooping... ball pythons can wait up to 4 weeks after pooping before pooping again. These guys are weird.

[jknapka]

I have ordered a digital thermostat and unplugged the heater until it arrives. (But of course I'll keep an eye on the thermometer in the tank - it says 80F right now.)

Thanks for the advice and reassurance!

- JK