Understanding body language of your ball python is important to find out what it needs and wants. In this post, you will find questions and answers on ball python behavior meanings, such as why is ball python burying itself, yawning, hissing, hiding all the time, flicking tongue and tail, what does a stressed or relaxed ball python look like and more.
Ball python behavior
- Ball python burying itself/burrowing a lot
- Hiding all the time
- Flicking tongue
- Hissing
- Flicking tail
- Wheezing
- Flinching when touched
- Soaking a lot
- Raising head
- Coiling into a ball or S shape
- Stressed
- Relaxed state
- Sleeping
- Yawning
- Being very active all of a sudden
- Trying to escape
Why is a ball python burying itself?
If your ball python is burying itself or burrowing a lot under substrate or a water dish, it could mean that it’s not feeling secure in its hides or that the cage is too open. Also, it could mean that the temperatures in your ball python’s cage are not ideal.
Make sure to get tight hides for your ball python, that have only one opening. Your ball python should fit completely in a hide. Don’t use half logs or similar. Make sure to also check the temperatures in the cage (use thermometers and an infrared thermometer like this).
Be careful with temperatures and substrate depth, because your ball python can burn itself if it burrows and gets closer to an under tank heater (if you are using one). In this case, adjust temperatures, make the substrate deeper, or put a layer of paper towels/newspaper on the bottom too.
Ball python hiding all the time
If your ball python is hiding all the time, it could be normal. Ball pythons are mainly nocturnal snakes, and they become active at night. During the day, they mostly hide and rest. It is also going to rest after eating, to digest the food.
Why is ball python flicking tongue?
If you see your ball python flicking its tongue, that means that it is learning more about its surroundings. Your ball python has a Jacobson’s organ in the roof its mouth, which helps detect movement and other information.
Ball pythons mainly flick their tongues before striking at a prey or when being curious with their surroundings, and you might notice that too. A relaxed and calm ball python will move around slowly (without coiling or hiding its head), and flick its tongue to learn more about what’s happening around it.
If your ball python is not flicking its tongue, observe its behavior. Your ball python must be alert and relaxed, and lack of tongue flicking can also indicate stress. Your ball python might also be stressed if its body seems tight, if it’s moving much, is coiled, or makes sudden moves.
Why is my ball python hissing?
If your ball python is hissing, then it is not feeling comfortable or might be seeing you as a threat. This is more common with new ball pythons, which are still learning that you don’t pose a risk to them. Stress factors might also make your ball python uncomfortable, making it hiss.
Stress factors can include too much handling, lack of security, unfavorable conditions in the cage, shedding. Make sure temperatures and humidity are ideal and that the cage has tight hides with 1 opening, climbing branches and other clutter.
If your ball python is hissing, it’s a good idea to leave it alone and handle another time. Your ball python might hiss because it’s actually feeling threatened, and it will bite if you don’t back off. However, your ball python might also hiss if it’s annoyed with your actions (if you are pulling it out the hide, handling etc.)
With new ball pythons, start handling occasionally, and build up the timing gradually. Allow your new ball python to eat few times before you start handling. Avoid disturbing your ball python too much during the day.
Why is a ball python standing up?
If your ball python is lifting upper part of its body (‘standing up’), that means that it’s curious or is exploring. You might notice this behavior when your ball python is roaming, is hungry, or generally curious.
Ball python looking up or stargazing
If your ball python is looking up with muscle control and without tipping over or losing balance, it is normal. Ball pythons that are checking out their surroundings or being curious might look up.
However, if your ball python is looking up and having difficulty controlling its muscle movement (disorientation, seizures, twisting around, laying on side or back) then it could be ‘stargazing’.
Stargazing is often caused by a nervous system disorders, toxins, tumors, infections (meningitis, encephalitis) and more. It can also be caused by very high temperatures in the cage (over 100-105 F). If you notice your ball python being shaky, disoriented and looking up, please take it to a vet.
How to tell if a ball python is sleeping?
The main signs that a ball python is sleeping is a relaxed body with no movement at all or tongue flicking. Your ball python is also likely to be in a hide, coiled up, with its head tucked in or resting on its body.
It might be hard to tell if your ball python is sleeping due to lack of eyelids, but with time and observation, it will become easier.
How to tell if a ball python is happy?
A happy ball python is a healthy ball python. If your ball python is eating, pooping, hiding a lot, and sometimes roaming (too much roaming can indicate stress) would mean it is the happiest it can be.
Ball python stress behavior
It can be hard to read your ball python’s behavior. But a combination of signs might help you determine whether your ball python is stressed. Some signs of a stressed ball python are:
- Hiding its head too much
- Movements that are too slow, timid
- Sudden movements
- Hissing
- Scaring you with a strike (even if not intended to bite)
- Flinching or puffing when you try to touch it
- Coiling tightly
- Biting
- Trying to escape
- Watching its surroundings too much (can be a sign of hunger)
- Hiding under substrate or water bowl (husbandry issues)
If you believe that your ball python is stressed, make sure to review its cage temperatures, humidity and lighting. Don’t feed your ball python in a separate cage and don’t bother it too much. Also, if your ball python is new and doesn’t want to be handled, don’t worry and stay patient.
Start handling after 3-5 feeding sessions. Begin with 2-5 minute handling during its active hours, daily or every other day. Avoid handling 2-3 days after feeding. You can also use scenting trick – wear a piece of clothing for few days and then put it in your ball python’s cage.
Make sure to place it that way that your ball python can’t swallow it (they can try to eat a cloth, yes). Most jumpy ball pythons won’t like when you touch their head, so approach that gradually.
