Are you stressed about why your Snake Won’t Come Out of Hide?
Most of the new snake owners stuck to this question and always try to figure out the answer to such a cliche. Well, you will have a light bulb moment after reading the answer.
Snakes are somewhat nocturnal animals. Such animals stay active and awake during night-time and are mostly hidden during day time. Hiding in the light or during the daytime is their normal behavior. Snakes are more likely to be comfortable in a dark environment.
Additionally, if you have picked a snake that belongs to a fossorial species such as sand boa, it will stay undercover nearly all the time. Although these pets have hiding behavior in common, there can also be certain factors of concern here.
As you will learn further here, you will get the answer to all your questions like what should be the concern if my snake won’t come out of hiding? and What can be the reasons that are responsible for the hiding of your snake?
You can surely be as keen as mustard to know more about your hiding snake here.
5 Major Reasons Why Your Snake is Hiding
When you are in the hassle of finding out the major reasons for the hiding of your snake, it’s essential to be a bit familiar with the natural response of a snake to hide.
There are specific reasons why your snake is hiding. Apart from their birth behavior, various external factors like temperature, humidity, large enclosure area, and many more can be responsible.
1) Stressed due to new surroundings
When you just got your pet snake and it is hiding for an extended period then, you don’t need to sweat about it. If your new snake is hiding, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem with the cage setup.
Snakes take time to adjust and become familiar with their surroundings. It’s just that you need to make a continuous effort to socialize and become familiar with your snake.
2) Hiding of snake for thermoregulation
Snakes are generally cold-blooded. Through the process of thermoregulation, they maintain their body temperature by basking under the sun to be warm. Similarly, they move cooler surface areas to cool off their body temperature if needed.
If your snake is hiding for a long period, it’s essential to check the temperature of the areas under the enclosure that you have provided for your snake.
3) State of brumation
Brumation is a state of dormancy where reptiles like snakes undergo various physical changes due to unfavorable weather conditions. As it is very clear that they have cold blood, they hide to get through the winter.
It is a process similar to hibernation but is called brumation in reptiles. Due to this inactivity, your snake may hide to stay warm and to be comfortable in inappropriate weather conditions.
4) Large enclosure area
When your snake is hiding for a long period, then this could also be a sign that your pet’s enclosure may be too large. Snakes are not just predators but also prey. They need to stay in a secured cage. Snakes do not feel safe and secure when they are overexposed.
To make your pet feel comfortable with you, you need to invest more in the hides and cover of the cage. Adding fake or real greenery in the enclosure area and maintaining the correct temperature for the species can help your snake stay calm and comfortable.
5) Snake get stuck in the covering
Sometimes snake owners provide sufficient care to their pets by maintaining their daily food requirements and providing proper enclosure. But, because of the new cage, your snake underestimates its size and goes in a rush to get out of a certain hole. This eagerness of your pet gets them stuck in their hide.
Although, a study by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information says that, snakes have some self-awareness about their body limits while they hide.
There are still some cases where snakes can get stuck because of the random size of the hole. Therefore, this can become a reason for concern.
You might be interested in Here’s Why Your Snake hasn’t moved in days! (Explained)
How often do snakes hide?
Snakes are most likely to hide for 1 to 2 weeks until it is time to shed. It depends upon various factors including the type of snake you have.
If you are stressed about your new ball python not coming out of hiding at night, your concern will end here.
Snakes like ball pythons, rat snakes, and corn snakes resort to hiding during the night times. However, the Mexican black King snakes roam during the day and resort to hiding in the dark.
How to Lure a Snake Out of his Log?
Hiding is a behavior that comes naturally to snakes. There is no pattern to restrict them from covering up. However, if you can determine the reason such as temperature or poor enclosure area, you can manage these conditions by providing them with a comfortable and secured cage.
New snakes can also hide due to stress and insecurity from the owner. You can build a bond with your new pet snake through good handling training.
Remember, handling training should be done with proper timing. Your snake will become comfortable with you when they are most active and are not sleeping.
Conclusion:
If your ball python covers up almost every time, it’s an indication that your snake is a happy ball python. Snakes are born with the natural behavior of hiding almost every time so, it’s expected. They are mostly active at night but still, they are not extraordinarily active creatures.
Most of the factors that can cause illness or injury are directly connected to your snake’s environment. Make sure you keep an eye on such factors and the rest can assure that your snake’s behavior is normal. However, don’t hesitate to get your snake to a vet if needed in extreme or severe situations.
