Size query! Raising a point!

[striko_69]

So i know that balls dont need massive enclosures, but i think that saying they shouldnt have them is wrong. Perhaps I dont want to use rubbermaids (which i only dislike because they arent as attractive as other types of vivaria) and want to use my current glass tank to house an adult ball python. Surely it cant be too big? (I'm trying to not state anything as i have no first hand experience with them yet).

Surely its more of the fact that they become more stressed in larger enclosure because the keeper has resorted to still using only 2 hides. I would have thought that a tank of size 4'x2'x22" would be fine with a sub-adult ball as long as it was filled with the correct amount of objects/hides to give the snake enough security.

I'm not looking for a telling off as I am merely checking before I make a mistake. I have become interested in this point because in a seperate forum i read a discussion on how a tank could be too big for a corn snake against how this was not so true. I decided to bring it up in here to the expertise and experience of Ball Python keepers.

Thanks guys
Al

[nita]

You can keep a ball in a glass tank anything is possible. Providing enough hides is key as well as not using a screen top since you lose all humidity and heat that way. Ball pythons are pretty much nocturnal and subteranian, they like to be in the dark and in a burrow or hide all the time so as long as you want a tank that looks pretty and nobody has a clue what is in it, since it will pretty much always be hiding, go for it. Make a custom top for it though, screens suck.

[tHeGiNo]

There are many factors which make rubbermaids ideal enclosures for this species. Their tendency to be thigmotrophic, that is preferring to be surrounded by touch, in addition to the ease of maintaining ideal temperatures and humidity, are the main factors contributing to their popularity as enclosures. It is extremely difficult - not impossible - to maintain proper humidity and temperature levels in an aquarium. In my opinion, whats the point?

tank could be too big for a corn snake against how this was not so true

It is a whole different story with corn snakes - they are not half as delicate as ball pythons and are active snakes. Ball pythons are inactive and can be difficult to maintain.

[smeagel]

It's not that people are saying that Balls shouldn't have large enclosures for , it's that in the experiences of a lot of keeperes and breeders on here Balls do better in a small tight enclosure. The reason most keep their Balls in rubbermaids is because of the humidity reason, and the fact Nita pointed out about them being subteranian.