hows this cage?

[tdragon]

i built this cage for my future 2 ball pythons. there are 2 levels but on the left there will be branches so they can choose were they want to be. i know balls like to burrow but a few friends have them and theres love to climb.what do you think? also i was told one basking spot would be fine but i was thinking that i sould put on on top and ne on the bottom.the basking spots will be on the left.heres a pic. the measurements are 5feet long,4feet tall and 18inches deep. each level is 23inches tall

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?&...d=735147275103

[Marla]

Well, I can't see a photo but it certainly sounds like a big cage. How do you plan to provide belly heat for digestion?

[Smynx]

I can't see a photo either. While overhead lamps are fine for providing supplemental heat, ball pythons are not baskers - they are nocturnal. Belly heat is much more important to them. There are a number of options for providing belly heat, such as heat tape, human heat pads, and heat pads made especially for reptiles.

Balls do enjoy climbing, and I'm sure yours will appreciate the opportunity.

[JLC]

You can click on the "Photo Gallery" link to the left and upload your pics to your own gallery there. Then we can all see them. It sounds like a very elaborate setup you've got going there.

[tdragon]

ok the picture is in my gallery

[tdragon]

i was thinking of putting flex watt on both the bottom and the 2nd shelf.

[elevatethis]

As far as belly heat goes, I'm somewhat confused as to why some say it is so necessary. In the wild, BPs are terrestrial; hiding in dark burrows. Where would any source of belly heat, that some say is so necessary for digestion, be present in the wild?

I'm just curious because I've read so many things that all have different stances on heating for BPs.

(I personally think that providing belly heat can aid in digestion, but I was just wondering if this is a concept found only in captivity, or one that we copy from the conditions in their wild habitat)

[Marla]

The sun heats up rocks and earth during the day, which continue to radiate heat for hours after the sun goes down. If you provided a nice natural stone shelter and a heat lamp, that would be the closest thing to mimic nature, but IMHO, radiant heat from overhead combined with plastic, wood, cardboard, or similar non-heat-retaining structures is inadequate for optimum digestion.

[elevatethis]

I use clay and corkbark hides, which she has used since the moment I put them in there. The clay hide is definitly warm to the touch all, it sits on the warm side under the heat lamp.

I also have the walmart heat pad that everyone here uses, I think that the bark doesn't dissipate heat quickly enough though, because I was having surface temps of almost 100 degrees.

Just out of curiosity, what would be a symtom of digestion issues?

[Smynx]

I took a look at your photo. It's certainly a nice size, but I couldn't tell whether there was plexiglass or a screen on the front.