Snake Enclosure

[korlar21]

I am making my first homemade enclosure. I have been making up plans for it the last couple of months. I have a ball python and I know it is over kill but planning on being 36inx48in. We plan on upgrading our snake size after this one passes in the future.

For the background I have been looking for mixtures that work. I am also planning on putting a waterfall and wanting to make it a total eco-system. If anyone can give me directions of a solid mixture and how long I have to wait to run the waterfall. I also need to know if using sticks or PVC pipe makes a difference to make ledges and branches coming down and if the clay will adhere to the either better.

Thanks so much that is all I needed - oh wait... whats the best live plants to put in a ball python cage because the temp and humidity don't have to be extremely high. :bouncy:

[jarich]

The size sounds great, as long as you give it lots of cover and area for burrows/hides.

Ive never done the fibreglass background (or whatever material you are thinking of using) so I couldnt really comment on that. As for the waterfall, they are tricky but if done right add a great amount of humidity, give the animal constant fresh water, and look really cool. If you go to the monitor section you can see the sump and water set up that one of our members set up for her monitor enclosure. I would recommend a similar sort of thing for yours at that size. The added tank underneath allows you to control things like bacterial growth much easier.

As for the plants, pothos is always my first recommendation. Its very hardy, grows nearly anywhere, and requires only low amounts of light. Another good one is mother-in-laws tongue (Sanseveiria) though it takes a bit more height to accomodate. Also, bamboo grows like a weed pretty much anywhere too. You want to make sure you have a plant that will thrive in low light, but tropical conditions.

[pdomensis]

lizard landscapes has some neat ideas on making backgrounds and waterfalls

[Falconeer999]

Thanks for mentioning that site. I have 32sq ft of polystyrene that's been sitting in a spare room that I've been saying "I need to do something with this..." and that website has the exact step by step videos I need to get myself going.

[pdomensis]

It's a pretty fun project. I have done backgrounds and hides that way.