What Size Enclosure Do You Use?

[SerpentineDream]

My first ball python, a juvenile male Purple Passion, is on his way to me once we have a break in the weather. He's currently about 19 inches long.

I have a 20 gallon long (29 gallon equivalent) glass terrarium with a locking screened top that I think should be about right and plan to set up in a naturalistic manner. It's about 30" long, 12" high and 13" wide. I think he's big enough that he won't feel lost in there once I have the plants, hides and branches installed. I also think since males don't get all that big it'll probably do for life.

I keep getting conflicting info--it's fine, it's too big, too small, etc.

What do you guys recommend, and how do you house your own ball pythons?

[Minkness]

Honestly, sounds good to me. I kept mine in 20L for a good while before I eventually moved up to enclosures with a 40 breeder size.

Just keep an eye out for anystrange behavior like pushing to get out or refusing to eat, and provide extra hides if needed.

[Zelg]

mine is 2' high, 2' deep and about 3' long. He's so inactive that I dont mind having him there. I think about moving him to a slightly bigger one but IDK. He eats well enough. I do have two way oversized hides in there. I apparently underestimated exactly how big these hides would be. They take up most of the space but at the same time he does move from one to the other and seems happy as can be. I do imagine he'd be ok in a smaller enclosure. He's only about 3 feet long himself. Personally I just think if you can do bigger, do bigger. So long as they do well. I'm not a big fan of small enclosures but for big collections i understand it.

[Jim Smith]

I have Honduran Milk Snakes and I use the 36X24X14 cages from Constrictors Northwest. Excellent products and the prices include shipping. Once you switch to front loading cages, you will never want to go back. I makes accessing your snake(s) and enclosures much easier and maintaining temperature and humidity is much easier. That may be down the road a bit for you, but it's something to keep in mind for the future. Just a thought...

[trailblazer295]

It depends a bit on the temperament of your snake. Some use lots of space while others prefer small racks. I'd wait and see how much he uses the space you have and how he is growing before investing in a pvc cage that's bigger. Mine is in a 48x24x16 at the moment but still be moved back to a 24x24x12 when my boa out grows him.

[SerpentineDream]

I'm actually planning to switch most of my snakes to stackable PVC cages in the future. I've been looking at getting a few sets of 3 of the 36" x 18" x 12.5" units from NPI. I have a couple on the way that will eventually need 120 gallon cages, but I can get them custom made glass cages with front sliding doors.

I agree, top entry is a pain.

[EL Ziggy]

I don't keep BPs anymore but I still think the 20g long sounds good if you're not getting your pvc enclosures right now. It'll last you at least 2 years, and as you said, maybe even for life. As long as there's plenty of hides and cover he should be good to go.

[BranceM]

(6qt tubs) hatchling - 400g
(16qt tubs) 400 - 1,000g
(32qt tubs) 1,000g+

[bigsnakegirl785]

I don't think a 20 gallon will last for life, but it should last a year, maybe 2. Even a small male would need a 30 gallon. Or a really big 20 gallon long.

I'm currently keeping my bp in a 105 qt tub, but he grew up in a 3.5'x2'x2' enclosure (roughly but it's been 2-3 years so I don't remember the dimensions exactly), spent a bit of time in a 6'x2'x3', and I will eventually be moving him into a T12 (4'x2'x2'). My bp is 3.5' and the T12 is the minimum I'd consider keeping him in long term, the tub's Length+Width is exactly his length, and he looks awful cramped in it. He's normally a very active snake, too, so he used every inch of his 6' enclosure.

[pitontheprowl]

3 qt up to 150g
6 qt up to 400g
28 qt up to 1500g
41 qt breeding females