Ball python acting strange...

[Kemecchi]

Hello, all. This is my first time using this site, so excuse me if I somehow make a mistake somewhere, um.



I have a ball python who's roughly four months old. I got him two months ago and he's my first reptile, so I'm still kinda new to this stuff, and I'm a little -- okay, I'm a lot concerned. I recently switched out his substrate from newspaper to coconut fiber because I was told it retained humidity better, which is something I've been struggling with a lot. I also ordered a humidifier online and have started using that, and... Dolos doesn't seem to be a fan.



I know people say that "a hiding ball python is a happy ball python", but he doesn't seem very happy. He especially dislikes the "mist" the humidifier gives off and now spends all his time stuffed into the farthest corner of his hide. I saw him earlier this evening on top of his hide with the top half of his body just pressed against the glass like he refused to touch the bedding. Before that, I opened the screen to his terrarium so I could check on him, and he struck at me?? He's incredibly docile, even for a ball python, and this came rather unprovoked. I didn't startle him, I didn't reach for him, I didn't smell like food, and I wasn't even within strike range of him anyways, but he still went for it like he was trying to defend himself or something.



Right before writing this thread, I reached into his tank and mixed up the substrate so the dry clumps at the bottom would come to the top, and he was laying his head on top of it when I went to look again, but when he saw me - or maybe it was because I had just turned on the humidifier - he retreated back into his hide again. I'm really worried that the substrate and humidifier might be doing something harmful to him, but I don't know what, and I haven't found any other experiences like this online. I just don't know what to do, and I want to find out if something's wrong as soon as I can.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I would take the mister out and see if that helps, some snakes just absolutely hate being misted. I have a few that get stressed out when sprayed, and will strike or hiss/huff at me.

With EcoEarth, to maintain humidity, you want to actually just pour water right into the bedding and stir/mix it up so the moisture is evenly distributed. I do one half at a time so if I mess up and pour too much all I have to do is mix in the dry bedding. It should be just damp enough that it's dark and slightly expanded, but not so damp that it falls out of your hand in clumps and water comes out when you squeeze. This stuff holds a lot of water, so misting isn't really efficient. Let it dry out again before re-wetting to prevent mold growth, and it should dry from the top down.

[Aaron_S]

Also make sure his hides are really snug and there's a couple of them for the snake.