BP Roaming Day and Night after substrate change

[smokesphere]

Hi guys, so i've had my BP for around 4 months now and i recently switched his substrate from aspen mulch to Cypress mulch because of humidity issues. when he was in the aspen he was acting like a normal ball python where he was sleeping all day and active during the very early hours of the morning. but now that ive gone and switched his substrate hes been active day and night climbing on every little thing in his cage and generally exploring every nook and cranny available to him. its not a heating issue because the cold and hot sides are still at their 82 and 93 degrees that i started my BP in in the first place. He still eats normally and is completely fine with being handled (he actually seems to enjoy being out sometimes) im just a bit freaked out by his sudden change in behavior and want to know if anyone else has had this happen with their slithery companions.
Thanks in advance for any replies!

[redshepherd]

Could it be the cypress mulch is a bit damp? My ball pythons get restless if their enclosure is damp for whatever reason.

[Regius_049]

This is typically a sign of stress and inability to find a location they consider secure. However, it also is usually accompanied by a lack of interest in eating, so if yours is still eating regularly, you probably do not need to be concerned. I am of the opinion, if a ball python is eating regularly, then the husbandry for that individual animal is very likely to be acceptable.

[smokesphere]

Could it be the cypress mulch is a bit damp? My ball pythons get restless if their enclosure is damp for whatever reason.

the mulch is a little more damp than what he was used to with the Aspen so you could be right that might be why he is so insistent on roaming. he also seems to climbing as much as he possibly can. I'll try to dry out the mulch a bit and see if he goes back to normal

[Coluber42]

It could also be that he's a little freaked out by the change - all of a sudden his home looks and smells and feels like a totally different place, even if the furnishings are otherwise all the same. He'll probably settle down once he's had a bit of time to get used to it.

[Yzmasmom]

Try leaving the Mulch out for a week before you use it. We spread out a big garbage bag and then spread the Mulch we will be using out on the bag a week before we use it and churn it every few days to dry it out.