» Site Navigation
0 members and 983 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.
» Today's Birthdays
» Stats
Members: 75,945
Threads: 249,141
Posts: 2,572,339
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
|
-
Re: Ball python still climbing walls and trying to get out
See below (in BLUE) my comments and concerns. I am hoping I am being nit picky, but want to be sure. You clearly want a happy and healthy BP and I think we all do as well. I just want to make sure you are on the right track.
 Originally Posted by CakeLike
He is in a pvc enclosure with all three sides blocked out. The temps are air temperature measurements except the hot spot.
1. How big is the PVC enclosure? A tank that is too big for a young snake can cause stress. He's eating and that's great, so hopefully not. However, if it's bigger than a 10 or 20G glass equivalent (20-24"X10"12 inches floor space off the top of my head) he might want a few extra hides in there to clutter it up and give him extra hiding room.
2. Air temps are not usually super accurate because of what they are measured with. You NEED the ground temps with an IR Temp gun. Period. Also, what do you mean "except the hot spot." Are you relying on a probe? Again, you NEED IR temp gun measurements. He seems to be digesting, but you are feeding one the small side (which is fine). Additionally, hot side too hot or not hot enough and cool side too cool or too hot can equate to "searching" for a better temperature and the need to "thermo-regulate," or find the best temp in the given situation.
I am hoping he's just curious, but with how you are taking measurements, we do not know.
3. How big are the hides and what kind are they? They should be very snug for him.
He only comes out at night not during the day.
This is a good sign.
I keep him on the smaller end of the feeding chart. He gets a mouse 11-15 grams every 7 days. He weighs 127 grams and eats great.
Good on eating great and that size mouse is fine every 7 days for now.
I am sure he's hungry again by this point but I am not concerned about his activeness at night. Just the fact that he is still climbing the walls and glass and tries to squeeze out the gap makes me wonder if he doesn't like it in there. Even though he has everything. Branches to explore ect.
Snakes don't really "Like or dislike." NO frontal lobe. He either feels safe and has correct temps, humidity, etc. or he doesn't and he's stressed. They feel content/ok/safe if needs are met and otherwise stress, hungry, scared, etc. Basic feelings. It's good you are watching to see if something is off, but most snakes who have their needs met are "happy/content."
He has definately not a shy personality. I have NEVER seen him balled up. Rather he likes to be curled leasurely instead of tightly and when I pick him up he doesn't tgink about balling but instead faces me head on. He's not a striker or defensive but he shows me that he sees me and watches me and that he is ready if push came to shove xD
Glad he has an outgoing personality. As mentioned, my BP, Shayna, is very shy. She startles herself bumping into things. 9 years after getting her, she still takes a minute or two to start exploring when I take her out and she is ready to go into her tank and a hide within about 5-10 minutes of being out. My Carpet python much less so. My corn snakes less so. My boas - well, they seem like they could explore for hours if I let them. Very outgoing. However, Behira and Feliz, more than Jeff, so it is an individual thing as well. Same with the corns. Solana will curl up in your hand and chill and Figment is all over the place all the time. Both are docile, but Figgie wants to move!
If you can get an IR temp gun we can make sure ground temps are dialed in. Same with the hides and size of the tank. For reference, my BP, Shayna, is about 1,900G. She is in a 4X2' PVC Cage and has two snug hides (hot and cool side), a big water bowl on the cool side back corner, and slightly larger hide (all plastic offset opening hides - I can show you if you want to see) in the middle more for clutter, but that she uses sometimes. She still likes to feel secure, even at her size and tank size.
Good luck and keep us posted.
-
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|