In many reptiles, including pythons, there is an increase in body temperature during digestion. This is a result of both increased metabolism and behavioral thermophyly, presumably to increase digestive performance. However, increased body temperature also increases water loss rates, and many reptiles live where water availability in limited for much of the active season. Therefore, we examined whether hydration state influences digestion-associated thermophyly. Using implanted temperature loggers and 25-45C° thermal gradient, we examined the thermal profile of Children’s pythons, Antaresia children, through two feeding events, one while fully hydrated and the other while dehydrated to an ecologically relevant state. While A. childreni showed post-prandial thermophyly regardless of hydration state, dehydrated snakes returned their body temperatures to pre-feeding levels sooner than did hydrated snakes. These results provide early evidence of a physiological conflict between water balance and digestive performance; however, further studies are needed to quantify the digestive impact of reduced thermophyly associated with dehydration.