Snake Newbie in New Mexico

[looneybin4sure]

Hi there,

I recently inherited a ball python (Alice - between 1 & 2 years old) from my daughter when she moved out. I have fallen in love with Alice and have been searching the web trying to learn all I can to make sure she is well taken care of.

When my dd decided she wanted a snake, she convinced us she had done her research and was ready to take on a ball python. While my dd did take good care of her, I now know that her housing situation has really not been ideal.

We live in dry New Mexico where the winters are especially dry and it so very difficult to maintain the heat and humidity. I don't want her to get sick. She's in a 10 gal. glass tank with the screen lid and I've been reading how this setup is the hardest to maintain regardless of misting the tank several times a day, keeping a wet cloth over the mesh, putting the water dish closer to the heat lamp, etc.

We have a uth and overhead infrared heat bulb connected to a rheostat but that's not doing it. I recently purchased a P3 P0250 Digital Mini Hygro-Thermometer which I've already placed in the center of the tank and a Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats, which I haven't yet setup. I've decided to move her into a sterilite clear plastic tub but not sure how to set up the heat. I don't want to burn or warp it. I assume a heat lamp is now out of the question also.

I have stumbled upon a couple of threads addressing plastic tub setup but haven't had access to some other details, mainly posted setup pics. Humidity is my main concern here. She's had a hard time shedding over the last couple of weeks. I purchased a Zoo Med Reptile Shelter 3 in 1 Cave to try to help that but that would dry out quickly too. I really need some help on this.

BTW, all she has in her tank currently are 2 hides (on opposite sides), a water dish in the center, the digital hygro-thermometer in the center, and a regular thermometer on the "hot side'. I would like to decorate it a little eventually. She has a rat every other week.

If you can direct me to some relevant threads (tub housing) that would be awesome. Thank you all so much. I have much to learn and implement to keep Alice safe & healthy.

Liz (aka Looney Mom) :)

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[Freebody]

Welcome to the forum :) you can build a cage like this, it would be more than enouph for your ball python for life, normally a 3'x2'x1' tall cage is build but no sense throughing away the extra 1 foot of wood being how you will buy it in a 4'x8' foot sheet :) How to build 4x2 enclosure for $100 - Redtailboa.net (http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/how-tos-tutorials/28742-how-build-4x2-enclosure-100-a.html)

[presspirate]

Hello and welcome aboard! You can use a heat mat with the tub as long as you use the thermostat with it. Also, a provided humid hide will do wonders for her shedding. To do this, just get an appropriately sized plastic container, cut a hole in it big enough for the snake to crawl through, and line the container with damp sphagnum moss. I put mine in the middle of the cages. When it comes time for my snakes to shed I can always find them in the humid hides.

[dragunov.762]

i keep a plastic shoebox full of damp moss in my boas cage and she loves it. this would be a good temporary solution until you can find a way to raise the ambient humidity (aquariums are horrible are keeping humidity i would build my own or buy a plastic cage like a vision, monster cage, or boaphile)

[Nafun]

Alright, here's the longwinded skinny on ball python care.

Housing: There are basically four ways to house snakes. Aquariums, Tubs, purpose built custom enclosures, and specialty enclosures from reptile supply companies. Here are the pros and cons.

Aquarium:
Pros: Cheap (You can usually get a 55 gallon, which would be sufficient for your snake for about $50 on craigslist), good visibility.

Cons: Poorly insulated, heat and humidity are hard to keep up.

Tubs:
Pros: Cheap Cheap Cheap! Great at keeping humidity and heat up.

Cons: Can't use lamps for heat, poor visibility

Custom enclosures:
Pros: You get exactly what you want, and exactly what your snake needs.
Cons: Expensive ($100-$200 depending on materials), takes a lot of work, and access to a few power tools.

Specialty Enclosures:

Pros: Usually stackable, waterproof, escape proof, and designed to be easily kept warm and humid.

Cons: These kind of enclosures start at about $200.


The main concern is usually price. If you're on a tight budget, I recommend a tub.

For a tub, all you have to do is drill some air holes in the sides, and enough in the top that your humidity stabilizes at 50-70%. Heating a tub is a bit problematic, but my suggestion is heat cable.

Zoo Med makes heat cable, it's basically the inside of an electric blanket. Unlike virtually every other heat source, it's perfectly safe for use inside a reptile enclosure. Just put it under the substrate, and connect it to a rheostat. They're very very efficient ($20 gets you a 50w 23' heat cable that should keep any tub warm). To make a temperature gradient, merely put more cable on one side than the other.

You absolutely cannot and should not use a heat lamp with a tub. First, the lid will block almost all the heat, and secondly, and most importantly, it will catch fire and kill you, your family, and your snake!


If you want to keep her in an aquarium, she absolutely needs a bigger one! At two years old, I would recommend a 55 gallon, but a 30 or 40 would be sufficient. Keeping in mind, if she is female, she will outgrow a 30. To keep humidity up in a screen topped enclosure, I recommend covering 3/4 of the top with plexiglass. You can also cover the top with a towel and keep it moist (fill a gallon jug with water, poke a hole in the bottom with a pin, set it on the towel). Even with most of the top covered, keeping humidity up during the winter is hard.

For feeding, once every 2 weeks is acceptable, but if you notice her going off feed for extended periods (a lot of balls refuse to eat for part or all of the winter), you should bump her up to every week the next year before the fast hits.

One final note, if going with a tub, be absolutely sure the snake cannot get it open. Ball pythons are very very strong, and can fit through just about any hold they can get their head through. When I keep them in tubs, I wrap bungee cords around the tubs in addition to the clasps.

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome!
Here a couple of my yellow anaconda and BRB tubs. Hide at each end water bowl. I use reptile bark it works great for helping keep humidity up. With winter here i went back to misting once a day.
11185

11186

11187

[looneybin4sure]

Thank you all for such a warm welcome and awesome advice. I plan to spend more time on here, definitely. :)