Sleeping in the open?

[carcrshbf]

I got my bp about 11 months ago now, and he's settled in really well. I'm not sure if he just feels safe in his enclosure or this is a sign of stress? As the title says he sleeps in the open of his tank a lot. He uses his hides sometimes but not always and will sometimes curl up next to his water bowl or a random corner with nothing covering him.

basic tank info: He's in a 55 gal bioactive glass enclosure. Bioactive aspect has been going great and functioned even before I got him. I spot clean most waste and the isopods + springtails eat whatever I don't get so it's usually pretty clean. Temps are monitored by a thermostat hooked up to three uth heating pads mounted on the side (cant do normal uth since thick bioactive substrate) and are usually a surface temp of ~85, never over 90 so he doesn't get burned. I have an overhead heating lamp to boost ambient temps that he likes to bask under sometimes, maybe he's sleeping under it because of this? Ambient temps are usually 76-80, cool side is 80-84, hot side is 85-88, and he has a hotspot between heating pads that gets up to 90 that he hangs out in after eating. Humidity is 50% and boosted to 80% when he's in shed. He has three hides, two of which he can also hide under since they're logs, and plenty of foliage and cover to make sure he can be secure in a larger tank. And as I said before, instead he hangs out in the wide open? He also has two hammocks (one I knitted myself and the other a sort of rope weaved thing from a pet store) that he climbs on at night or basks in, its rare but Ive caught him napping in one. The enclosure is covered on three sides with black poster board (not in contact with heating pads or lamp..don't want a fire lol) to ensure more security.

Maybe he doesn't feel out in the open? There isn't anything hugging his sides or above him where he chooses to rest though. He doesn't roam too much at daytime, only to get water or unless I come home he pokes his head up to see what's going on. He has yet to miss a single meal or go on a hunger strike (save for in shed obviously) and hasn't so much as hissed at me or struck at anything that isn't a mouse or rat (successfully switched him a few months ago!!!). No signs of illness or stress I can glean unless this is one.

If its relevant he's a spider mojave, he has a very mild wobble that hasn't affected his quality of life in any way. Never seen him corkscrew and he can easily right himself if flipped upside down, has a decent sense of balance, average weight for his age, overall he's a healthy snake. He's currently in shed and still has not sought out a hide to sleep in especially when he's this vulnerable?

[Homebody]

He has three hides, two of which he can also hide under since they're logs, and plenty of foliage and cover to make sure he can be secure in a larger tank.

From your description, your snake seems healthy, so I wouldn't worry. It is unusual, though, that your snake isn't utilizing his hides. So, I would consider replacing them. You describe his current hides as logs. The half-logs commonly used as hides often don't feel secure enough for snakes because they're open at both ends. You want hides that're snug with a single opening. Pics of your set up would help us advise you better. This thread will show you how to post them: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures.

[dakski]

OP, I think being curious about why your BP is sleeping in the open makes sense. They often hide.

Is this a new behavior?

How are you checking your temps? Are you using an IR Temp Gun?

My initial thoughts were that temps are off and/or hides are not appropriate.

Assuming temps are good and checked accurately, I would guess that the hides are not appropriate. Hides should be snug and secure. I am a fan of plastic hides like these https://www.reptilebasics.com/large-hide-box.

They are easy to clean and secure.

A BP wants safety and the ability to thermoregulate. They should not have to pick one over the other. Double check temps and get appropriate hides and see where you are at.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[carcrshbf]

Temps are consistently measured by a gauge on each side and one in the middle that doubles as a hydrometer. I check the hotspot with a temp gun whenever I go to change his water + general maintenance which is typically every day or two. He has a hide in the hotspot which is a cork log he fits in pretty well, it's hard to find an example of it since it isn't a consistent product like the half log hides. Ill post pictures of the set up + hides soon. He has another cork log, one side of which is blocked off since it's pressed against the wall, the third is something similar to the plastic ones you linked since those work as humid hides better for me. He has a hide on each side of the enclosure and the humid hides is closer to the hot side but more center oriented. He can also hide under his cork logs if he feels like it. He sleeps under his cork log sometimes, and his half log but almost never the humid hide. He may be getting too big for them? This is new as in he's only very rarely done this until this week. I got him as a yearling so he's grown quite a bit, but definitely not huge, on the smaller side for his age I'd say. Getting new hides is probably best though since he's such a good eater and is bound to grow a bit.

[Homebody]

This is new as in he's only very rarely done this until this week.

I'd hold off on making any changes. Your bp is apparently healthy. There is nothing alarming about this new behavior. Snakes do weird things sometimes. Just as he stopped hiding this week, he could just as easily resume hiding next week. I'd monitor the behavior for two or three more weeks. If it continues, then, consider making changes.

[Malum Argenteum]

He's in a 55 gal bioactive glass enclosure. Bioactive aspect has been going great and functioned even before I got him. I spot clean most waste and the isopods + springtails eat whatever I don't get so it's usually pretty clean.

Not your question, but it is worth mentioning that "bioactive" enclosures do not have any mechanism for removal of direct life cycle pathogens unless these mechanisms are designed in (by heavy water flow and removal of waste water, coupled with bioloads that are many times lighter than most snake enclosures). Many snakes carry such pathogens ( https://link.springer.com/article/10...36-019-06526-0 ).

More related to your question: it is worth considering whether the isopod species you use is contributing to the snake's behavior. Many isopod species are well known to seek out protein rich foods, to the point that some keepers feed their isopods snake sheds. The isopods might be contributing to some low grade stress.

Also related to your question: a better overhead heat source is the go-to for enclosures where the substrate prevents using heat mats underneath. Radiant heat panels are my choice.