I did not want to hijack the thread that I saw this advice in

[nightrainfalls]

First let me say that I am not against using small enclosures for small snakes. There are many reasons a small enclosure can be the right choice. Still,in the time I have been on these forums, I have seen the following claim come up several times. Someone will have a small (70-150gram) python in a 20 gallon aquarium. Almost immediately a commenter will emphatically recommend a smaller enclosure since young Ball Pythons are stressed by large enclosures. I have to take issue with this idea. In fact, I believe the idea is complete bumpkiss. I suspect it was invented by pet shops looking to sell more enclosures, and quoted by well meaning hobbyists who simply had not given it much thought. I offer the following as evidence to support my point. For many millions of years Ball Python neonates have been raised in a very large enclosure


This large enclosure is called Africa. I am not sure how many gallons Africa can enclose, but I am certain it is in the many billions of gallons larger than 20.


Furthermore baby Ball Pythons have evolved a series of sophisticated behaviors that allow them to cope with large enclosures. They have become nocturnal to limit the time they are exposed to diurnal predators like birds, and they have developed a predilection for very small spaces. Baby Ball Pythons generally cram themselves into these small spaces in order to protect themselves from larger predators. Remember, when thinking about the enclosure that Ball Pythons live in naturally, there is no enclosure. If Ball Pythons were stressed by overly large enclosures, the species would have gone extinct many millennia ago. In reality is not the size of the enclosure that baby Ball Pythons find intimidating, but rather the lack of appropriately small hiding spaces.


Following this line of reasoning, it seems to me that as long as many appropriate sized hides are included in an enclosure, it does not matter to the snake whether of not the enclosure is large or small. The most important thing is to ensure that the husbandry is correct within the enclosure. Of course a small enclosure may be easier to heat and maintain, so it makes little sense to build enclosures that are overly large. Still if only a large enclosure is available, or one has already been purchased, there is no need to downsize the enclosure. If one has a small BP in a large enclosure, it is best to supply as many small hiding spaces as possible, so that the snake can find one that suits it needs. I usually purchase several sizes of pvc pipe: elbow sections, straight sections, and three way connectors. I then simply snap the sections together into random shapes and put several of them into the cage. Smaller snakes get smaller diameter pipes, and I increase the size as the snake grows.


I also like to shred some newspaper in a cross cut shredder and make a pile of shredded paper for the snake to burrow in. Many neonates are happy to curl up just under the surface of the pile. In my experience, neonates generally find a favorite place fairly quickly and spend 90 % of their time impersonating a rock. They tend to settle in and eat well. Of course if a keeper has many small neonates, small shoeboxes or small tubs may be an optimal way to maximize space, but such a set up is for the keeper not the snake.


When I first acquire a small snake, I usually use a Sterilite or Rubbermade container with a locking lid. I use bulldog binder clips to make sure the snake cannot push the lid off. I use a 31 Quart container because it is easy to stack, and takes up little space. These containers hold heat and moisture very well, and are easy to sterilize. They are lighter than glass, and easy to drill for ventilation. I generally use a water heat system, since it never gets hot enough to burn a snake. After the first six moths, I build a custom acrylic enclosure designed to accommodate the maximum adult length of the snake. Regardless of the size of the snake, when it leaves quarantine, it goes straight into an adult sized cage. This system works well and in the long run is much less expensive than constantly upgrading enclosures as the snake grows


If any one has any evidence that ball pythons do not do well in large tanks with numerous correctly sized hides, I would love to see it.


David