Is this normal behavior?

[jjhill001]

You're snake is too hot. Try lowering the temps about 5-6 degrees. High temps seem to cause shedding issues. Your temps are more in line with the recommended ball python temps (which I think are too hot too but I'm not arguing with that community again).

This species seems to have issues with tail tips shedding and I've found that lowering the temps helps remedy this issue. I'd say just from doing my own research on this species that every care sheet out there for them is basically a copy pasted Texas Rat Snake sheet (they share a portion of the same range). And the ones that aren't are flat out old as heck. In the wild during the spring and fall months this snake is active during the day, in the summer they hide from the heat and only come out in the early morning or late evening.

Your statement about them being found near water is true. One of their favorite habitats in the wild are rock formations known as karst which are basically limestone that has had water seep through it over time. I've never personally been there but I would say that the humidity in there is vastly higher than outside. This is why I have a humid hide for my bairds. That I don't have to mist too often (usually a light misting of the moss in there when they are in shed).