mrgrimm
09-29-14, 06:17 AM
I have owned my first snake for around a year now, a normal Ball Python. He is great, and browsing this forum has helped tremendously in caring for him. One thing I have done though that may be against popular advice is to house him in a glass tank.
It does take some extra effort, but after some trials got it pretty well figured out to maintain 72F - 85F warm and cool sides and around 90F-95F under warm hide. I have found that 65% humidity seems to be a sweet spot, and bump it up to 75% during shed and had a one piece shed last time.
For substrate I use a 1" layer of aspen that I press down, then layer paper towels over that for quick easy spot clean. I have 1 large water dish big enough for the 5ft. guy to soak in and a small water dish over on the warm side. Also have a sponge in a perforated tupperware by the warm hide. Digital temp./humidity gauges on both sides, and a damp towel covering 70% or so of the screen top. Misting is required 3 times a day, and a cup of water dumped on to the towel daily as well. I cover the towel on top with some wood I cut to shape, then stapled waterproof material on the bottom to keep the humidity from soaking into the wood.
Small heating pad under the warm hide, and some weathered, barkless 3 - 5ft. sticks propped up. Red 100W bulb that I turn on evening/late night that is about 2 ft. from substrate, mounted up off the screen top so really only provides minimal heat, more of a night light!
Reason for this post is because I had all this similar setup in the 55 gallon tank for him, but shorter sticks, and he would come out every night and go around the whole tank exploring and trying to stretch out. I figured I would do an experiment and buy him a 150 gal tank to give him more play room.
I read up a lot on this, and a lot of comments said the snake will recluse, not eat, and be miserable and scared. I figured if this is true then I will use the large 150 gal. tank for another animal in the future and return the ball python to the 55 gal. The night I put him in, he stayed in the warm hide all night and was in the cool hide the next day, so I was glad he did move across the big space even though I didn't get to see it.
By the second night he was already completely adjusted, and ate a F/T rat instantly! The next night he was out exploring the tank, and now it's common every night for him to be stretched completely out, full length in the big tank on the propped up sticks just chilling. In my experience I have found the large tank useful in allowing him to get (low) climbing experience, exercise, and the ability to stretch out.
I personally witness him do all these things every night, and he is a strong eater and not shy. So I am glad I went against popular belief that a 30 gal or plastic bin is the way to go. I think a lot may depend on the individual personality of the snake, but maybe we shouldn't just assume every ball python won't thrive in a large setup - mine does!
I will try to get some pics up soon, it's really not a fancy setup - just large! I do have to use a step ladder to get in and change water/clean up and it does require daily removal of the weighted down screen top and such to get inside the tank...so there are some downsides if you are not able to invest the time and effort into the glass tank, but it can be done successfully.
I paid $300 for the 150 gal. tank, screen top, stand, extra light and some wood pieces used of CL. I think I would have spent a lot more to get that much room for him out of a custom enclosure. Don't get me wrong, I do like what the custom enclosures have to offer as far as maintenance and ease of operation, but the large roomy enclosures are just out of my budget and skill level to create currently.
All comments or suggestions welcome!
It does take some extra effort, but after some trials got it pretty well figured out to maintain 72F - 85F warm and cool sides and around 90F-95F under warm hide. I have found that 65% humidity seems to be a sweet spot, and bump it up to 75% during shed and had a one piece shed last time.
For substrate I use a 1" layer of aspen that I press down, then layer paper towels over that for quick easy spot clean. I have 1 large water dish big enough for the 5ft. guy to soak in and a small water dish over on the warm side. Also have a sponge in a perforated tupperware by the warm hide. Digital temp./humidity gauges on both sides, and a damp towel covering 70% or so of the screen top. Misting is required 3 times a day, and a cup of water dumped on to the towel daily as well. I cover the towel on top with some wood I cut to shape, then stapled waterproof material on the bottom to keep the humidity from soaking into the wood.
Small heating pad under the warm hide, and some weathered, barkless 3 - 5ft. sticks propped up. Red 100W bulb that I turn on evening/late night that is about 2 ft. from substrate, mounted up off the screen top so really only provides minimal heat, more of a night light!
Reason for this post is because I had all this similar setup in the 55 gallon tank for him, but shorter sticks, and he would come out every night and go around the whole tank exploring and trying to stretch out. I figured I would do an experiment and buy him a 150 gal tank to give him more play room.
I read up a lot on this, and a lot of comments said the snake will recluse, not eat, and be miserable and scared. I figured if this is true then I will use the large 150 gal. tank for another animal in the future and return the ball python to the 55 gal. The night I put him in, he stayed in the warm hide all night and was in the cool hide the next day, so I was glad he did move across the big space even though I didn't get to see it.
By the second night he was already completely adjusted, and ate a F/T rat instantly! The next night he was out exploring the tank, and now it's common every night for him to be stretched completely out, full length in the big tank on the propped up sticks just chilling. In my experience I have found the large tank useful in allowing him to get (low) climbing experience, exercise, and the ability to stretch out.
I personally witness him do all these things every night, and he is a strong eater and not shy. So I am glad I went against popular belief that a 30 gal or plastic bin is the way to go. I think a lot may depend on the individual personality of the snake, but maybe we shouldn't just assume every ball python won't thrive in a large setup - mine does!
I will try to get some pics up soon, it's really not a fancy setup - just large! I do have to use a step ladder to get in and change water/clean up and it does require daily removal of the weighted down screen top and such to get inside the tank...so there are some downsides if you are not able to invest the time and effort into the glass tank, but it can be done successfully.
I paid $300 for the 150 gal. tank, screen top, stand, extra light and some wood pieces used of CL. I think I would have spent a lot more to get that much room for him out of a custom enclosure. Don't get me wrong, I do like what the custom enclosures have to offer as far as maintenance and ease of operation, but the large roomy enclosures are just out of my budget and skill level to create currently.
All comments or suggestions welcome!