Is my Ball Python sick or really weird??

[zina10]

Ok, not trying to overwhelm you, but here goes...

You HAVE to have a thermostat. Period. That is the one thing (well, there are a couple) that is absolutely non-negotiable.
There is not one heat pad that is made for any one species. All of them can easily reach the temperature that will burn a Ball Python.

They need belly heat around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, maybe 92 at the most. Think of it. We run at a internal temperature of 98 Fahrenheit. So if you touch the pad and it feels "warm" to you, it could easily be over 98 fahrenheit (even if you have cold hands)

You need to plug the heat into a thermostat, and the thermostat into a power outlet. There is a "probe" attached to the thermostat, you make sure its fastened between the heat pad and the tank. It measures how hot your heat pad is getting and sends that info to the thermostat. You set the thermostat to the desired temperature, and then it will control (turn on and off) the heat pad, making sure it doesn't get hotter then what you set it at.

After that you need to measure the temp inside of the cage, right above the heat pad (under the substrate) and make sure it reaches between 90 to 92 Fahrenheit.

It sounds like a lot of effort, but its not. There are decent Thermostat on Amazon for around $20. And you can get a decent thermometer (digital, with probe) for around $10. Don't get the "stick on" thermometers, they are worthless and they can come off and get stuck on your snake.

Now...

The additional things you can do to make your snake comfortable and happy. You need 2 hides! One over the warm side, one on the cool side. You can get a smaller water bowl and put it in the middle, put another hide on the "cool" side. This way your snake can choose between warming up and cooling off...as needed. Without giving up privacy and security of being hidden.

Another thing you can do is to use black construction paper and tape it (ON THE OUTSIDE) on the sides and back of the tank. And put something across the top. You create a "giant" cave of some sort and the snake will feel much safer and not so exposed.

As for mites, you will have to observe the snake carefully. The black dots that are mites "move". They like to hide in the heat pits and around the eyes of the snake.

You will have to get the heat regulated and right away, I can't even begin to tell you how many "burned" Ball Pythons we've seen on this forum, due to un-regulated heating pads. The burn doesn't show up right away, first the belly looks pinkish (sometimes looks that way before a shed, too, though) and then you will see blisters. By then it gets very ugly

edit to add...plug up that hole in your hide, wouldn't be the first snake getting stuck in one like that