Animal Plastics cage.....optimum size for BP?

[KWenger]

I have decided to order two enclosures for my BPs from Animal Plastics. I currently house my adult male in a 40 gal. breeder tank (36 x 18 x 17) and it seems to be an ideal size. I also have a juvenile male that will be big enough for his "forever" enclosure soon. Problem is keeping the temperature and humidity at correct levels during the wintertime. The room where I keep my snakes goes down to the low-mid 60s during the winter and it is difficult to keep the glass tanks warm enough. And maintaining correct humidity during the winter months is especially difficult. I have an Animal Plastics enclosure for my boa and think the quality is excellent. I plan to order the BPs enclosures with both Flexwatt for belly heat and a RHP (radiant heat panel) to maintain ambiant air temps. Everyone I've talked to assures me it will be MUCH easier to keep humidity levels up with the AP cages too. Now, my question is what size to get? The AP model T1 seems too small (24x24x12) and both the T3 (36x24x12) and T5 (36x24x24) are bigger than I need.....at least that's what I'm thinking. What is your opinion? Animal Plastics will build custom size enclosures and I am considering ordering a couple 36x18x18. Does that sound about right? As long as I'm placing a custom order I can get ANY SIZE I want. If you were starting from scratch with a custom size enclosure, what would you recommend as the "perfect" size for an adult male BP? Thanks!

[Lankyrob]

Perfect size is a difficult question. My PERSONAL preference is a 48x24x24" viv, my BP uses all of it and there is a decent temp gradient.

[mmarchl23]

I agree its mostly preference, but if you have the means to go a little larger than go for it. My girl is in a 4'x2'x3'. She is quite a climber though so the extra height gets used in my case but from what i understand it usually is not needed.

[Aaron_S]

I agree its mostly preference, but if you have the means to go a little larger than go for it. My girl is in a 4'x2'x3'. She is quite a climber though so the extra height gets used in my case but from what i understand it usually is not needed.

I would never recommend this for ball pythons. They are a finicky species that has been proven they do tend to prefer smaller spaces.

If I took 100 ball pythons shoved them in enclosures I'd have a number of them not eat or be finicky.

If I took the same ones, shoved them into bins of appropriate size, the number that won't eat or is difficult would lessen to a single digit.

[mmarchl23]

I stand corrected. Thanks for throwing that in Aaron.

[Aaron_S]

I stand corrected. Thanks for throwing that in Aaron.

You're welcome.

I'm just stating with this species it's not the best advice and there are exceptions to the rule but it's safer to tell anyone a smaller enclosure is better for a BP.

[KWenger]

Hey Aaron. Thank you for your input. You seem quite knowledgeable and I respect your opinion that bigger is NOT better when it comes to enclosures for BPs. I've heard that often before. I have only two BPs and do not intend to get any more. They are just pets. Given the fact that I am definitely going to order two cages from Animal Plastics and am willing to pay the additional fee for a custom size, what size cage(s) would you recommend I order? I will not use tubs or bins regardless of any advantage they might offer from a husbandry standpoint (certainly a topic for debate, but not here) simply because I don't like the way they look. Display aesthetics are a consideration for me, and I think Animal Plastics cages are attractive. Many folks seem to think the quality is excellent too.

[Aaron_S]

Hey Aaron. Thank you for your input. You seem quite knowledgeable and I respect your opinion that bigger is NOT better when it comes to enclosures for BPs. I've heard that often before. I have only two BPs and do not intend to get any more. They are just pets. Given the fact that I am definitely going to order two cages from Animal Plastics and am willing to pay the additional fee for a custom size, what size cage(s) would you recommend I order? I will not use tubs or bins regardless of any advantage they might offer from a husbandry standpoint (certainly a topic for debate, but not here) simply because I don't like the way they look. Display aesthetics are a consideration for me, and I think Animal Plastics cages are attractive. Many folks seem to think the quality is excellent too.

I see your stance is based less on the needs of the animal and more on what you want to look at.

With that said, I don't know AP product. I have heard it to be tremendous and would just stick to the same size enclosure you have, probably with less height.

[Lankyrob]

Why cant you just provide the tight secure spaces in a larger viv that gives the snake more time to move around when it wants to?

I know they like the security but if you can provide security AND space isnt that "better"?

[Chris72]

I use almost all tub and rack, but once I had read a guideline of the "L" factor. (Dont remember where) Such that the distance across three corners of your cage should be about the same as the length of you BP. (And more is not needed)

In the past when I had feeding refusal on newly acquired animals I put them into smaller tubs and or smaller hides and the problem slowly took care of itself.

As Aaron said; there are exceptions to behavior. I have just less than 40 and one of them crawls out, up and onto my wife if she opens her enclosure. (Only one like that) Two others are absolute F'n bit**es, and the rest are outstandingly ordinary. (By nature)

Something important to remember is that if you have a BP in a display you will want two hides (on hot side...one cooler side) that the animal can vanish into, curl up and feel secure. As its nocturnal you are not going to see hanging out all the time (typically) the way you would with...say...a chameleon.