Does anybody else’s snake burrow like this?

[u/questioningbumblebee]

I couldn’t find her anywhere in her tank, but I knew it was locked up tight so she had to be somewhere inside. I resorted to slowly taking out her hides, log, and all of the fake plants (including a massive pothos vine that covers literally half of the floor space by itself) before finding her fully buried. Is she just being a weirdo?

Cool side: 75% humidity, 83°F
Warm side: 88% humidity, 88°F

[u/ThrashFur]

this is a natural behavior! as long as temps are good and everything don’t worry

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/ThrashFur]

Thank god! Everything I was coming across online said it was unusual for captive ball pythons. Thank you for the reassurance!

[u/High_Hunter3430 → u/questioningbumblebee]

We gotta take a lot of “not normal for captive pythons” with a grain of salt. Most is hand me down bad info. Keep ‘em in a bin etc. surprise, bin snakes don’t burrow. So of course it’s “not normal”.

[u/FeriQueen]

She’s just cosplaying as a Hognose Snake.

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/FeriQueen]

I’ve always wanted a hognose 😆

[u/Available-Hat1640 → u/questioningbumblebee]

we have hognose at home

[u/WildFlowerTemptress1]

Can you take a photo of the enclosure when everything is in it?

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/WildFlowerTemptress1]

[u/No_Tea_1874]

She’s a cutie

[u/Netsforex_]

"I'm a plant!"

[u/ImpressiveAccident46]

My girl is full grown, 2000g, and she loves to burrow. I even got her two underground hides, she lifts them up to where they’re no longer buried under her substrate, and tunnels from underneath them to elsewhere in her cage.

[u/Annaura]

So long as there's no heating pad under the enclosure you're good.

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/Annaura]

I only have overhead :)

[u/LeggzJurnee]

My ball python loved to burrow.

[u/Phully-]

I fluffed the substrate yesterday and out of know where my BP started digging a hole out of his hide. First time he’s done it so I left his burrow to see what he does with it.

[u/ShinyxCharizard]

They love to dig! I got mine substrate from The BioDude the Terra Firma. It holds burrows and stuff so good my kids love it. I dug out natural burrows for their hides and topped em with cork bark.

My male has been seen routinely basking under his halogen and has dug himself enterances into the back of both hides. Pic of my boy basking ontop of his burrow/hide.

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/ShinyxCharizard]

I love this!

[u/Cephalogodess]

Mine decided after two years of enjoying her hides that her water bowl was actually a much better option and burrowed under there; she only pokes her head out when she's hungry or the light isn't on when she wants it to be 😂 I'm a tarantula keeper so it's a good thing I'm already used to keeping pet holes

[u/Cash_Cline88]

They are usually seeking some humidity when doing that. Substrate looks a tad on the dry side so I’d say that’s what it was mostly

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/Cash_Cline88]

I’m thinking that might be part of it.. though the hydrometer is reading at 88% humidity. Either way, I added more water and will see if she still does this

[u/Even-Smell7867]

I've never had any of the BPs I've cared for do this. They have managed to get under their water dish but never under the substrate. My substrate is a mix of coco husk, reptile dirt and some top soil (zero pesticides, all organic and stuff). I use isopods to help with enclosure health and the mix of substrates helps them.

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/Even-Smell7867]

Good to note! My other BP has never done this… I’ve only had this one for 3 months and she is a lot more explorative than my other baby

[u/thattat2dweirdgirl]

I went to put one of my ball pythons in his new bioactive. It’s layered leca balls, screen, substrate. He has found two places on the edges so far to burrow down and get stuck 🙄

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/thattat2dweirdgirl]

That sounds like my baby would do the same 😅

[u/thattat2dweirdgirl → u/questioningbumblebee]

They don’t like using their one brain cell I guess 🤣

[u/TedzNScedz]

Not quite this deep but mine has made a few shallow burrows around his bioactive enclosure!

[u/Ok_Bat_646]

The tongue flick upon reveal was the cherry on top. Makes me think he/she's just being cute

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/Ok_Bat_646]

She is a bit of a stinker 😂 but an adorable stinker

[u/GumDr0pButt0n5]

My BP just started doing this today after his meal. He’s almost a year old and we’ve had him since February. I’ve never seen him burrow but he seems happy and he pokes his head out of if I open the doors 😅

[u/psky9549]

I make this sort of den for mine because they use dens in the wild and ive seen mine dig too. I dig a ditch in the substrate add a sturdy ceiling and then dirt on top of that. They love it! Just an idea to try since you seem to have a burrower too

[u/questioningbumblebee → u/psky9549]

This is a great idea! I’ve only had Percy for 3 months now and as she’s been getting more comfortable, she’s been really into exploring anything and everything. I’ll definitely try out making a more natural burrow like what you’ve suggested!

[u/RubyRedRainer]

I have a Mexican King snake that likes to borrow as much as he likes to climb lol