Need ideas!

[GotBalls?]

Hi Everyone,

I was given a gorgeous custom made enclosure for my ball python this christmas. It is quite large, about 5 feet long, 2.5' high, and maybe 1.5-2' deep. This is a photo, of a photo I have of it. I don't ahve it in my possesion yet. What is in it comes with it, but I will have a bark substrate and probably won't be using some of that stuff.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/NicoleandReannon/DSCN4311.jpg

Anyhow, I was hoping to spice it up and actually make it look like a nice habitat that does the beautiful enclosure some justice and that the snake will be comfortable in. I know BP's are low maintanance, so most of it will be for looks, not what he NEEDS, but since it has so much potential to be such a neat looking enclosure, I was hoping to get some ideas from those of you who have accesorised something like this, what kind of things would look good in it and still be safe and practical for the snake.

I am also hoping for ideas of things I can make or find, not designer things from a pet store , as I have a low budget for this.

Thanks in advance!

Nicole and Jester

[peterm15]

MANY MANY MANY HIDES.. thats the best advice i can give.. make sure the bark is safe.. aspen or cypress.. NO SOFTWOOD

that cage is MASSIVE and is frankly more suited for a beardie, or something of the sort... its to tall for a ball.. your gonna need some stuff for humidity.. the one thing you must understand.. no matter how good an enclosure can look what your snake need come first and formost. if you cant keep heat or humidity in the cage ther is no use in owning..

but if you can... walmart carries alot of good ideas.. clay and plastic plant pots for dishes and hides... you can also look into false rock as a lighter weight easily made natural hide.. i always have my eyes open for new ideas for my cages. i suggest you do the same.. you can make some nice cages on the cheap side...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/peterm15/Newfoundland001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/peterm15/Newfoundland002.jpg

that entire cage from the ground up, decoration, everything cost me under 20 bucks.. i use leftover wood for building.. bought the track, cut the glass ( scrap glass) paint and sealed using leftovers around my house and bought the hides.. all of that for under 20 bucks.. so anything is possible...

[GotBalls?]

Thanks,

I was looking for my natural looking environment...not sure if driftwood is safe? I see cork bark pieces in pet stores all the time? Is there any kind of clay that can be used to make hand made hides, that won't cause problems when there is humidity?

I'm hoping it will keep humidity ok, and I can use both lamps and UTH to keep it warm. If it doesn't work I can always sell it, but I want to give it a go.

Nicole

[peterm15]

ok heat lamps will eat humidity so stick with uth.. if you get clay plant pots from walmart you can use thoes.. clay wont be harmed by humidity. these envrioments i dont have substarte down cause its being dis infected in my freezer...otherwise its simi natural... driftwood is fine to put in cages.. just freeze or bake it first.. same with corkbark... ect ect.. for humidity just make sure there is lots of water in the cage. you can also use flase rock made with grout and foam to creat nice hides.. but if you have a wat to make pottery just do that.. youll find lost of ideas to make a cage natural while meeting the needs of you snake.. just keep your eyes open and if your unsure wether something is safe just post away... this site needs more posts anyways

[GotBalls?]

how do you make the false rock with grout and foam? Sounds like an interesting project!

Nicole

[-okapi-]

Heres some good information:

http://708designs.netfirms.com/custo...customcage.htm
http://www.geocities.com/tnstuttle/cage_info.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/herptips/fakerock.htm

[GotBalls?]

awesome, thanks!