BP Climbing like a tree python

[Dumdum333]

So my ball python is climbing
Am a bit worried, is he going to burn from going close to the heat lamp? He's done it about 4 times since I shifted him to a bigger enclosure 6 hours ago.
Any suggestions for how to stop it from happening again?

He's climbing and then sitting snugly in the wire
It's pretty cool and I like seeing it, but don't know how wise it is to be so close to the heat.

Let me know!

[iLikeSneks]

Same thing is happening with mine for the exact same reason, I just moved him today to a bigger display enclosure from a tub.

[Dumdum333]

super weird, has he gone into the hides at all?

[iLikeSneks]

super weird, has he gone into the hides at all?

He did right after I took those pictures but as soon as the nightlight came on he came out and went to town up there again until he knocked them down. Now he's trying to climb up the door chain.

[Yzmasmom]

My hatchling sits in her tree from about 7pm to 5am. Some like to climb. My adult hangs out in her tree on occasion.

[KMG]

If possible use a cable strap like your tstat probe is being held with and make the wire it is sitting in sit flush against the wall. That should take the ability to climb like that away.

[Coluber42]

They might just be freaking out a little temporarily from having just moved into a new enclosure. Mine did that when he moved into his grown-up digs; he even did a little bit of it again recently when I just minorly rearranged the furniture. They'll probably settle down after a couple of days.
But in any case, having stuff to climb if they want is a good thing; just make sure they can't get at anything dangerous.
It's normal for them to climb though (although since individuals like it more than others). There are even wild bp's, especially males, that eat more birds than mammals.
Excessive restless behavior that goes on for awhile can be a sign of husbandry problems, but some extra exploration in a new place is to be expected.

[Mangiapane85]

It seems like most people disagree with some of the things I say. But, BPs shouldn't climb. They aren't a climbing species of snake. Their heat source should be down on the ground floor. And if they are climbing, that can ONLY mean one of two things. They are seeking more heat or they are stressed.

EDIT: and that statement is directed almost solely towards hatchling and young juveniles. If they are adult size, they might climb "just for fun", but regardless. All the pics posted raise a flag of concern in my opinion. Especially in the wire. Wire is bad! Lol

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[KMG]

Why could a young BP not also climb for fun?

My BP has climbed her entire life. Now that she is big she constantly pulls down the fake plants around her tank.

I see no issue with any snake climbing as long as there is nothing that can harm them when they climb. My Hognose climbs a lot too and she is really good at it. I have old pics of her doing it in my profile.

[voodoolamb]

I did find these two studies interesting:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...50009809386744

http://booksandjournals.brillonline....53806778190105

Apparently studies of wild python regius have shown juvenile males carry different parasites and feed upon birds at a significantly higher frequency.

Seems that atleast some populations spend quite a bit of time in the trees.

So I don't think that a bp climbing can ONLY be due to stress or bad husbandry...

Of course I would double check the husbandry to be safe.

If I had a climber I would probably redo the cage to make it a safe activity. No large drops. No heat lamp right on top of the wire and really good locks.