Would it be OK to put a young BP in a 40 gallon tank?

[nymark]

Our little guy is doing well in his 10 gallon tank. While the breeder fed him frozen mice we had no luck. But he now seems to be eating live mice on a weekly basis. We bought a 40 gallon tank and then heard that the extra space and scare him a bit. But I was not sure if it was strongly recommended to wait a year or if it was OK to try and if his eating was effected then to put him back to the 10 gallon for a certain period of time.

[ryan427]

Our little guy is doing well in his 10 gallon tank. While the breeder fed him frozen mice we had no luck. But he now seems to be eating live mice on a weekly basis. We bought a 40 gallon tank and then heard that the extra space and scare him a bit. But I was not sure if it was strongly recommended to wait a year or if it was OK to try and if his eating was effected then to put him back to the 10 gallon for a certain period of time.

you can put him in the 40 gallon as long as he has 2 hides.one on the hot side and one on the cooler side

[1stpalindrone]

That much space is going to intimidate the guy into never leaving his hide. I had a lot of debating when I put a 2yr BP into my 55g, but it is well clutterd with you name it and he's doing great. No need for the space, there are many many post on here describing the details of a small tight space..

Good Luck!

[Nic Bednarz]

I've got a 260g bp in a 40 something tank right now and I want to get him out of there. I get the feeling he's a bit stressed by the size. I only see him out usually on day 6-7 since last feeding, I try to feed every 5-6 days. So if your bp is doing okay in the smaller I'd stick with it.

I'm hoping to swap Killface out of the 40 and put a Russian rat snake in there, but I've had no luck finding one...

[srk0073]

cut a piece of cardboard or something else and divide the cage into whatever size you want, then gradually move it back when he/she gets bigger

[nymark]

I've got a 260g bp in a 40 something tank right now and I want to get him out of there. I get the feeling he's a bit stressed by the size. I only see him out usually on day 6-7 since last feeding, I try to feed every 5-6 days. So if your bp is doing okay in the smaller I'd stick with it.

I'm hoping to swap Killface out of the 40 and put a Russian rat snake in there, but I've had no luck finding one...

So if I have multiple hides and various plants so he does not feel exposed, do you think it's OK. Thanks all - I appreciate the help.

[ryan427]

So if I have multiple hides and various plants so he does not feel exposed, do you think it's OK. Thanks all - I appreciate the help.

Most reptiles as well as ball pythons thermoregulate so there should be a gradient in the cage allowing the snake to move from warm to cool and back.
its hard to be able to do that in a 10 gallon. just provide hides on both ends and plenty of cover ,and try to keep both hides as close as possible.

[mpkeelee]

Most reptiles as well as ball pythons thermoregulate so there should be a gradient in the cage allowing the snake to move from warm to cool and back.
its hard to be able to do that in a 10 gallon. just provide hides on both ends and plenty of cover ,and try to keep both hides as close as possible.

BP's can thermoregulate in a 10 gallon and anything else they are kept in, its not very hard.
why provide 2 hides and plenty of cover to fill up the big tank when they can just use something smaller and not worry about all the extra stuff to clean and disinfect. also, why put two hides as close together as possible, y not just use the 10 gallon or a tub.

get rid of that big tank or wait and use it for something else. a big tank for a bp is not a good thing.