Ball pythons climb a little, but not as much as boas. However, if a ball python is climbing, it might need more heat. If the enclosure has no sources of heat (e.g., heat lamps or pads), the snake will probably start to climb until they find one.
Some say that this habit may be shed because shedding skin is thin, but others have said that this habit comes from stress.
Ball pythons don’t need as much ground space as other snakes in captivity do because they are specialists at squeezing their bodies and can create less demand for space between themselves and the wall of the enclosure by writhing their bodies around when attempting to escape if needed.
What do Do Ball Pythons like to Climb?
Ball pythons like to climb trees, rocks, branches, and logs. The tree should have a rough surface (the snake wants to ‘grip’ onto the bark) for the ball python to scale with its entire body.
Rocks, branches, and logs should be close to the same width as the body or more prominent so the ball python does not get stuck when it begins climbing.
If you want your ball pythons to climb, you can buy fake trees from pet stores made explicitly for reptiles, but if you don’t want your snakes climbing, don’t provide them with something that would encourage it.
Do Ball Pythons Climb In The Wild?
Ball pythons are among the most arboreal snakes worldwide, meaning they climb trees and other substrates in the wild. That is why a climbing ball python would do well in captivity.
They can also climb branches and coverings of various trees outdoors, but if you want your snake to climb, it will become much more active than its natural state.
If you want your ball python to climb, there is probably no need to provide it with any substrate that would encourage this behavior.
For example, some people put fake grass on their shelters so their ball pythons can practice climbing on it, then let their snakes loose so they can climb all over.
Should I Provide Climbing Accessories In Captivity?
You should only provide climbing accessories if you want your ball pythons to climb. Many ball pythons do not like to climb at all; significantly younger ball pythons.
Most pet stores sell plastic items that encourage this behavior, like fake trees and stones. These items can be found in various sizes, and the most common one is a natural tree made out of plastic or wood.
You should provide your snake with the substrate it prefers, like dirt or small pebbles, for example, but it may still decide to climb on these climbing accessories if it wants to.
Does My Ball Python NEED places to climb?
The general rule is that if your snake does not climb such things, it does not need them. It can be a difficult question to answer because it depends on whether the snake likes to climb or not.
If the snake does not climb, it is no need to provide it with climbing accessories. You can leave those fake trees and stones in the enclosure or remove them entirely, and your snake will be happy without them.
If your snake climbs, you should consider providing it with climbing accessories to take advantage of its natural behavior when climbing trees and other substrates in the wild. The most common type of climbing accessory is a fake tree made of plastic or wood.
The Climbing Ability of Ball Pythons
Ball pythons are among the most arboreal snakes worldwide, meaning they climb trees and other substrates in the wild.
It is a prevalent trait for ball pythons to climb their surroundings, and thus it is likely that this behavior will not be stopped even if you don’t provide them with any climbing accessories.
The climbing ability of ball pythons comes from their natural habitat, where they can find places to climb among different types of trees.
In captivity, however, they need a lot more space to get away from the ground, and this is why they often use fake trees or rocks to climb on so they can feel like they’re doing what they were born to do.
Do Ball Pythons Like To Climb?
Ball pythons climb a little, but not as much as boas. However, if a ball python is climbing, it might need more heat.
If the enclosure has no sources of heat (e.g., heat lamps or pads), the snake will probably start to climb until they find one.
Some say that this habit may be shed because shedding skin is thin, but others have said that this habit comes from stress.
Can Ball Pythons Climb Glass?
Ball Pythons can climb glass, but this behavior is uncommon among healthy ball pythons. If your ball python wants to climb glass, you don’t need to provide it with anything that would encourage it.
The most common items used to induce climbing behavior in snakes are fake trees and stones.
The best way to make sure your ball python decides not to climb your glass is by providing it with a lot of open space and by providing it with the substrate that it prefers (e.g., rough ground or pebbles).
Do Ball Pythons Climb Often?
Ball pythons don’t need as much ground space as other snakes in captivity do because they are specialists at squeezing their bodies and can create less demand for space between themselves and the wall of the enclosure by writhing their bodies around when attempting to escape if needed.
Ball pythons climb frequently, but in captive scenarios, this behavior is very uncommon because ball pythons have a lot of room to move around on the floor of their enclosure.
Ball pythons climb more frequently in their natural habitat than in captivity. That is why it is so common for people who keep them as pets to provide them with climbing accessories like fake trees and rocks around their enclosures.
Such accessories encourage the behavior of climbing because they give the snakes an excellent place to climb from.
Ball pythons are among the most arboreal snakes in the world, and they can find places to climb among different types of trees, making it very likely that even if you don’t provide your ball python with anything that would encourage climbing behavior, your snake might still start climbing its enclosure just for fun.
