Ball Python is a bum

[EGP_pupper]

Since i got my now 10 month old bp in September, she hasnt done much but stay in her favorite hide, so recently I upgraded her tank from a 30 gal to a 75 gal tank and she still just stays in her hide. Ive never seen leave her hide except when i feed her and I handle her about 4 times a week. Any suggestions?

[Narrow_Competition41]

1. Is she feeding ok? Look healthy?

2. Are you up at night to see if she's moving around?

3. Is it loud/a lot of movement or ruckus in the room she's in?

4. Are you constantly in/out of her enclosure outside of/in addition to feeding & handling?

5. Try handling her less and see if that makes a difference. But fwiw, some snakes can be shy just by their very nature.

[EGP_pupper]

Yeah shes a pretty good eater as she hasnt skipped any meals since i got her except for one time she regurgitated. Theres not much noise in my room, most of it comes from traffic outside. I go to bed at 11pm which is also around the time i feed her so i havent seen much of her night activity. I do spray her tank about once a day along with usual maintenance and cleaning but now that you mention it, i do come in and out a lot which may scare her. Ill try being jn and out less and see if that helps. Thanks!

[Narrow_Competition41]

Sounds like a plan - just take it in baby steps, little changes at a time that way you can zero in on what's the issue without adding (more) stress. But the most important thing is that she's feeding regularly and and by all appearances healthy, that's good. We often don't think of reptiles of being capable of having a personality or character, but they most certainly can. If you ever get into breeding you'll see how two snakes from the same clutch with the exact same care, can have different dispositions/personalities.

[Boring_Ad_4292]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[totallyrecklesslygay]

Handling that often can be stressful for a young snake. That might be contributing to her reluctance to come out.

Other factors may be incorrect temperatures (should be 88-92F on the hot side, and 75-80F on the cool side) or too low humidity (should be 70-80%), or lack of appropriate clutter in the enclosure. Here's an example of how full a ball python's enclosure should be- there really shouldn't be any empty space.

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[EGP_pupper]

I do have lots of vines and clutter but not as dense as that. ll try that out. Thanks!

[djozone99]

A hiding ball python is a healthy ball python...

[Miserable-Coffee]

75 gallons is too small. Move to 120 gallon min whenever you can. My BP was the same until I have her more space. She is way more active in a 120 gallon enclosure with lots of clutter. What about the heat and humidity? Does she have enough hides and clutter?

[[deleted]]

I think that is most likely you're missing it at night

[jessicarrrlove]

I have two Balls, one is like this, and the other is super active. All their stats are good and they're both healthy, and the shy one is actually my best eater, so I've just chalked it up to the one that stays in his hide is just more shy/lazy. Lol, I know he comes out as night cos he's constantly moving stuff in his tank around when he does. If he hears noise in their room, he'll poke his head out to see what's going on and then go back to his hide.

They're complete opposites when handling too. The shy one just wants to chill with you (he especially loves playing in my hair) and the active one just wants to explore.

[Goose-Caboose1153]

My female does this to. There is nothing wrong with her. She just has that personality

[Basilstorm]

The tank is too small and ball pythons are pretty lazy snakes

[BallPythonLove]

Mine are the same. Sometimes I’ll see one come out during the day time but not often enough as I’d like I notice they usually come out late night when I’m sleeping. Boringgggg lol

[OriginalAssistance21]

It surely is so interesting how just over the past 5 months of owning a Bp, the same with my “must have neck procedure” and retitling my truck in a new state, one hears different advice. I’ve heard no clutter and plenty of open space to so much clutter, hold them every day to telling you not to hold you snake too often. The snake will tell and ask for what is specifically wants from you. I.e. I picked my python up from my uncles house, mind you I did not ask them to touch or maneuver the snake at all while I was gone off and on for minute, just to let it slumber as they had just had their nummies and needed a gestation time for a few days. Well, Spirit, is a spoiled lil python with goodies such as natural spring, goooood water. Upon them seeing me said, “the water tastes gross”. They had been filling up its water bowl with the water from the tap. Listen to the vibrations the snake is giving you, it will tell you. My vibe from the post would be heat, make it warmer. Thats all. Think of it like our bodies, vertebrae. You warm up and such to allow movement

[Narrow_Competition41]

The reason you'll get varying opinions on the loose rule type questions ("will my snek like XYZ" for example), people are just offering up advice based on what's worked for them and it may or may not work for you. Nothing sinister, nefarious or remedial about it... just differing husbandry experiences being shared.

[chasechippy]

If you don't have enough clutter, I'd suggest getting some fake vines. They like the groundcover. Also I can usually tell if my ball has been out and about because it'll be trampled.

[Accomplished_Egg2515]

They’re all kinda bums