Custom Enclosure Questions!

[balakoth]

I am currently designing my own custom enclosure for my Ball Python. A few questions I have though.

First I have already established with some reading through these
forums I will be using a RHP on one half of the enclosure.


Second, placement of the air vent seems important on controlling heat and keeping humidity in but controlling it at the same time. WHat is a good rule of thumb to go by when placing your vents and the number?

Last two questions. One is concerning size. Right now my ball is just a baby, but I wish to only build one custom enclosure for her. 4l x 1h x 2w. Should she be able to grow a custom and not feel stressed in the larger enclosure, I believe this will be large enough to house her at 4 feet as well?

She is currently housed in a 20g glass viv.

Im also looking for a substrate that is reptile safe and attractive. At one pet store I noticed something that almost looked like Soil or dirt, yet fake in a way. I would hope to keep a pothos plant in the back and allow it to vine out around the enclosure.



Thanks in advance

Joe

[Linds]

4x2x1 will house snakes up to 7.5 feet with no problems... a 4' ball will have more than enough space ;) For substrate, Cypress mulch works well... but you cannot feed on it as it can cause them to become impacted, but this is a problem with most substrates. It can be solved by placing the rat in a container in the enclosure instead of the floor of it. The best way to keep plants in an enclosure is to have them potted in pots, not the enclosure. You don't want to have to replanbt it everytime you need to change the subtrate. Also, you want to avoid using potting soil and stick to topsoil. The key factor in placing vents is that you are creating good cross ventilation. For a 4x2 I would recommend placing two small vents on the back and one on each side, or you could go with two larger vents on each side, or even two on the back and place the doors so their is an air exchange through them as well. I use the white, round, plastic vents in 3" and 5" diameters available from Home Hardware or Rona.