Stressed ball python???

[DangerNoodle]

Hi! I got my girl a couple of days ago, now I know ball pythons like to climb (well, some of them at least) I have been told by some people that this is a totally normal thing and some of them will just climb for exercise, however others have said its a sign of a stressed snake looking for a way out.

Can anyone give me a bit more of a definitive answer? She's only 6 months old and in a 10 Gallon tank with under tank heating, a nice big water bowl, lignocel, a hide and a climbing branch. She doesn't go into her hide without assistance but she can find her way out of it easily.

[Andy_G]

You should leave your snake completely and totally alone for a minimum of a week..don't even offer food during this time, and I would recommend a hands off policy until it eats 3 times with you. The statement that your snake can't find it's hide without assistance shows me that you are already interfering with it settling in properly.
It's whole world is brand new so it will of course be stressed. Give it time to settle in and leave it alone. Also, two hides should be present, one on the hot side and one on the cool side.

Is this by chance your first snake?

[pitontheprowl]

What is your husbandry and how are you regulating your UTH?

[Aaron_S]

Just leave the snake to do it's thing. You don't need to assist the snake to a hide. They have instincts.

Also, I have never heard of a climbing ball python being a sign of stress.

[Albert Clark]

I agree. Leave the snake alone and triple check your husbandry. Ball pythons are obligate ground dwellers and inhabitants of termite mounds where they set up camp to ambush prey. They climb very little and usually only on their way to another underground dwelling.

[DangerNoodle]

You should leave your snake completely and totally alone for a minimum of a week..don't even offer food during this time, and I would recommend a hands off policy until it eats 3 times with you. The statement that your snake can't find it's hide without assistance shows me that you are already interfering with it settling in properly.
It's whole world is brand new so it will of course be stressed. Give it time to settle in and leave it alone. Also, two hides should be present, one on the hot side and one on the cool side.

Is this by chance your first snake?


No Andy she's my 4th ball python, I also have 2 King snakes and 1 rainbow boa. However they all have different personalities so different questions pop into my head with different animals. She has two hides, much prefers the warm one yet I haven't seen her use the cool one yet. Temps regulated by a thermostat

[Andy_G]

No Andy she's my 4th ball python, I also have 2 King snakes and 1 rainbow boa. However they all have different personalities so different questions pop into my head with different animals. She has two hides, much prefers the warm one yet I haven't seen her use the cool one yet. Temps regulated by a thermostat

Ok perfect. It's much easier for someone to leave alone their new addition once they have done it a few times. I'm sure once it's settled in it will be fine. :)

[macandchz]

dear dangernoodle, my albino ball, macandchz, will climb around his tank almost all night at times-especially when it's right before feeding time. i think he's just exploring.