Too Big?

Vengeance · 11-28-04, 10:51 AM

My first Ball python has been in my Care for 1 year coming this Dec 4th. He has always been a sporadic eater, shed well, and been growing, but not as well as he should be. He has also been kept in a 50 gallon glass tank. Recently I got a trio of Balls from Markus Jayne and they have been in a Rubbermaid setup and have been thriving and haven't missed a meal. So I've come to the realization that gets pounded into everyone else’s head on a daily basics, Aquariums aren’t for Ball pythons. So I'm in the process of switching him over to a Rubbermaid and wanted to make sure the one I picked isn't too big. He is currently about a little over a year in age because he wasn't fresh outta the egg when I got him and weighs about 800 grams which to me seems underweight. But given he has never been a great eater that would be why and also he was bought from the Menagerie in Toronto at Parliament and Dundas so he is from an unknown breeder so possibly quality of animal also comes into play. So here is his current size and the Rubbermaid I'm thinking of using.

The pocket PC is being used as a point of reference.

and this is the Rubbermaid

Too big? Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Adam

BoidKeeper · 11-28-04, 11:02 AM

I say give him to hide boxes and he shoud be fine. That being said though I do have some that size and a little bigger in my sweater box size rack.
Cheers,
Trevor

Vengeance · 11-28-04, 11:05 AM

I was actually going to use more like 4 hide boxes, but yea there would deffenitly be hide boxes inside.

Tim_Cranwill · 11-28-04, 11:06 AM

My vote is: Too big.

Once the snake is feeding well on a regular basis, I would move it to that size but until then, keep it in a smaller enclosure. That's what I would do. I would even keep it in a box half that size unil then.

BoidKeeper · 11-28-04, 11:11 AM

Yeah I think Tim is right. Like I said I have balls that size in sweater boxes. But you know what, sometimes it doesn't matter what size cage they are in. If they are going to eat they'll eat, if they are going to fast they'll fast. But I would try the sweater box size any way though it might help.
Cheers,
Trevor

Jeff_Favelle · 11-28-04, 12:08 PM

If the snake is established and doing ok, that cage is fine. Cages of that floor space seem to become a problem when they are 2 feet high (ala aquarium). But with a nice flat board on 1-inch legs for a hide on the warm end, and a gradient of 92F - 80F, I don't think that cage will give you too many problems. I'd go for it.

Bristen · 11-28-04, 12:55 PM

that is the same tubs I am using in my rack.. just a friendly warning about those... the second picture you posted, bottom left.. see those two little holes in the tubs rim? Plug them! I used Trevor's ingenious idea of drilling a hole and filling it up with silicon so that the silicon that leaks through the hole acts as a pin and the snake can't push out the plugs..

For an 800g snake, that's a very big tub.. provide two hide boxes.. I have animals that are close to 3000g that are comfortable in those tubs, but my 800g female was not that great of an eater until I provided two hide boxes (one was not enough).

I assume you are going to use that tub in a rack of some sort right? If not, what are you going to use as a cover? I don't think I'd attempt to use the cover that came with the tub, as the snake will most likely push it up and could potentially injure itself squeezing itself out...

Best of luck and keep us posted!
Bristen.

ps: great looking snake by the way!

Vengeance · 11-28-04, 01:21 PM

Well the snake is established, during it's fasts it has never lost a substantial amount of weight, but as it has never been a great feeder so that is the problem I'm trying to correct. I'm begning to understand his behavior a little better, he has only ever eaten inside his hide, even if the prey is an inch or 2 away from his hide he won't go for it, the head of the prey item has to be in the hole or he won't snatch it up. Problem is, he is allways roaming at night when I usually feed. So he is roaming but doesn't feel secure enough to eat, so I'm trying to offer him more secure suroundings.

Do any of you guys have the product number for the container your talking about? I went to walmart and home depot and couldn't find a container that had a nice length, but not as long as that one without too much height.

Vengeance · 11-28-04, 01:24 PM

Bristen, thanks for the advice, I will be using the lid if I use the container but I will be secureing the lid with S hooks as I did for my baby balls. It takes away any give from the lid so they can't push against it to get out. I'm not seeing the holes you are refering too thought, I'll have to take a closer look at the actual container.

mykee · 11-28-04, 01:34 PM

Seems to be about the same floor space as a 50 gallon, no? I would go with the smaller 2221's, (23x16x6). That's a big sterlite for a male in my opinion.

Bristen · 11-29-04, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vengeance
Bristen, thanks for the advice, I will be using the lid if I use the container but I will be secureing the lid with S hooks as I did for my baby balls. It takes away any give from the lid so they can't push against it to get out. I'm not seeing the holes you are refering too thought, I'll have to take a closer look at the actual container.

the holes I am refering to is exactly what you see in the second picture you posted.. look on the bottom left of that picture.. there are two notches in the rim of the tub.. they are on both sides of the tub (total of 4 notches).. the snake can squeeze her head in there.. I would be afraid of injury!

Bristen.

Vengeance · 11-29-04, 07:48 AM

Ahhh I see um, I think I'm going to go with a smaller unit, I'm actually thinking about changeing the whole room around, this is my setup for my neonate ball's right now

I'm thinking about takinging out that shelving unit and just turning that closet into 1 big rack storage, that way I can accomidate the neonates, have bigger tubs ready for when they grow have room for my older Ball python and room for the hatclings when they come.

Manitoban Herps · 11-29-04, 08:00 AM

Maybe b/c I am a used to housing lizards but I think that cage would be fine. Put a couple of hides in the cage a large waterdish and that won't leave half as much room.

As some of you said "it has a floor space of 50 gallons". I keep my 44" male ball in a 50 gallon, with a large rock hide, a large papertowel tube and a large waterdish, the obstacles in the cage don't leave much floor space.

I am not as experienced with ball pythons or snakes for the matter, I got my first in 01' which was a ball python.

Good luck

BoidKeeper · 11-29-04, 08:00 AM

Quote:

I used Trevor's ingenious idea of drilling a hole and filling it up with silicon so that the silicon that leaks through the hole acts as a pin and the snake can't push out the plugs..

I came up with that idea? If you say so.lol I must have had my wheaties that day.
Cheers,
Trevor

guitrage · 11-30-04, 11:35 AM

So do you guys think housing a baby in a 36 X 18 acrylic tank would be stressful for it (I would have several hides, a large water bowl, and some branches)? What size do you recommend for a 5 or 6 month old?