new cage, which height?

[trailblazer295]

I've decided after seeing how a juvie BP takes up space in my 24x24x12 pvc cage, how active he seems to generally be and recommendations from other members I should buy my little guy a larger cage. I'll be buying a 48x24 cage and using his current setup to house a children's python. I've read conflicting information about BPs and whether or not they climb. Should I get a 12" high or 16" high cage? Cost isn't an issue if he will enjoy and utilize the extra height. Care sheets seem to contradict each other so need some advice from owners.

[Zoo Nanny]

At the zoos we had them in tall 4' high enclosures and short ones as well. The snakes in the taller enclosures were much more active. They had hides and multiple areas for basking and would move all around.

[trailblazer295]

Thanks, it seems to fit the trend I've read. BP's with more space tend to use it. Worst case if it's easier for me to reach inside and set things up anyway. I'll go with 48x24x16, s
spoiled little guy he is.

[IW17]

12 will be fine, but 16 makes cleaning much easier on you.

[trailblazer295]

Ordered the 16 yesterday, pick it up next week. Wasn't even a big price difference and at least the cage size is easier to get in and reach the back.

[Marshallarts]

I'm new to ball pythons but my guy enjoys climbing:)

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Some BPs--mostly males, it seems--seem to enjoy climbing! They aren't always very GOOD at it, but they'll do it, haha. I always like to give a snake the opportunity.

[mrgrimm]

Yes I am another BP owner that has a snake that likes to climb and stretch out at night. He is an adult, and I think it would be a shame to not let him stretch out and get exercise on his own in his tank that he is in 99% of the time.

His tank is 27.5" tall, and I have a variety of sticks cris crossing so he can climb around and take advantage of the height.

He falls off sometimes but it's not high enough to do any harm, and he lands on a 2 inch layer of aspen covered in several layers of paper towels so it's like a big cushion :)

The more space the better IMO, as long as you can keep the temp/humidity OK and offer good hides. Bigger space also allows for multiple water dishes including one big enough to soak in.

He is my first and only snake, but every night he covers all 150 gal. of the enclosure, not sure if that is common among BP's or not?

[trailblazer295]

I bought him the 48x24x16, no climbing decor yet but he wasn't stressed by the extra space.

[mrgrimm]

Good to hear, sounds like plenty of room for a happy snake. I am no expert, but I think not the size of a large enclosure stresses a snake, but the factors OF the enclosure (not enough or inadequate hides, in a high volume traffic area, temp, humidity, substrate, bright lights, etc...)

[bigsnakegirl785]

I have a ball python that likes to climb as well. When I provided a branch, he practically lived in it. He only left to get a drink, eat, or do a quick cruise. I eventually removed it because he kept falling from it, but I may provide climbing for him again if I can make it more intricate so that he's less likely to fall. Right now he's in a small tub, maybe 1-1.5' tall, but he has a 6'x2' that's 3' tall that I'm seeing if I can't make room for so I can move it here with me.

As said above, it's not the space of the enclosure that stresses them out, but the amount of open space. Everything else mrgrimm said is independent of a large space, and would be true even in a smaller enclosure.

[drumcrush]

My dads BP loves climbing. We recently finished a larger enclosure for him/her. It's about 5ft tall and s/he is all over it.

[trailblazer295]

This is his current setup, a yawn after his first feeding in the new cage 5 days after moving. It has a 2 zoo med UTH placed side by side to create a large enough hot spot for when he is full grown controlled by a ranco stat. A pro products rhp controlled by another. He periodically moves from the warm hide to the cold hide and will hang out in between. The cage has an LED light strip I use when I'd like to look in at him but that is manual. I live alone in a basement apartment so it's just the cat around during the day. So there isn't a lot of noise and traffic on a regular basis. Judging how many BPs seem to climb when given the opportunity I'll be looking to add some decor he can climb on. When I held him in the store he seemed to like the vest I wore and climbed straight up my chest, I had to help him of course by raising my arms when he reached his limit but he just went straight up without care to hang out on my shoulder for awhile.

[trailblazer295]

It seems you guys were right, I had a few driftwood pieces I was saving for my new snake but what kind is now up in the air so decided to try something. I had 2 snake wood pieces on stone so used those to hold the wood in the pic in the air. Within 15minutes of me doing this my BP came out of his hide and is currently climbing on it. I'll be buying more wood to create a more elaborate wooden layout above his hides he can climb on in both the warm end and cold end of his cage.

[trailblazer295]

I picked up more wood today and here is the result of planning it out in my head.