We just added a baby ball to our family and I put him right away after his quarantine tank into a 4x2x2 enclosure 3 hides lots of fake plants he ate few days before I put him into new enclosure and now he is very strikey and under his water dish constantly. Did I stress him out by putting him into new enclosure? Does he need to go back into smaller until he is bigger? Humidity and temps are good
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A 4x2x2 enclosure can actually be too big for a new baby ball python. I would recommend putting him in a tub or a smaller enclosure for now so he feels secure enough to eat.
Make sure to give him tight hides where the walls snuggly squeeze him. Ball pythons love to feel enclosed and squeezed. Keep him in this smaller setup until he reaches about 300 to 500 grams, and then you can move him back into the 4x2x2 once he is bigger and eating consistently. Hope he gets better ^^
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(I’ll tag some people who can double check on this and see If I’m right here @armiyana @caron @cmsreptiles )
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I’ll definitely put him into a smaller enclosure if he’s not so stressed
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He is very stressed out. Whenever the personality of a previously calm snake becomes this defensive, they definitely need something changed.
@dolls_sweet_exoticsss has pretty much hit the nail on the head here. He went to the tightest space he can find because he wants that safety.
I have a girl who even as an adult has not outgrown her hatred for anything but a tub based enclosure. Anything with windows gets her stressed. She has a very defensive nature overall though. But she would find the tallest spot to perch and strike at anything that moves.
I’d recommend moving him back to what he was comfortable in and just let him grow a bit. Once he has more confidence with you and some growth on him maybe you can try the larger enclosure again. But if he’s still getting stressed you may have to just size him up in a middle size enclosure.
The size of the hides and how much clutter there is makes a huge difference as well, but since this one is so young I would just go back instead of trying to change the environment and waiting for him to settle. Make sure he’s happy and healthy.
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Most definitely agree with all @armiyana said. Some ball pythons stress easily, even in ideal environments. But babies can just be downright scared/stressed even more easily so they/some need that secure feeling for sure…..
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I’m moving him back to his littler one that way he can grow and be happy before movjng him
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There is only one person here that I know of who can and has put a baby ball python (hatchling maybe) in a 4x2x2 enclosure(I think it was around that size) from the start and the baby flourished from the get go and that would be @t_h_wyman Travis. However he is more than highly skilled (PHD) and bio chemist? or something like that. His enclosures are creative, naturalistic, structural and just downright strategically put together. I believe that baby didn’t even realize it was in a captive environment/enclosure.
Could I do it? Nope! My baby bps go straight into a small sterilite tub with a couple of hides, water bowl, and clutter for extra security. Btw I’m just a keeper but a lot of my bps I purchased as babies straight from the breeder’s hatchling tub.
Putting your young’un back into its secure little home is the best thing you can do for it right now! You are a great BP human parent! 
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After losing my bp to whatever sickness he had I got this little one as a surprise for my husband who has yet to see him but he’s very loved I’m sad I made him stressed out he’s back in his little 25 gallon with lots of clutter and seems pretty happy again with his head popping out the hide picture of the new guy the day I brought him home 
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Don’t be! You were just trying to give him the best life possible! Your motives were good! He’s just not quite ready for his “big boy” enclosure quite yet! 
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Microbiology and molecular genetics, but biochem has a pretty significant overlap on the overall Venn diagram 
And honestly, the only reason that might be relevant here is just in how I apply my scientist brain to things in general LOL
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You have already received good info so I am not going to rehash all of it but I wanted to touch on this and one other thing. With this comment… It should be noted that some animals, especially babies, are just strikey in general. I have fresh hatchlings in small tubs that will pop the front of the tub if I have the audacity to just walk past. It is just their personality. 99% of them grow out of it once they get some size and feel safer, but I have a couple adults that I still have to be careful around
The other thing I want to say is that you should not expect instant behaviour switch if/when you downsize. The “shock” of moving back and forth is itself a stressor. Best thing to do after you downsize is to leave the animal completely alone for a week so that it can settle in and feel comfortable
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He ate once moved so loved that a lot leaving him alone for another week he explores all over his enclosure at night now and he seems better so far
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That’s great news!