Can ball pythons flatten their bodies to get out of enclosures?
I just got a ball python today and his enclosure has two clips that keep it shut. One of them is broken and there is a very, very small space that is left open. I’ve heard that they can flatten their bodies to get through small spaces, is this true?
Again a couple of 13 year old kids answer a question they know nothing about. Even go so far as to be mildly insulting to the asker as they spew B.S. Anyway, Ball Pythons are very crafty when i comes to escaping and YES they are extremely flexible animals. They are adapted to flex and move to allow large food to be swallowed whole. Mine has escaped from spaces so small that its hard to believe and once actually damaged his scales a little bit because he squeezed so tight. It is your responsibility as a reptile owner to make sure the cage is sealed well enough that they cant escape or hurt themselves trying. (I dropped the ball on this one). As a rule, and no matter what anyone else tells you, If the snakes head can fit through the opening its body will be able to follow. I know what it sounds like because Ball Pythons are so fat but ive witnessed it first hand. Sure up your cage. Your snake likely spends a few hours a night testing it for weak points(Its a thing most Ball Pythons do).
All of this information can be found online and in a variety of good books about keeping snakes.
Most of the other answers you been given can only be found in the minds and hearts of children.
October 19th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
um no they are spined animals they canot but the can stretch up and maybe get out
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October 19th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
They can not but they have been known to try and force there way through (there pretty strong) they might not get though but they can get stuck or hurt themselves so I would try and fix it as soon as possible.
References :
reptile breeder/enthusiast
October 19th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I don’t know what Robby is talking about, but yes they can flatten themselves quite a bit, they’re essentially just mouthes, stomach, skin and a few bones. As long as the opening is smaller than his bones, he won’t be able to get out. I used to be a snake-handler, so yes even large snakes can flatten out enough to get under 1/4 inch opening. Depends size, head etc.
This is assuming he WANTS to get out. Believe it or not, snakes like dark tight spaces, it gives them a feeling of security. That’s why snake pits tend to be small and just FILLED with snakes.
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October 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Again a couple of 13 year old kids answer a question they know nothing about. Even go so far as to be mildly insulting to the asker as they spew B.S. Anyway, Ball Pythons are very crafty when i comes to escaping and YES they are extremely flexible animals. They are adapted to flex and move to allow large food to be swallowed whole. Mine has escaped from spaces so small that its hard to believe and once actually damaged his scales a little bit because he squeezed so tight. It is your responsibility as a reptile owner to make sure the cage is sealed well enough that they cant escape or hurt themselves trying. (I dropped the ball on this one). As a rule, and no matter what anyone else tells you, If the snakes head can fit through the opening its body will be able to follow. I know what it sounds like because Ball Pythons are so fat but ive witnessed it first hand. Sure up your cage. Your snake likely spends a few hours a night testing it for weak points(Its a thing most Ball Pythons do).
All of this information can be found online and in a variety of good books about keeping snakes.
Most of the other answers you been given can only be found in the minds and hearts of children.
References :
Ball Python, Red Tailed Boa
Many years