Baby ball in 40 gallon tank?

[Bogertophis]

For best results a new snake should be housed as similarly to their previous home as possible, & NOT in a large, complex (or bioactive) home. Common sense really...a new home is already terrifying to a snake.

They don't understand why their entire world just changed & many stay restless (not feeding) because they're trying to find their "home". For the same reason, feed exactly what they were fed previously- so if you
don't know (or weren't provided that essential information) by all means ask: rat or mouse? what size? live or f/t (frozen-thawed) or f/k (fresh-killed)???

One reason the enclosure you describe is a bad idea is that IF the snake you chose has health problems (such as mites or bloody stool), it will likely go un-noticed in such a set-up until the snake dies of something
"mysterious" that had you used a plain arrangement* on white paper towels for substrate (so issues show up), you might have been able to save him. *plastic hides & water bowl, any clutter must be disposable

Your tank also is too warm. If you're sure the temps. measured are accurate (& taken where the snake makes contact inside the cage) then lower the cool side by 3*, & the warm side by 4-5*. A snake that is
too warm will also roam a lot, looking for a way out for more suitable temps. A 40 gal. is great for an adult BP, but too much for a "baby" to deal with, assuming you want him to eat?

My advice: start over, make a suitable set-up immediately*, & don't handle this snake (other than to move into new home) until after he has eaten at least 3 times for you (at normal intervals & with no refusals).

Baby snakes of any kind are more fragile & need to "be a snake first" (ie. concentrate on eating & thriving)...remember that anything that picks them up in the wild is a predator about to eat them! Yes they learn
in time that we are safe to hang out with, but your first job as a snake keeper is to realize all snakes (even if captive-bred) are WILD animals first, meaning they depend on their instincts; the less you interfere with
his instincts, the better for his survival. Stress can ultimately kill a snake, so minimize his stress with a correct set-up & no handling until he's established.

*And BPs instinctively hide...they are ambush predators, so your little one should be in a much smaller set up.
If you PM Steward Reptiles (https://ball-pythons.net/forums/memb...ewart_Reptiles) I'm sure she'll re-post her detailed instructions if you cannot find them in threads here.