Is my new cage too big?

[Pauly The Python]

Hi I have a ball python that is between a foot and a foot and a half long. I have just recently bought a new 60 gallon 4 foot long tank for when it gets bigger. Will a tank this big stress him out? He is currently in a ten gallon tank that has gotten to small and it is hard to fit two hides and his water dish that are big enough but I don't want to stress him out in something to big. Any opinions?

[DarrinLowe]

If you can get a divider you might be able to get a way with a 60 gallon. But I would imagine this would have some difficulty with humidity.

Can you take a picture of the snake and the tank?

[Alexandra V]

yeah, a 60 gal. is definitely too big for that snake. as a general rule of thumb is that the length of the snake should be about equal to the length of the enclosure + the width of the enclosure. If I were you, I'd get a 20 gallon or maybe a 28 gallon (or whatever you can find around that size) for now and keep the 60 gal for when your snake is big enough for it. You could try dividing as was suggested, but you'll have a hell of a time with humidity and such.

[DZ Reptiles]

hmm 60 gallon is pretty big, i dunno about that for a ball python. How about you split the cage with a divider and get 2 snakes?

[OhhWatALoser]

a 10 gallon should be fine for a foot and a half long ball python....

[GR8DANE]

60g should not stress your snake out provided you give it enough hides, remember if the snake was in the wild it would not be in a cage anyway

[blackcrystal22]

yeah, a 60 gal. is definitely too big for that snake. as a general rule of thumb is that the length of the snake should be about equal to the length of the enclosure + the width of the enclosure. If I were you, I'd get a 20 gallon or maybe a 28 gallon (or whatever you can find around that size) for now and keep the 60 gal for when your snake is big enough for it. You could try dividing as was suggested, but you'll have a hell of a time with humidity and such.

..what?
If you go by that rule, you're saying the tank should be 1ft long and 6" wide. Which is fine, but then you recommend a 20 gallon which is closer to 2ft long.

10-15gallons are fine for that size animal. If you're having trouble fitting everything, make sure the hides are snug and tight fitting for him and that the water bowl isn't much bigger than a ramekin. They don't need enough space to soak, just enough to drink.

http://www.amazon.com/Set-of-4-Ceram...6685225&sr=1-1

[Alexandra V]

..what?
If you go by that rule, you're saying the tank should be 1ft long and 6" wide. Which is fine, but then you recommend a 20 gallon which is closer to 2ft long.

I'm sorry, I meant to add in the "minimum" part. It's been a long day, my typing isn't that great. Thanks for catching that for me. The 20 gal would be closer to 2 ft long, but isn't huge for a snake of the size mentioned by the OP.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

remember if the snake was in the wild it would not be in a cage anyway

True it would spend 80% to 90% of it's time in a tight termite mount hiding from predators and thermo-regulating, than at night it would barely come out ambushing it's prey from the entrance of said termite mount.

So what's the point you were trying to make again

Smaller, tighter, secure IS BETTER for BP

[Slyther83]

Like someone else said, add a bunch of hides and fake plants. Those long strings of fake ivy work great. I raised my Bredli from 6 months of age through present day in a 150 gallon tank. If you put enough junk in a larger than necessary cage to the point of where you have a hard time finding the snake, they will be happy as can be.

Snakes living in the wild have a bit more space than anything we could provide, a large cage with lots of cover is great. Some snakes can also become more active in a large enclosure, as they enjoy exploring/hunting around.