cage requirements

[ssshell]

what size of cage would be suitable for a 2yr old bp? also what kinds of things like rocks, hide, driftwood should i put in it? any live plants?

[CamHanna]

The size of the enclosure depends on the size of the snake. As long as the snake can move around then the enclosures big enough. An easy guide would be to aim for a set up that's one body length long and 1/2 a body length wide.

Your main goals with a ball python enclosure are to offer a warm end around 90-95F, a cool end around 80F and humidity at about 50-60%, maybe 80% when in shed. Everything else but the water bowl is optional.

Putting one hide on the warm side and one on the cool side is a good idea. You can throw in as much drift wood and as many rocks as you like, it's completely up to you. Some ball pythons are entirely happy with nothing but a water bowl.

Live plants are pretty but the may be hard to take care of. If you want them then go for them. You can make the enclosure as complicated as you like as long as you maintain the proper temperatures and humidity.

Personally, I like to keep my set ups simple; that's a hot end, a cool end, some news print on the bottom and a water bowl. I only have one ball python that has a hide. The others feed well and seem quite content without. Why clean and disinfect any more than you need to?

Good luck with the set up.
Cam