Ball Python Won't Go to Warm Side of Tank or Eat

[b.rt]

I have a 2-year-old normal ball python, Louis, who has always been very healthy and a good eater.

In the past three months; however, I have not seen him go into the hide on the warmer side of his tank -- not even once. Now for the stats of my setup: Louis is kept in a large-low Exo Terra terrarium, measuring 36" x 18" width a height of only 12". I have a large UTH on one side of his mat kept on a thermostat at 96 degrees, so my thermometer reads that at substrate level the temp on the warm side is usually right around 90 degrees. On his cooler side, where he spends 100% of his time, the temperature is always between 76 and 80 degrees. I use two ceramic heat emitters with different wattages to beat his tank from above. I have a humidifier set up outside of the tank with a hose enabling the mist to enter the enclosure; my hygrometer usually reads somewhere between 50 and 65%. He has an appropriate sized hide on both sides of the enclosure and plenty of fake leaves for cover, as well as a large water dish in the center of his tank. I use shredded coconut fibers for substrate.

Louis did shed about a month ago, but it's been almost three months since he ate. I usually feed him frozen-thawed rat, but after wasting four of them I went and bought a live one because he ate live when he was younger. He showed interest in the live rat, but he refused to strike at it. I tried for several days in a row to feed him late at night but ended up letting the rat go.

I have read extensively on this forum and can't seem to find a remedy -- is his cool side too warm, perhaps? Or the hot side not hit enough? The temperatures I have them at seem to be recommended, so I just can't figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated; I really want to help him travel to the warmth of his UTH so he can eat again!

[chrid16371]

Is the top of your substrate 96 or under is 96? If its on top that's way to high if its under you should still lower is a few degrees in case he burrows so he don't get burned. Also are both your hides the same? If not he may think the cool hide is more secure. You should get some hides from reptile basics, they are very dark and secure. Get 2 so he has one for each side and can't play favorites. Your humidity sound good and for your cool side I wouldn't let it drop below 80 but for the most part it sounds good. He may just be fasting but I would get the reptile basics hides to see if that helps.

[chilliscale]

Assuming you have temps right and you arent stressing him by over handling, he will eat again when he is ready. Perfectly normal for balls to go off feed for no reason. 3 months is nothing. Just double check temperatures below substrate too like mentioned and he will come around. I have a couple that stop eating a couple times a year.

[b.rt]

Thank you very much, I think the hides may be the issue. They are not the same and the one on the warmer side has a much larger opening than the one on the cooler side so he probably doesn't feel secure. I just ordered two medium-size ones from Reptile Basics.

And it's under the substrate that is 96, that's what my probe thermometer reads. Substrate level is usually about 89 on the warm side. Should I lower it more?

[chrid16371]

What's the length of your snake and the width of the largest part of him? Just making sure the mediums are big enough. The larges are huge though. The medium has about a 2 inch entrance. 96 is a bit high bc he could burrow and get burnt. I would lower it to 93 or 92. After you lower it if your not getting a hot spot of 88-90 you can remove some substrate from the hot side.

[b.rt]

He's about three feet -- maybe a little shy by a couple of inches and he's about 2 inches around at his thickest as he has eaten in a while. He usually like to burrow little "secret entrances" into his hides anyway though.

[chrid16371]

Ok you will be good then. I use the medium and my male barely fits into his entrance but he does the same thing, burrows a little downwards so he can get in. I was worried bc mine is 11 months old and little shy of 3 feet About 2 inches in girth and like I said barely gets through the entrance so I was figuring since yours is 2 years old that he would be bigger then mine. But you and him both will be happy with the medium hide. I hope they work out for you. My male would only use his cool as well and the hot hide was a wide open half log and as soon as I switched he started using both so I'll think you will see the same results.

[O'Mathghamhna]

Just check his weight every few weeks to make sure he isn't losing too much. As long as it stays relatively stable he can go off feed for several months without issue.

Also, I had the exact same problem with one of my boys, literally never going to the warm side. As soon as I replaced his hide with something a little more snug, he hung out in both equally.

[b.rt]

I got he new hides and have had them for a couple of days. At first he was pretty interested in the one on the warm side but has now gone back to using only the one on the cool side. I even turned down the warm side even more to be sure it's not too hot.

[chrid16371]

I got he new hides and have had them for a couple of days. At first he was pretty interested in the one on the warm side but has now gone back to using only the one on the cool side. I even turned down the warm side even more to be sure it's not too hot.

Try showing him it. That's what I had to do. What I did was take him and had a handling session and then when I put him back I put his face right in the warm side entry and he slithered in and now he uses both.

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