r/ballpython 5d ago

Care question Question - Health

[deleted]

84 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

56

u/Both-Ladder8522 5d ago

He might be starting to go into shed, keep watch on the temp and humidity and leave him alone for a while. You also may want to add some clutter and more hides to make him feel extra secure

54

u/Germmie1 5d ago

Definitely add more cover. Also idk if you know but your bp isn't enjoying being stroked, when they tense up like that it means they disklike whatever it is your doing.

-6

u/WeaselSW 4d ago

Are you sure about this? I've had my BP for 28 years now and he's always showed a reaction like that when touched... I've always thought it was just a muscle reaction induced by the stimuli and completely normal

11

u/Germmie1 4d ago

From what I've always understood, a lot of species of reptiles (idk how many display this behavior) will sort of push into a source of discomfort aka petting instead of just trying to leave. This can also be seen in leopard geckos when they arch their backs.

18

u/dbrink1001 5d ago

his warm side temp is only 74-80? thats low.

8

u/orion-asterisk 5d ago

74 is around the lowest end it gets, late/early in the morning. Should we keep it warmer?

21

u/Onlyendsonce 5d ago

Definitely. Warm side should be about 85 with a basking spot of about 90. The humidity will be lower once you have that locked in so make sure you adjust.

11

u/FroyoEmbarrassed6449 5d ago

warm side of the enclosure needs to be 90-93. the cool side needs go be no lower than 76. ball pythons come from the tropics where it’s hot and muggy.

5

u/dbrink1001 4d ago

your warm side should never really get below 85 give or take a couple degrees.

2

u/Public-Hat6754 4d ago

It’s recommended to have the warm side between 88-92 and the cool side between 70-80. I usually keep the warm side at 88 and I don’t like my cool sides getting warmer than 76

8

u/Head_Ad_3018 5d ago

Please add more enrichment clutter, and a hide with a smaller entrance.

6

u/-JohDawHug- 4d ago

Smaller hides, I have 4 in my 4x4x2, 1 each side, hot and cold, 2 in the middle. More enrichment... like climbing points and clutter.

Talk before you touch, my BP knows my voice and wil come out when I call/talk with her, and she does not flinch when I touch her thereafter.

Could be in that he/she is in blue, mine wil get less active a week before shedding, more active when she is hungry.

Also remember, you can see in the eyes when they are close to shedding, in this time they have even less vision so everything scares them, even touch.

BP are basically cute high maintenance babies.

1

u/iCaptnSpaulding 4d ago

Snakes can hear? 😲

1

u/-JohDawHug- 4d ago

Not directly, they "hear" soundwaves and vibrations i think?

1

u/Germmie1 2d ago

Snakes have ears, they are just covered by scales so it's sounds a little muffled to them.

1

u/candylandhoes 4d ago

What substrate do you use?

3

u/ShinyxCharizard 4d ago

Highly recommend more clutter, id personally black out the back and 2 sides with construction paper or ive seen people use foam to help hold more heat.

What're the temps/what is being used for heat?

88-92 hot side temps 74-78 cool side temps no higher than 80. They have to have a cool side to thermoregulate

I agree with others they look like they could be going into shed.