Ball Python Sleeping Outside Of Hide

Many times, pet guardians get bewildered when they find their pets doing something out of the ordinary.

It is common knowledge that ball pythons are friendly, timid, and shy creatures.

Ball pythons are also reasonably famous for being private animals that love to have their hiding spot even in their enclosures.

Yes, ball pythons do tend to sleep out of the hide when they have a valid excuse.

So, when pet parents find their ball pythons sleeping outside of hide, they find themselves feeling a bit concerned about the well-being of the reptilian friend.

Thus, it’s a much more practical application of your time to investigate the cause of your pet’s uncanny behavior rather than worry needlessly.

Let’s get straight to the list of reasons why your adorably bashful pet is opting to stay out of its hide and sleep where it can be an object of scrutiny 24/7.

Why Is My Ball Python Sleeping Outside Of Hide? 5 Possible Reasons

Even an excessively over-friendly ball python will always find time to go and snuggle up in its hide for a while through the day.

But, if your pet snake is out all the time, then you must realize that something’s wrong.

You can read on to find out some of the things that put your ball python off its usual haunts.

Wrong Temperature

When the temperature inside the enclosure is too hot or too cold, you can be sure that your snake will prefer to be away from its hide.

You see, when the humidity levels within the enclosure get too high, then your snake is likely to be out of the hide where the heat gets trapped more easily.

Your ball pythons will try to find a spot closer to an area where they can receive some fresh cooling air.

You must understand that reptiles are cold-blooded and need to rely on environmental forces to maintain their body temperatures.

But, if the snake enclosure is too cold, your snake will prefer to keep away from its hide where the temperature will get colder as the cool air gets easily trapped in a hide.

Using a digital thermometer and hygrometer will keep the temperature inside your snake enclosure at an appropriate level.

The ideal temperature in an enclosure should be 80o F – 85o F on the warm side and 75o F – 80o F on the cool side.

The basking area in your ball python’s tank should be around 88o F – 92o F.

Filthy Hide

You have to realize that if your snake has urinated or defecated in its hide, it’s not going to go there until the place no longer smells of foulness.

In the wild, snakes don’t frequent places where they have attended to Nature’s call.

The stench from their urine or feces is a lure to many predators and can result in certain death.

Now, you know that your reptilian buddy is safe in its enclosure, but you have to realize that your ball python is acting upon its instincts and sense of self-reservation.

So, the only way you’ll manage to get your ball python to rest in its hide is by giving its hide a thorough cleaning with some cleaning agents that will ensure that there is no odor left behind.

Wrong Hide Size

You see, snakes feel secure in dark, tight spots where they can’t be seen or taken out against their will.

If the hide you have for your pet snake is too big, then your snake isn’t going to like it too much.

Similarly, if the hide is too small, then it’s going to be far more suffocating for your ball python to enjoy.

Not Enough Hides

Snakes enclosures for ball pythons need to have two varying temperature sides.

One spot needs to be on the cooler side where your snake can rest and chill. And, the other side needs to be on the warm side where your ball python can bask and relax. And, both sides must have hides.

If your snake hide is on the warm, humid side but your pet isn’t feeling like basking, then it will avoid the hide there.

On the flip side, if your ball python needs a bit of sun, but the hide is only on the cool side, your pet will avoid the hide.

Hungry

When your ball python has been around you for a while, it’ll know when to expect dinnertime.

And, a hungry ball python will make itself more visible to get your attention to let you know that it needs sustenance.

What Can You Do To Make Your Pet Appreciate Its Hide?

You have to understand that ball pythons have distinct personalities.

Hence, you may be the happy guardian of a ball python that doesn’t like to hide much.

If your pet is healthy, eating right, and showing no signs of illness or lethargy, then you can let your reptile baby rest easy wherever it finds more comfortable.

However, if your snake doesn’t have more than one hide in its enclosures, or the hygiene levels aren’t maintained right, you need to address both of these issues.

Get more natural hides in the appropriate size for your pet, get at least one for the cool and one for the warm side, and a moist hide of damp sphagnum moss to help your scaly baby shed skin with more ease.

In addition, you have to ensure that your ball python has always got a clean and safe habitat.

Thus, it is vital to clean up the enclosure and hides to avoid diseases and illnesses.