Might just be new-snake paranoia...

[patattack]

So today I got my first ball python! A beautiful (in my opinion) month-old normal male from JASBALLS - thanks again!

Now, I know that you need to give snakes a week or more to get accustomed to their new surroundings...he's only been in there a few hours, so I'm probably just paranoid that I've done something wrong. But his behavior does strike me as odd:

My hot side is controlled by a UTH/thermostat combo, and is hovering between 90 and 92. My cool side is controlled by an infrared lamp, and is hovering between 80 and 82. I've got two near-identical hides, one on the hot side and one on the cool side. They both look like they'd be good fits for him, size-wise. But instead of hanging out inside either hide, he's exposed on the cool side, wedged between the outside of the hide and the glass.

Does this have something to do with the infrared light on the cool side? Is he looking for a "sunny" spot? It just seems strange to me, considering everything I've read about balls loving their enclosed spaces.

[littleindiangirl]

It is normal in my experience. Every little baby we've gotten via mail takes a few days before they learn where the hide is and stay there. Our Lesser we just got finally went into his hide yesterday. Before that he wedged himself between the tub and water bowl.

Give him a few days to a week to find it, you'll see him go in there after the shock has worn off.

[patattack]

Good to know.

[mattred]

Mine did the same thing during the first few days - he hid on the side opposite the hide, between the water bowl and the side of the tank. I figured this was because the hide I bought was probably a little too big, and he felt more tightly surrounded between the bowl and the glass. After a couple days he found the hide and usually sticks around there.

[patattack]

Well, he's in the hide now, so all is well.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Mine did the same thing during the first few days - he hid on the side opposite the hide, between the water bowl and the side of the tank. I figured this was because the hide I bought was probably a little too big, and he felt more tightly surrounded between the bowl and the glass. After a couple days he found the hide and usually sticks around there.

Good point! I'll find that mine sometimes re-arrange their racks to bunch all their hides together and their water dish, and then cram themselves right in the middle of it. They just love to be squished!

Sounds like you are doing everything right! Good work doing all your research!

JonV