Straight Chillin' or Is Something Wrong?

[indygunnerguy]

Hey all! Please see pic...last night Gargamel was laying like this for quite a while. Normally he's all balled up hiding somewhere so it struck me as odd. Being a new snake dad, any new behaviors kind of freak me out. Is this normal or is this something indicative of a problem?

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[Craiga 01453]

Nothing to worry about. Just a snake being a snake. No harm in asking though. Sometimes they don't "follow the rules".

[Valyndris]

Ball pythons like to come out at night and explore, well at least mine does and always has. He will inspect every corner of his enclosure and will try to escape, that is normal behavior for a ball python, as long as it's late/night time. I find they can stress out a bit having each side of the tank exposed, so I recommend getting a background for at least the back side to make him feel a little bit more secure. I'm pretty sure him laying like that just means he is comfortable and doesn't feel like he needs to hide. If this is during the day I'd find it a bit odd unless he is starting a shed, for some reason I've seen many ball pythons like to sit outside their hides when they are in shed mode. You have a very cute snake.

[Sonny1318]

I have a couple that have no problem chilling out in open. But they are all extremely healthy and good eaters. Long as he’s eating and non defensive, maybe he’s just more comfortable “realizing” you not a predator. He can also be hinting he’s hungry. I’m not sure how long you’ve had him, or if your experiencing any other husbandry issues. Just my 2 cents.

[JodanOrNoDan]

I have a couple that have no problem chilling out in open. But they are all extremely healthy and good eaters. Long as he’s eating and non defensive, maybe he’s just more comfortable “realizing” you not a predator. He can also be hinting he’s hungry. I’m not sure how long you’ve had him, or if your experiencing any other husbandry issues. Just my 2 cents.

+1 on the hungry

[indygunnerguy]

+1 on the hungry

Well I tried to feed him his first baby rat Sunday night and he didn't eat. I've always heard to wait a week between feedings. Should I still wait until Sunday to try again?

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[Craiga 01453]

Well I tried to feed him his first baby rat Sunday night and he didn't eat. I've always heard to wait a week between feedings. Should I still wait until Sunday to try again?

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I'd wait at least 5 days.

In my personal experience, I usually see the head poking out of their hides when they're hungry. I haven't seen them just laid out in the open when hungry. But, they're all different and that certainly could be the case with your boy.

But yeah, wait at least 5 days and try again.

[Sonny1318]

I'd wait at least 5 days.

In my personal experience, I usually see the head poking out of their hides when they're hungry. I haven't seen them just laid out in the open when hungry. But, they're all different and that certainly could be the case with your boy.

But yeah, wait at least 5 days and try again.

Definitely wait at least 5 days, and yes the head poking out is also a great indicator. They are all a little different in their own ways.