Hyper-Active BP?

[Kaorte]

The general consensus seems to be that BP's are very shy and spend most of their time in their hides. My BP hides most of the day but as soon as night falls he is cruising all around his tank (looking for a way out?). I occasionally see him very active during the day as well.
Normally I would think that this is because he is stressed, but if he is he surely is not showing it.

Warm side is at 93, cool side at 80-85, Humidity at 50%. I have him on paper towels as substrate.
I only have one hide but the tank he is in is covered on all sides sans the door in the front.
He poops, pees, and sheds regularly. He also eats a small mouse every 5 days, he has never refused a meal. His activity does not seem to coincide with a feeding day.

So, what is up with that?

[ride_gnu]

First of all you need two of the exact same hides, one at each side of the tank.

As for feeding, I noticed my BP's activity decrease greatly when I Started feeding him larger meals. At first the mice I was feeing him were two small, and I came to the connclusion that when he is otu at night it was because he was hungy, make sure you are feeding him appropriately sized meals.

[Kaorte]

First of all you need two of the exact same hides, one at each side of the tank.

As for feeding, I noticed my BP's activity decrease greatly when I Started feeding him larger meals. At first the mice I was feeing him were two small, and I came to the connclusion that when he is otu at night it was because he was hungy, make sure you are feeding him appropriately sized meals.

I have been feeding him mice that are a little thicker than the thickest part of his body.
I know I need two identical hides, but due to space issues, it is just not possible at the moment. When I move in a few months he will be in a tub.

[starmom]

All of my ball pythons come out when night falls and cruise around. They all have 2 hides (except for the one's in the tubs and they have one hide) and they are all healthy snakes. These snakes are nocturnal and so they are doing what comes naturally to them!!

[simplechamp]

My BP becomes much more active in the few days leading up to feeding day. That is to say, when I feed on Sunday evening she will eat and hide/digest without much activity for a few days. Then starting Wed or Thurs evening she will become active again, cruising around, lurking with head poked out of the hide, etc. She does this in the evening up until feeding night on Sunday and then the cycle repeats. I could set my watch to it.

I occasionally see him very active during the day as well. Normally I would think that this is because he is stressed, but if he is he surely is not showing it.

A lot of times, but not always, high activity during the day is a sign of stress. So he could be showing it, but there's no way to know for sure.

[anendeloflorien]

I wouldn't call it stress per se. I have all of my snakes in a rack setup so the temps etc.. are all the same, but I still have a couple of snakes, my male pastel and spider specifically that always seem to be out zooming around and checking corners etc... I just take it as part of their personality and not as anything negative. I've found them to be my most voracious eaters also, anyone else find this with their more active bps?

[simplechamp]

I wouldn't call it stress per se. I have all of my snakes in a rack setup so the temps etc.. are all the same, but I still have a couple of snakes, my male pastel and spider specifically that always seem to be out zooming around and checking corners etc... I just take it as part of their personality and not as anything negative. I've found them to be my most voracious eaters also, anyone else find this with their more active bps?

All the snakes are in the same exact conditions. You interpret it as certain snakes are just more active. Someone else may interpret it as the more active snakes are stressed and would be more comfortable if certain factors were adjusted.

No way to know for sure. There will always be two sides of the coin. What makes it even harder is that what makes one snake thrive could cause another one extreme stress. We just have to do our best with what little the snakes can "tell" us.

[xanaxez]

First of all you need two of the exact same hides, one at each side of the tank.

As for feeding, I noticed my BP's activity decrease greatly when I Started feeding him larger meals. At first the mice I was feeing him were two small, and I came to the connclusion that when he is otu at night it was because he was hungy, make sure you are feeding him appropriately sized meals.

thats ones own opinion. none of my reptiles have 2 of the exact same hides and i have never had a problem out of any of them. some of them dont have but one hide and act the same as they always have so the 2 hides or 2 hides need to be the exact same is more of preferences or myths because i dont have a problem with any of mine and none of them have the same hides and some doesnt have but one.

[anendeloflorien]

thats ones own opinion. none of my reptiles have 2 of the exact same hides and i have never had a problem out of any of them. some of them dont have but one hide and act the same as they always have so the 2 hides or 2 hides need to be the exact same is more of preferences or myths because i dont have a problem with any of mine and none of them have the same hides and some doesnt have but one.

I've found with mine, with them being in a dark deep rack that most of them don't need 2 hides I usually keep one hide on the cooler side and when they want heat they go to the back (I have belly heat installed) and they seem to be perfectly comfortable, no problems eating. I do have one girl that has to have 2 hides and refuses to eat unless she's in a tub that seems way too small but that's just her. I have her in half (divided) of a 32 qt tub and even though she's about 600g she's perfectly happy with most of the space being hides and her water dish. She's actually become one of my best eaters since I moved her in there.

I think personality has to be taken into account a lot, I don't deny my snakes anything if it seems to be what they need but if they don't need the other hide and they're eating fine I'd rather give them the extra floor space. Just my HO