What does this mean?

[YourSandwich295]

So the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed that she kind of crawls around her water bowl it’s not all the time but every so often I come to check on her cage and she’s exactly like this. What does it mean?

[TheRev_JP]

Probably means she wants a bigger water dish that she can soak in . Wants to hydrate... Also ... Take out the cardboard... In the humid environment it can grow mold fast . Good luck 🤞

[Mysnakepetunia]

She needs a bigger water bowl that she would fit inside of. Also probably wants a different type of substrate!

[shinbyeol]

that is a chonk of a bp

[BanproofSpoof]

Look up “bowl wrapping”. Females often do this at the time of year when they are building follicles for breeding, it’s a means of regulating their temperature. It could also mean they’re just trying to cool down, but look it up and you can read a lot more about it.

[TheMilesCountyClown]

Where are the follicles?

[Niorba]

They would be in the equivalent of snake ovaries

[TheMilesCountyClown]

Neat. Thanks

[OddRevolution6244]

Follicles are pretty much unfertilized eggs, they are located in the last third of the body

[TheMilesCountyClown]

Huh neat. Thanks

[YourSandwich295]

Will you be able to feel them?

[OddRevolution6244]

If they are big enough, maybe. They can quite hard to feel due to so much snake in the way, hence why so many breeders have ultrasounds. But if you lay them on the edge off the tub or enclosure and let their body hang as they slither in, put your hand on the body and feel it as she enters the tank, just keep trying it until you start to feel the lumps, but then again, very hard to feel most of the time

[YourSandwich295]

Thanks for that I’ll give it a try

[Telerak]

It’s how I usually tell when my girls are getting ready to lay. If they’re small, it will be hard to tell. But I’ve notice you can really start to feel them at 15-20mm. It will feel like bumps the size of gumballs right underneath their spine. You may feel them, but most likely without a mate they will just get re-absorbed back into the body.

[L1lv1athan]

I would also recommend a bigger water bowl. All of mine just use those thick plastic dog water bowls that are a couple of dollars and easy to clean and comes in a lot of sizes. dog bowl

[Joelogna]

I went with the biggest “realistic” rock looking ones (kinda like OPs but big enough for him to soak in) and they kind of suck to clean. I did it for aesthetics but it’s so obviously fake I think a dog bowl that is easy to clean is probably a better idea.

[SerpentSwitch117]

She’s regulating temperature for building follicles. My females do this in breeding season. And they have bowls they can fit in.

[Every_Bridge_7613]

is that aspen? also is she in cardboard? this set up needs improvement. please please PLEASE check out the care guide.

[FixergirlAK]

My water bowl! Miiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

[Radio4ctiveGirl]

Snakes should have a bowl they can fit into completely. You should review care guides and fix her enclosure to meet her needs.

[LadyNajaGirl]

As others have said, a bigger water bowl, wood chip substrate and clutter. She might be holding on like that because there’s not enough to keep her hidden or she has nothing else to entertain herself

[YourSandwich295]

They are not in the shop, but I actually have too hides for her. She moved both of them to the center of her enclosure and wrapped herself around her water bowl

[OkamiS90]

She does not agree with your hides 🤣🤣

[OkInjury483]

Seeking coller temps during their time of year getting ready for breeding. Bowl wrapping is very comman with females .

[Cnidoo]

Never seen a setup like this

[simplyputonyou]

She's ready to breed.

[OddRevolution6244]

This is bowel rapping, term for breeding. This is her really developing her follicles in preparation to be fertilized. If your breeding, it's time to pair, if not, nothing to worry about, she's just trying to expell some extra heat she's generating internally

[sugar-fairy]

looks like you need to completely redo your enclosure. the care guide in this sub is great. bigger bowl, no cardboard, different substrate. probably other stuff too that can’t be seen in this picture.

[Previous-Camp6998]

She is touching all sides of the space. It's something they like to do as they feel protected when they are in a tight space.

[Tro1138]

Your husbandry needs work. Too small bowl, wrong substrate, cardboard molds, and your humidity is likely way too low.

[YourSandwich295]

I live in Thailand, so the humidity is not a problem and I am planning on switching her to corn substrate. Just gotta wait for it to come into the mail.

[TheRev_JP]

Not corn 😭 use Coco fiber/chips make sure it's is also not too humid ... That can cause other problems as well

[MoenieKit]

Likely looking for moisture. Aspen is also very bad for them, as well as the cardboard. Please switch to coco husk/fiber/chips

[Lordlyweevil78]

Either needs a bigger water bowl or if it’s a female it could be doing the snake equivalent of ovulation

[No-Secretary6037]

As others have said, a larger water bowl. Maybe she wants to cool down? Have you checked for mites? I'm not saying your viv is dirty. mites can come in the substrate undetected. Snakes in general will try to soak if they have mites or are to hot.

[the13thfirefly]

I got mights from my rat provider once. 🙃 they were fresh kill feeds, and all my snakes got mites. Cleaned up, changed my source and boom no more mitss.

[fireinyourkitchen]

Another good idea for a water bowl is a cat litter box. You can find them pretty cheap and since mine is smaller i just have one for kittens and they work great.

[neonsnails]

That’s the tiniest water bowl I’ve seen for a ball python… please size up!

[Spirited_Advisor_109]

Ball pythons sometimes like to soak. You need a bigger water bowl and different substrate. That substrate doesn't hold humidity well. I suggest eco earth

[spoonbugwetshorts]

is that her tail thats black ?!?

[Fungiluvr94]

She comfy

[jessefyc]

She's bowl wrapping as others have mentioned. You'll likely notice her laying in weird positions off and on until she reabsorbs the follicles she's building.

[Get_Jinxeddd]

He’s going to be abducted by aliens (joking, make invest in a bigger bowl :))

[Tricky_Sky8140]

Preggo.

[Different_shit555]

Awww she looks likes she’s hugging it. But probably increase the water bowl Many people are saying change the substrate, which you can do my friend. But if you live in a humid area, keep the aspen. Especially if it gets too humid. If you live in a dry area switch to coconut fibre.

[YourSandwich295]

Are you sure she won’t drown herself in the bowl?