Hi...We have 2 baby ball pythons.Both about a year and a half old and about 36 inches long.The one , every night like clock work , will come out of its rock cave and slither up to the climbing log and get itself into a semi upright coiled neck position and hold itself there from 7 p.m till 5 a.m...Staring up at the top of its enclosure , neck erect yet coiled , like in a stricking position but with the rest of his body relaxed and wrapped around the log holding him in place.If that makes sense.It's like hes hypnotized or in a trance.He's never exibited this behavior before.They are in a new larger enclosure for about a week now.Anyone have a clue why he would act so strangely ? Our other python , who shares the same enclosure for over a year now , is acting normally.
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Ball Python in a trance ?
Replies (17)
I hope everthing is OK with your snakes, but you may find this link helpful.
Very intersting article on stargazing...
Tweak is able to right himself from his trance like position...He'll move maybe once or twice during his 7-5 statue impersonating stints...Re-positioning himself back into almost the same position and stance each time...
He does go back into his rock cave every morning when the sun comes up...
He is staring up towards the cage top screen where the ventilation is...
He's eating normal and is gaining weight and growing like he should be with no regurgitation "ever" after feeding and like I said our other ball python that shares the enclosure is acting normal as ever...
Could it have anything to do with the move to the new enclosure maybe ? Just his nutty way of adjusting...
maybe you have ghosts
I just spoke with my local "exotics" vet who also happens to have a degree in herpetology...After reading the post about stargazing then about IBD's I started to freak out but after speaking to the vet I feel better...Our python is not exhibiting any other symptoms of either disorder other than the staring up into space part...He rambled on a long list of things for me to answer yes or no to , symptom wise , and the answer to all things was NO...He said if he doesn't eat this Saturday when it's his time to feed again then I should bring him in for a new check-up just to be on the safe side but otherwise he just thinks our Tweak is acting normally nutty...He's always acted nutty he's just apparently found a new way to entertain himself...
I do like your theory though Gardenia...Our cats sometimes stare up like they see something I can't and I wonder if that's what they see , spirits...So why not snakes...LOL...Lori
They are chasing hyperspace mice. I'm sure of it. The cats see them, but we don't. Ever. And I've looked. Maybe, your ball has found a way to see them, too.....Gods help him if he catches one....
Or maybe he did? Maybe that's why he's not eating for you? Hyperspace mice are pretty filling.
-----
1.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 corn snake
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish
1.2 cats
3.1 kids
1.0 husband
He is eating for us...No problem on the eating front...
That's wierd, I moved my 1 year old ball into a larger cage about 2 weeks ago and he has started to do the same thing. He will get on top of hidebox and stare about the screen, but he usually only does this for about 30 minutes or so. My cats stare at things too, kinda makes me wonder.
Snake wins....
Obvious outcome there....
They BREED at that age!!
I wouldnt get all huffy over terminology...Ball python , baby ball python...Whatever...Both our ball pythons will always be babys to me and yes we know they breed at this age but since both our are male I don't see that happening any time soon but thanks for the lecture...Have a great night...
Wait till they hear you're housing 2 adult males together LOL
Its been done to death. If people don't learn by now......
And that was a huff? Need a tissue? Holy.
looks like ceder?
Not sure if it's cedar...My husband sets up/cleans the habitat...I'll ask , and thank you for the useful answer I appreciate that...
Last night he didn't stargaze...We had a book up on the top of the enclosure screen to weight down the corner till we could get the cage clips on and last night we took the book off and he acted totally normal...Came out and was social for about an hour , basked on top of his rock cave for a bit and drank from the water dish...Then went back in for the night...
I will check about the subtrate though...Thank you...Lori
And it is just taking him so long to "sound it out" Maybe you could help him. What was the booK? If it was about mice, or female bp, I would understand. jk
The book was "The Beatles"...The big coffee table book on the anthology...LOL...It would take him an awful long time to read that...Maybe thats why he gave up and went back to his normal behavior :O)...
The subtrate is zoo med repti-bark , not cedar...
