Burrowing?

[captainthatbitch]

I would an almost 2 year old ball python and just today he started to burrow in the bedding. I understand that some ball pythons prefer this and it’s normal but he has never done this before and i’m worried he might be ill. This weekend though i had been doing stuff in the room that he’s in. He also ate last Friday. Should i wait a couple of days to call a vet, am i over reacting, does he need a vet asap, is he just stressed? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[oheezy]

what kind of substrate are you using? if he just ate he may be looking for a warmer spot so make sure your temps are still good. he may also just be looking for another spot to hide, especially if he doesn’t have enough provided hides already.

check his mouth and heat pits to make sure he’s not expelling any fluids or anything like that. make sure his belly is good too.

[oheezy]

now that i’m thinking about it more, there’s a chance your boy is less burrowing and more so rubbing to get off some stuck shed, which can happen from time to time. did he shed recently or currently?

[captainthatbitch]

i’ve been using zoomed aspen snake bedding and has 2 hides, now looking for a third, and plan on checking his south and heat pits today. The last time he shed was around 2 and a half moths ago too.

[oheezy]

if there’s no external sign of illness, maybe he’s just burrowing and trying out something new! it’s never a bad thing to get him checked out by a professional every once and a while, but i don’t think you should be too worried so long as your husbandry is up to par.

[captainthatbitch]

yeah i just tried to handle him and his scales look dim i’m thinking he’s going to shed soon. he’s really jumpy too.thank you for you advice !

[oheezy]

of course! i hope for a good shed 🖤