my ball is arboreal...she wont come down...

[Random]

I bought a new tank for my baby ball the other day. she is getting a bit bigger, and I just wanted her to have more room. I picked up a 40g breeder. that should be able to hold her over for the rest of her life. anyways. she wont come down onto the ground on the tank. she spends all her time nestled at the top of the cage, ontop of some fake bushes I have in there. The only time she comes down is when she wants a drink, or is moving to go up the little driftwood and vine piece on the other side of the tank. Then she just sits on top of that.

most of the time, she hangs off, in a striking postition. like she is waiting for something to walk by. I fed her today. she struck at the mouse, and dragged it up into the bush she sits on and killed it there. Then, after a little work, swallowed it while still hanging. Then she just curled up on top, almost touching the screen mesh lid, and is just chilling there.

I have owned 8 ball pythons over the years. I have never seen one that virtually refused to be on the ground. has anyone experienced this with theirs?

[WTHbbqSnake]

I have trees in most of my aquariums and one ball in paticular likes to sit in his alot. Some balls do a little bit of climbing and some don't. But refusing to come down? o.O weird.

[Random]

if I move her out of her little perch, onto the ground, she immediatly climbs right back up. its very wierd.

[snakedude56]

A 40 gallon tank is waaaay too big for a baby ball python. How old is your snake? If its around a foot and a half or so it should do good in a 20 gallon with at least two secure hides. A snake in an enclosure too big for it will become stressed and probably not eat. I would definitely get a smaller tank. You could always buy a plastic tub from walmart or some other store and melt some small holes in it for ventilation. The plastic tubs work better to hold in heat and humidity.

[steveo]

With past experience i would agree with snakedude with getting a smaller tank for your ball , but if its eating and shedding fine then you dont need too as long as theres enough hides of equal size and the temps/humidity are correct then keep the ball in the 40 g . Bigger tanks which are too barren are usally the cause of stressed snakes , but you said it eats fine so i wouldnt worry too much

[Sausage]

I have a piece of thick grapevine in my Ball's tank. He LOVES it. Sometimes he coils up at the top and sleeps.

[Rapture]

As it gets older it will most likely spend more time grounded.

[rabernet]

To me, a ball python that is not spending 80% of its time in its hides is stressed and is staying up high, looking for means of escape.


If he goes off feed (don't write it off as winter), you may want to consider moving him back to a smaller enclosure.

With ball pythons, smaller cozier enclosures really ARE better for them.