Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...I'm new here and I have a question. I had pet pythons in the past but have not had any for a few years. I decided to get a new one and just brought him home tonight. Now I had been visiting him regularly over the past week and a half and I noticed the last couple times I'd been there (including when I picked him up) that he liked burrowing under the water dish. I assumed that was because at the shop, the water dish was directly above the under tank heating pad. Now I got him home where his new residence had been ready and waiting. Through-out the evening I was impressed by how well he seemed to handle the move. At no time did he appear nervous or timid. In fact he set right out investigating the tank and was very active. Then I turned the heat lamp off and turned the night lamp on (which doesn't produce as much heat). He immediately went over to the water dish and literally burrowed through the substrate to curl up under it. The thing is...in the tank here at home, the water dish is on the cool side of the tank. I have one of the half hollow logs for him to hide in on the warm side of the tank. I guess my questions are...

1) The snakes I had in the past definately seemed to "know" me and have a memory of me...but is it really possible that he remembered that it was warm under the water dish at the shop?

2) Shouldn't he have been able sense that it was not warm under the water dish in his new home?

3) Am I worrying over nothing?

For now, I removed the substrate from under the water dish so that it sits directly on the bottom of the tank and he can't burrow under it. I'd really like to know what some of you more experienced people think.

Sorry for the length and thanks in advance for any help or guidance.

I say just let him do what he feels comfortable doing.

Damien, my male ball python, used to love hiding under his water dish. I ended up getting him one he can't hige under ONLY because he was too big and I didn't want him getting hurt.

he wants a hide. depending on how big your tank is, i would provide 2. one on the warm side, one on the cool side and leave your water dish also. since the hide would provide more shelter i am willing to bet he is going to go for one of those.

Thanks for the replies. I'll get another hide for the other side. I was mostly worried that he was cold and was searching for warmth in an area that would be even colder.

The weird part is he seems "reversed". He's active and stays right out in the open during the day...then goes to hide at night.

I use a 5 pint Water dish, with the holes on the sides

He loves it, its got room, and its dark, and he is in it all the itme
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

If your hide is too big or too exposed, he might not feel comfortable using it and that may be why he's trying to burrow under the water dish. Try getting him a couple of small hides (just barely big enough for him to fit in) and place them in the hot and cold ends. They really feel safer if they are crammed into a small enclosure. Hope this helps.
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Tosha

8.13.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Thank you! I partially buried the hide that I had for him making the actual opening smaller. He ate his first meal since coming home and then crawled right inside the hide to rest. Prior to this he would crawl through the hide but this is the first time he's actually stayed inside. I have to beleive it's because of your advice and the fact that the inside is smaller.

I also picked up a second smaller hide that is now set up on the cool side with the water bowl on the center.

Glad I could help! Beautiful snake by the way looks like a granite! Congrats on your new guy!
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Tosha

8.13.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer