Need help with my vivarium

Wykyd · 05-19-14, 04:48 PM

Recently I setup a 55 gal aquarium as a vivarium for a ball python. I spoke with a few people from different pet stores and did some research online for the setup. Even following what most people said almost exactly, I'm struggling to keep the environment to the adequate settings. Without misting the aquarium 2x a day I'm running 40% humidity, with misting I can get it as high as 60%, but it doesn't stay long normally hovers around 50%. My temps also do not sustain much higher than 75F, normally sits around 72F. The entire top of the enclosure is sealed with 1/4" foam board except a spot for the moonlight bulb which is covered in plexiglas and another opening for the CHE. I have a screen top on top of that to hold everything down and lock into place. Three sides of the vivarium are wrapped with 1/4" foam board as well for insulation. Basic rundown of the equipment I have:

2 - 30-40gal UTH (one hot side set to 92F, other cool side set to 82F)
2 - Repti Temp 500R Thermostats
1 - 150W CHE plugged into the hot side tstat
1 - 100W moonlight bulb (set to 9pm-9am)
1 - 20" full spectrum florescent (set to 9am-9pm)
Repti carpet lining the bottom of the tank
fir chips for bedding
2 - identical small hides that he can squeeze into
1 - large water bowl

IW17 · 05-20-14, 03:48 PM

Your holes on the top are too big. Make them the exact size of the lamp hoods and then drill small holes for ventilation. Go slow. A couple at a time. Heat sucks up the humidity and rises right out of the top. I would bet if you fixed that issue you'd be looking a lot better.

jpsteele80 · 05-20-14, 04:06 PM

Do it like this, my heat lamp happens to have 3 small holes in it so I just covered the whole top with tin foil

drumcrush · 05-20-14, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

Do it like this, my heat lamp happens to have 3 small holes in it so I just covered the whole top with tin foil

^^^ I do this with my king. Works well

FWK · 05-20-14, 09:48 PM

Aye, minimize the ventilation to hold humidity and adjust as necessary. Aquariums set ups are challenging to dial in for BP's but it can be done. I gave up on it very quickly and put mine in a plastic tub. So much easier to get the humidity and temps perfect and stable. I no longer mist and her sheds are perfect every time. Plus she feels so much safer in the tub her feeding response improved like whoa. I'll never put a Ball in glass again. They're not the best display animals anyway, they are nocturnal and spend most of the day asleep in a hide.

backafter30 · 05-20-14, 09:50 PM

Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a lot of electricity and a lot of cage for a ball python. (You didn't say how big it was.) I didn't think that BPs needed attention to light conditions, living most of their natural lives underground in termite burrows. I know breeders that keep their entire collection in tiny opaque tubs, and the snakes never see the light of day unless the tub is slid open. The snakes seem to do well, but of course this isn't a very interesting way to keep a pet. I would think that a smaller cage would serve you better, and be easier to control the climate in, especially considering how inactive BPs can sometimes be. You can try a box hide with damp sphagnum moss for humidity, and as long as you have a warm spot, you don't have to keep the entire enclosure toasty warm. The snake will thermo-regulate itself, and pick the temperature it wants. If you stick with the 55, maybe add something to climb on so you make use of all that height, which seems to be going to waste right now. It'll be more interesting for you and the snake. Also, find a local breeder, or a nice forum like this one to get advice from. I've heard the most ridiculous things from Pet Shop employees.

FWK · 05-20-14, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backafter30

Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a lot of electricity and a lot of cage for a ball python. (You didn't say how big it was.) I didn't think that BPs needed attention to light conditions, living most of their natural lives underground in termite burrows. I know breeders that keep their entire collection in tiny opaque tubs, and the snakes never see the light of day unless the tub is slid open. The snakes seem to do well, but of course this isn't a very interesting way to keep a pet. I would think that a smaller cage would serve you better, and be easier to control the climate in, especially considering how inactive BPs can sometimes be. You can try a box hide with damp sphagnum moss for humidity, and as long as you have a warm spot, you don't have to keep the entire enclosure toasty warm. The snake will thermo-regulate itself, and pick the temperature it wants. If you stick with the 55, maybe add something to climb on so you make use of all that height, which seems to be going to waste right now. It'll be more interesting for you and the snake. Also, find a local breeder, or a nice forum like this one to get advice from. I've heard the most ridiculous things from Pet Shop employees.

This ^^ If you want to stick with the 55 try adding another water bowl to increase humidity, large and shallow. Water surface area is what you're looking for. The temps are just as important though, the ambient on the cool side should be in the upper 70's, at least 77-78. These guys come from a very warm climate. As backafter mentioned lighting of any kind is unnecessary for BP's, even BP's in opaque tubs in racks get enough light from around the top of the tub to maintain their daylight cycle. They do not need to bask in the light and do not need UV. Lighting does make the Viv look nicer though. But that's just for the viewer, not for the snakes benefit. Like I said, aquariums are challenging to get right for BP's. Snakes that like it a bit cooler do better in glass, such as Kings and Rats. You could save yourself a lot of trouble by switching to a smaller enclose. Give us a weight or length of your snake and we'll steer you in the right direction.

Wykyd · 05-21-14, 04:52 AM

Thanks for all the advice... I'll update as soon as I can when readings stabilizing.

As for the snake, he's about 18" long, not quite sure what his weight is, want him to get comfortable before I handle him.

FWK · 05-21-14, 07:14 AM

Oh he's a baby

He would be happy in a 15 quart Rubbermaid tub for a good while. I kept mine in one until she was about two and a half foot then moved her up to a 28 quart Sterilite tub. Eventually she'll get a 41 quart, that should be all the room she ever needs. Good idea, letting him settle in before you play with him. It can be so hard to be patient

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Wykyd · 05-21-14, 07:31 AM

Quick update, my wife said he's been very active this morning. Followed her back n forth as she worked out. He's been out since I made some minor changes to the tank last and seems to be very happy. I got rid of the CHE and sealed off the hole with a piece of plexiglas, cut some holes to allow for air exchange and my humidity jumped up and has been stable. I'm going to have to cut some more to lower it a little bit more as its sitting around 75% currently. I replaced the CHE with a UTH on the back of the tank that I'm going to get a tstat for it today on my way home, current temp is 73 yet stable. I also insulated the bottom of the tank and let the rubber feet that come with the UTHs to be the air exchange needed. Temps are mainly holding strong just need to get the ambient up with some minor adjustments and the previous mentioned tstat. Thanks again for all the advice, will continue to update as tofay is feeding day and hopefully he eats as his last meal was 2 weeks ago.

Wykyd · 05-21-14, 10:16 PM

Final update (for now)... HE ATE, I'm so relieved. He must have been starving as I didn't even have to tease him with the fuzzy. He almost seemed like he wanted more cause he searched around the tank for about 30min after eating before slithering back into one of his hides.

Temps and humidity is doing pretty good. Ambient temp is up to 75F and the humidity has been holding stable at 70%. As of right now I'm going to hold off on an ambient tstat as the temp is holding (or slowly climbing). I'm thinking I should be able to lower the humidity a bit by moving the water dish closer to the cool side, unless the temp starts getting too high then I'll just cut some more slots in the cover.

I got some awesome looking driftwood from a local lake a few days ago. Going to soak it in the tub overnight and bake it this weekend. Looking forward to finalizing his setup now that everything is kosher.

Thanks again to all of your responses. Between y'all and the breeder I spoke to I was able to get things set up nicely. I'm very pleased that after all the effort. It's finally paying off.

One final question I had tho, is it "okay" for a BP to be a bit more active than what is normally said about them? Mine seems to only spend 50% or so of the day in a hide. The rest of the time he's out exploring the tank. When I came home today he was out and remained out until after I fed him. Shortly after going into his hide he poked his head out of the entrance and has been chilling like that for a few hours. I checked temps inside both hides and they are where they should be (~92F hot, ~82F cool). Any other reason he'd be active?

FWK · 05-22-14, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wykyd

Final update (for now)... HE ATE, I'm so relieved. He must have been starving as I didn't even have to tease him with the fuzzy. He almost seemed like he wanted more cause he searched around the tank for about 30min after eating before slithering back into one of his hides.

Great news! The first time is always awesome. Was it a fuzzy mouse or fuzzy rat?

Wykyd · 05-22-14, 10:04 AM

Was a fuzzy mouse. I'm wondering if it was too small. Should I consider feeding him again on Sat?

FWK · 05-22-14, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wykyd

Was a fuzzy mouse. I'm wondering if it was too small. Should I consider feeding him again on Sat?

Yeah I'm thinking that's why he's so active. Just wait until his next feeding day and give him something bigger or more than one fuzzy. Pick a day of the week and feed him on the same day every week, I usually feed at dusk or right after dark. I seem to get the best response from mine this way but your mileage may vary. Pythons tend to like relatively large meal. A food item that is one to one and a half times as big around as the snake at its thickest point is a good rule of thumb. It's a good idea to switch them to rats as soon as possible or you may wind up feeding five or six large mice at a time down the road. I'm sure he could take a pink rat easily, maybe a fuzzy. Otherwise it sounds like his enclosure is dialed in well, he's going to be a happy snake

Wykyd · 06-22-14, 08:41 PM

Been a few weeks, but wanted to make sure things were working out before I posted again. Got the enclosure dialed in finally, ended up redoing the cover in 1/4" plexiglass and added a 150W infrared heater for the ambient t-stat. I do believe she's doing much better these days, eating regularly and seems VERY happy.