Ball python striking glass
If your ball python is striking glass, then it is being defensive. You would need to review its cage, temperatures, humidity and hides to make sure it’s not being stressed out.
Cage must be 20 gallons or bigger for juvenile ball pythons, and 30-40 gallons+ for older ball pythons. Besides the size of a cage, you must include at least 2-3 tight hides with 1 opening (avoid logs etc.). There must be a hot side (around 1/3 of the cage) of 87-94 F (30.5-34.4 C), and a cool side of 76-82 F (24.4-27.7 C).
Don’t feed your ball python in a separate caging and avoid handling too often. Ball pythons are shy creatures, and if your ball python is defensive, short (5-10 minutes) handling sessions are better, especially in the beginning.
In general, young ball pythons tend to be especially defensive and strike. Most ball pythons grow out of it with time and handling. Stay patient and remember that it’s a normal predatory behavior.
If your new or hatchling/juvenile ball python is striking or biting, you need to be gentle but firm with it. You would need to take it out the cage and hold it with confidence. You can watch a helpful video below:
Why is my ball python soaking a lot?
If your ball python is soaking a lot or all the time, it could be caused by improper tank temperatures, dehydration, mites, lack of security. Review your temperatures, humidity and check for any small mites on your ball python’s body or in water.
Make sure that temperatures in the tank are not too high, anything above 92-94 F (33.3-34.4 C) is too high for a basking spot. Use digital thermometers and an infrared thermometer like this to check temperatures in the tank. Also, check for humidity levels and keep them at 55-70%, and up to 80% when shedding.
Another reason for constant soaking might be mites. Mites can be passed from other reptiles and can be hard to see. If you suspect mites, get rid of any loose substrate, and temporarily move your ball python to a separate simple enclosure.
Having said that, occasional soaking, especially before shedding, might be normal. However, ball pythons might also do it if their hide is not safe enough. So, make sure you have very tight hides on both sides of the cage.
Why is ball python wheezing?
If your ball python is wheezing, it could be suffering from a respiratory infection. Make sure you don’t confuse it with hissing, when your ball python forces the air out to make a hissing noise (defensive).
Other signs that can indicate a respiratory infection include heavy breathing, discharge from nose or mouth, open mouth breathing, inflated throat, bulge under its throat. Make sure to review temperatures, increase them a little if possible. Take your ball python to a vet.
Ball python coiling into a ball or S shape
Ball python coiling is normal defensive behavior. You are especially likely to see your ball python coiling when you have just brought it home. Allow to get used to its new home for 3-4 weeks before you start handling it.
Coiling into an S shape, might be a sign that your ball python is about to strike. However, that’s not always the case as ball pythons are flexible and might be naturally in that shape.
Relaxed S shape with a ball python’s head resting on the floor/substrate etc. doesn’t indicate stress or intention of striking. However, tight S shape around the neck and increased head movement often indicates stress and defensiveness.
S shape around the neck, lifting the head, hissing, puffing up are signs that you need to leave your ball python alone.
Why is my ball python so active?
If your ball python is too active, it might be caused by few things. First of all, this could be due to improper temperatures, lack of hides, hunger, outside stress factors. Please remember, that your ball python naturally gets active at night, so it might be normal.
Is your ball python’s cage located in a noisy room with many people passing? If yes, your ball python might get stressed due to loud noises (vibrations) and similar.
Another reason could be hunger – if your ball python is due to eat, it could be roaming the tank to ‘hunt’. Ball pythons become active when hungry and tend to watch their surroundings, even follow your moves from their cage.
Lack of hides or wrong types of hides used can also lead to your ball python being restless. Make sure you have at least two hides in the cage – one on a warm and one on a cool side. Hides must be tight, have only one opening and fit your ball python fully.
Also, please review your ball python’s cage temperatures – improper temperatures on a hot or cool side might make your ball python restless and move around too much.
Don’t use stick-on or analog thermometers, as they can be wrong by 5-10 degrees or so. Please choose digital thermometers and also check spot temperatures with a handheld infrared thermometer like this.
Review everything in the cage to make sure nothing is bothering your ball python. Examine it for mites, and make sure you are offering correct size prey (to be sure it gets full with each meal).
Ball python yawning
Your ball python might be yawning after a meal to align its jaws, or before a meal to prepare swallowing a whole prey. Other reasons why a ball python might yawn is to gather air particles to ‘smell’ (using Jacobson’s organ) or when shedding or having a respiratory infection.
Unless your ball python has secretions from mouth or nose, difficulty breathing, is listless, making popping/wheezing noises, then it should be fine. In case of these symptoms, your ball python could be suffering from a respiratory infection.
Why is my ball python trying to escape?
If your ball python is trying to escape, it could be too hot, or not feeling secure in its cage. Make sure you have few very tight enclosed hides (where it can fit its body fully) and clutter in the cage.
If your ball python’s cage is made of glass and is large, you should to cover the back and even sides of the cage with a cloth or similar. That’s especially true with new ball pythons, which need time to get used to their new home.
Don’t handle or bother your ball python until it has eaten at least 3-5 times after you bring it home for the first time. Provide at least 2 tight hides – 1 on a cool and 1 on a warm side.
Make sure to check your temperatures to confirm they are ideal. Ball pythons are generally great escape artists. If your husbandry is good and cage is cluttered with hides, it could be just normally active. Make sure that the cage lid is tight as your ball python might easily escape otherwise.
Thank you for reading this post on ball python behavior types and meaning. If you would like to learn more about ball python care, see this resource page.