ball python sits under it's water dish all the time

[stacyclaire]

Hi!

I have a 1 year old ball python who is eating well and very active. He likes to be handled and has molted twice successfully in the 4 months we've had him. But, for the last two months he stays under his water dish all the time. He never climbs on his tree anymore and never does anything other than sit under that dish. He seems fine otherwise, but we miss seeing him moving around his tank! Is this normal or could I have done something wrong in his habitat?

Thanks for the help!

[reptilenut4sure]

I have a ball python thats about 12-15 inches long. And he never does anything either. Always stays under his rock. Ours eats and sheds just fine. I think that balls are just lazy. LoL

[Herpkid101x]

i think its what reptilenut said some pythons tend to be lazy oh by the way whats your humidity and how do you get to that range?

[The Snake Guru]

The intitial phase where your snake was active, was during the settling in period in the cage. Once they get to know thier surrondings they usually find a nice comfortable spot and curl up in it and that's where they sit. Snakes in general are energy conservatives, Ball Pythons especially really don't get very active unless the Hungry, or Breeding. Some species are more active than others but BPs in general are lazy snakes, that if they come out it's usually at night.

But yes, it sounds normal to me!

~B~

[gonesnakee]

What other hides are offered? BPs like tight spots & should be offered 2 or 3 of them if possible. Make sure it can hide comfortably on either hot or cold side of the tank as sometimes they will hide where they are too hot or too cold if it is the only good spot to hide. Mark

[SerpentLust]

If you have an adequate amount of hides (at LEAST 2) placed in the correct areas of the tank then I wouldn't worry about it. Personally I try to make sure that easily stressed snakes (balls, hognoses, etc.) have 3-4 hides everywhere. To me, the more cover, the better. And even then, sometimes they'll choose their own.

Sounds completely normal to me though. Brad was right, the initial part when you take them home, they'll explore the entire enclosure (I've always assumed looking for any exits). Once they're settled in, they'll just hide for the majority of the day.

Jenn

[stacyclaire]

The humidity is about 65%. I keep it at that level by spraying the tank with water twice a day and also keeping a heat lamp over the water dish for evaporation. There are two hides, one on each side of the tank. One has a heat lamp over it and the other has an under tank heater. I think everyone may be right. He just likes it under there....

[Herpkid101x]

He probably just likes the protection. He might think that if anything would want to sneak up on him they would have to get through the front and not be able to get behind him or something but you and i know both know nothings gonna do that (i hope) lol.

[mykee]

The heat lamp is unnecessary. If you have a good heat source like an UTH, the heat lamp is actually counter-productive and doing more harm than good.

[The Snake Guru]

I UTH is not going to keep the backround temps in the 80s by itself in a normal household, unless you keep you rooms in the 80s which hardly anyone does.

9/10s of the time people need 2 heat sources to keep temps where they are supposed to do.

~B~

[SerpentLust]

I UTH is not going to keep the backround temps in the 80s by itself in a normal household, unless you keep you rooms in the 80s which hardly anyone does.

9/10s of the time people need 2 heat sources to keep temps where they are supposed to do.

~B~

Yay I'm 1/10th! haha

[The Snake Guru]

Yay I'm 1/10th! haha

LOL, you and me both! I love having the rooms at 82 degrees all the time....especially nice in the winter! LOL

~B~

[stacyclaire]

Thanks so much everyone! This has made me feel much better. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making him uncomfortable.

[mykee]

That's what rats are for!! I have my rats and my balls in the same room with all vents closed all year, ann my room maintains a nice 80-82 all the time.

[The Snake Guru]

Well except for the smell of rats permiating throughout the entire room....the temps sound nice! LOL


~B~