Liam you need to understand how ball pythons live in the wild. They don't roam about the African plains lazing about in the open, enjoying the big wide world. They secrete themselves in rat tunnels and to a great extent in the tight tunnel systems of huge termite mounds. Being exposed out in the open is, especially to a young ball python, an invitation to become prey to a lot of other animals.

Other species of snakes are much the same. Even the biggest of giant snakes do not often willingly expose themselves. Anaconda's hide their great bulk in bare inches of water, large retics use the underbrush and their ability to climb to secrete themselves under various cover. While some snakes may come out to bask for short periods, most land snakes are silent, secretive creatures that prefer their privacy and the safety of hidden places like ground cover, burrows, etc.