Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just put down a new substrate for my ball python - T-Rex brand Cypress mulch (it keeps humidity like no other!). It seems that my BP is really enjoying the new substrate - he's been grubbing around and burrowing in the cypress mulch. Sometimes I can hardly see him buried underneath it all. Has anyone else experienced this kind of behavior from their BP on cypress mulch?

I'm not exactly alarmed, in fact I find it kind of cute.
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Adam
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"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

Can't help, sorry. I always use paper.
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1.0 Blackheaded pythons
2.4 Woma
3.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.3 Bloods
2.2 IJ Carpets
2.0 Coastal Carpets
1.3 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
1.0 Jag IJCP
0.1 Carpondro
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
1.1 Striped Bolivian Boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I can't help you as far as balls go but I have seen this in several of the snakes i keep. my gopher, bull and anaconda will all burrow down under the mulch
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"Create then surpass your expectations"

Just a thought...if you're using a UTH, the new mulch may be cooler than the previous substrate. If so, it may be looking for the hot spot.

Party crashing tonight?
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

I use bed-a-beast (which is coconut fibers) and my BP loves to bury herself in it. I've seen photos of Kingsnakes doing the same thing.

This is one of the reasons why I like natural substrates like these. It gives the animal more options. In the wild there is nobody to place perfectly sized hiding boxes out for them, so they need to know how to hide themselves underground for security.

If she does this exclusively over your UTH, you might want to consider adding more heat. In the winter, I add a 40W overhead ceramic heater because it gets cold in my apartment.

True, but my animals always move their hide boxes to the warm spots.
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1.0 Blackheaded pythons
2.4 Woma
3.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.3 Bloods
2.2 IJ Carpets
2.0 Coastal Carpets
1.3 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
1.0 Jag IJCP
0.1 Carpondro
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
1.1 Striped Bolivian Boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Yeah, somtimes I think I should be keeping tortoises with the amount of moving around those boxes do, LOL!
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin