Overactive/ trying to escape ball python

[lilythebillygoat]

Hi everyone, I've had my ball python for nearly 3 months, and he's 5 months old. I recently had to leave my flat for about a month, of course I took him with me with a temporary tub (UTH and thermostat, temps 32/25 the whole time), and then yesterday we came back home. He was happy with his viv setup for 2 months before we left, but now he is constantly roaming (the past 24 hours he hasn't stopped or so it seems), climbing and pushing his nose against the glass, to the extent that it's going red. His temps are at 31/27, so not too hot, I have also put my hand in there to see if there's a problem with my thermometer but it feels like normal. (he might have been a bit cold on the journey but never below 20 degrees and it was a short journey, about 1hr 30). I fed him 4 days ago, 1 large mouse. He has a hot and cool hide, loads of ground cover... What's the problem here! Your help is much appreciated!

[Zincubus]

If he's used to the setup it kinda sounds like its trying to get away from the heat .... is there anyway you can double check .

What kind of thermometer are you using ?? Hopefully not one of those stick-on ones which are basically worthless .

Maybe a photo will help others to help you ... more details like the type of heat source , general layout , where the stat probe is placed ?

Just provide as much info as possible ..

[lilythebillygoat]

Hi, thanks a lot for your response!

It's a bit late/dark to take photos now but will do in the morning. I'll probably look into getting a temp gun online tomorrow but don't want to wait for it to arrive before sorting this out! It's a large ish viv, he has the hot hide with a UTH on a thermostat (placed in his hot hide in the substrate) and a ceramic bulb on the other end set low just to keep the ambient heat up, it's very cold in our flat! This is also on a thermostat (placed just on the ground under the bulb).

Oh no those thermometers are god awful haha, I have a digital thermometer one probe in his hot hide and one on the ground beneath the heat bulb..

At the moment he keeps reaching up towards the heat bulb (there's a guard on it, don't worry) - could it be too cold??? The temps are still 31/27 so that's 88/80 in Fahrenheit (I think haha), and the humidity hasn't dropped below 50%, it tends to be about 57%.

I'm just baffled, any help would be amazing!

[lilythebillygoat]

Just tried to add a photo and I can't seem to do it.. it says I may not post attachments. Sorry!!

[Coluber42]

If he's been in a different enclosure for a month and is now back in his old one, he might be just freaking out a bit about the change. Even if he was in it before, it's been awhile and a switch to a different enclosure is kind of like having your entire universe be swapped for a new one. Obviously still double check that your temps and humidity are good, and if there's room you can try giving him things that were in his temporary home, like the hide he was using or something that at least smells familiar. But he might just be freaking out about the move and he'll settle down in a day or two.

[lilythebillygoat]

Thanks so much for your response! Think i'll try feeding him on Tuesday like I normally would and hope he calms down soon..

[lilythebillygoat]

UPDATE:

So I fed him and he hid for about a night and then was out again, I cleaned his viv out incase his hides were unsatisfactory and I thought this helped but he's still out pushing at the glass all the time making his nose red Temps are still normal, he's eaten once more with no problems... I'm so confused should I try feeding him more? I've been feeding him a 25g mouse every 6 days, I thought he weighed about 240g but just weighed him and he's about 300g so he might need a little more food...

Any help would be so appreciated!

[Coluber42]

Could you post a picture of your setup?
Assuming the temperatures and humidity are good, adding more clutter and cover might help. Branches, more hides, even just toss a bunch of balled up paper towels all over everywhere. Cover three sides of the tank with paper or something else opaque. If you can add more clutter that is at least somewhat familiar, that might help. So, take whatever hides/bowls were in the temporary enclosure and add them into the permanent one, even if they have to be stacked on other stuff. Basically, make it so the snake can get from one end to the other mostly without being seen. When it's night, keep the lights out.
Whatever changes you're going to make, make them once and then leave things alone with no more changes for awhile.

The other thing is, double check your temperatures. What are you measuring with? Do you have a temp gun to check the enclosure for hot and cold spots? Do you have a digital thermometer/hygrometer?

[lilythebillygoat]

Thanks for your response! I said some of this above along with more details of the setup, unfortunately the site won't seem to let me post attachments for some reason so I don't know how I can show a photo... All the stuff in his temporary tub was from his normal viv so it's all back in with him now, and 3 of the walls are already opaque. I tried covering up the glass side with a thick scarf but this didn't seem to have any effect; I'll try putting some balled up paper in at the front of the tank (the only area with visible floor).

I have a komodo digital thermo/hygrometer with two probes, and should be picking up my temp gun on Saturday.