Ball python pushing against screen lid

[Bogertophis]

Thank you for your response! I actually did have a larger tank when I first got her and she did not like it. She refused to eat and was extremely active. I befriended someone who has multiple reptiles and she is the one who helped me with getting my new supplies. I am monitoring the temperature with a controller that plugs into the CHE lamp and also a hygrometer in the tank. By the way, the CHE lamp does not emit light, only heat (84-86 degrees). When I moved her into this she stayed in her hide all the time for two weeks and finally ate a frozen thawed (I had been struggling with this, I’ve had her about 2 months). When she got the mild infection, that’s when I had to change the bedding to paper towels and keep the humidity very low. This is when she escaped. Since i put her back in this is the when she started pushing. I continued the treatment and the vet gave me the go to put her back in the humid environment, but it has continued. So with that it seems like it’s because she’s learned that’s how she’s escaped, which she can’t do anymore. Just not sure how to get her to stop. She used to love it and I put it back exactly how it was.

It's not so much the size of the tank, but how "cluttered" you make it...BPs love to hide and need multiple hides (as I already mentioned); many also use fake vines & other furnishings to increase privacy for their BP- and since it's a tank, it's easy to also cover the back, sides & bottom with something that both gives privacy & also insulates the cage (which will help almost no matter where you live). Your highest temp. in the cage is 84-86*? That's a little low...you want closer to 90* max, & about 80* on the "cool" end. If a snake is too cool, that's a main reason for them to refuse to eat. One reason I suggested a bigger tank* is so there's room for 2+ hides, but also because it's hard to offer the needed range of temps in so small a tank. *Many here (incl. those who breed, like Deborah, Stewart Reptiles) prefer & recommend tubs (& on the small side too)- see her instructions for BPs. Either way, I still think your set-up needs some work. A larger tank should work if correctly modified with enough privacy so the BP feels "secure"; also hides must be just slightly bigger than the snake, with only one doorway...if too big, or open at each end like those tree bark tunnels, BPs don't feel secure.

And I'm just finishing dinner...that's why slow response.