Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I dont know if this is something to be alarmed about, but my 4 month old BP has been extreamly active as of late.

He eats on sundays (small feeder mouse) and he usually sleeps sunday to monday/tuesday...but after that, he is up...almost constantly. This has been going on the past 2 weeks.

He always tries to get out of the cage, and I am wondering why.

-Am I not feeding him enough?...he is almost 2 and a half feet long, and I feed him one feeder mouse a week

-Does he not feel secure?...I have to hide boxes for him on both the cool and warm side of the tank

-Is it too hot?...I have both a UTH and a heating lamp that I turn off at night

-Is his enclousure too small?...again he is 2 1/2 feet and hes in a 10 gal tank
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"Let The Herse Take Me To Church"
"I'll Die Before I Go"

I'd say you need to feed him more and get a bigger tank for him
he should be able to eat 2 adult mice or ever a medium rat
good luck
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Girlfriend: Your room smells like reptiles!
Me: Are you saying that my Balls smell?

If you're feeding 1 "small feeder mouse" per week then I would say he's definitely being underfed. At 2 1/2 feet or 30inches he should be able to eat a small rat per week. My ball python is about 26 inches and I feed mine twice a week 1 adult mouse.

"He always tries to get out of the cage, and I am wondering why."
This is normal behavior.

You mentioned that you have both a UTH and light for heat. What's the temperature gradient and humidity? Check the ball python care sheets on the internet.

"-Is his enclousure too small?...again he is 2 1/2 feet and hes in a 10 gal tank"
Yes, this is too small. A 10 gal tank is for hatchlings, not for a 30inch snake. At that size he needs at least a 20 gal tank or more.

yea dude,
I would say that a bigger cage is needed & definitely feed more. a small mouse can be a meal for a real small bp. they are fat hungry little snakes. more seems to be almost always better that smaller with balls. they are pigs. example my girl is 500 & something grams last i checked a month or two ago & she pounds med rats weekly without hesitation. she started eating small at 350 grams. i dont doubt that she could take a large rat but i dont want to hurt herself from forcing a HUGE meal. it seems like they may not be able to hack it but they have never ceased to surprise me with wow big a meal they can chow down. as far as trying to escape....it's a snake in a cage..lol when he's not eating, pooping, or sleeping.....what else does he have to keep him busy? i would be tryin to escape too...lol

good luck

>>I dont know if this is something to be alarmed about, but my 4 month old BP has been extreamly active as of late.
>>
>>He eats on sundays (small feeder mouse) and he usually sleeps sunday to monday/tuesday...but after that, he is up...almost constantly. This has been going on the past 2 weeks.
>>
>>He always tries to get out of the cage, and I am wondering why.
>>
>>-Am I not feeding him enough?...he is almost 2 and a half feet long, and I feed him one feeder mouse a week
>>
>>-Does he not feel secure?...I have to hide boxes for him on both the cool and warm side of the tank
>>
>>-Is it too hot?...I have both a UTH and a heating lamp that I turn off at night
>>
>>-Is his enclousure too small?...again he is 2 1/2 feet and hes in a 10 gal tank
>>-----
>>"Let The Herse Take Me To Church"
>>"I'll Die Before I Go"

to be trying to escape. Once she was getting the right amount of food she doesn't seem to want to get out quite as bad.
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Rob