A few concerns I have..

[Mangiapane85]

Hey guys, so as a few of you may know, I will be receiving my first rack system this week from C Serpents for all my little loved ones. While I'm super excited because it will put me one step closer to my ultimate goal (breeding), I also have 2 main concerns and worries that I can't get out of my head.

1) Overall Demeanor/response from my snakes. I'm worried that putting them in the v-18 tubs will change them. Right now all of my snakes are puppy dogs, but they kind of see me coming right now in their tubs and have a way of sensing me I guess. But I feel like that may change once I start sliding them out of the darkness so to speak since the rack is only front sliding and closed off on three sides. I just don't want to scare them half to death and make them start becoming defensive. My animals are definitely a project that I have in the works, but first and foremost they are my pets and I love holding them and building a relationship with them (not like a bathing together, drinking from my mouth kind of relationship, but you know what I mean).. am I overly worried? Just trippin? Lol

2) Light cycle. I know BPs don't really REQUIRE a light cycle but I guess as a caring human, I hate to have them always in the dark. Right now I just use light from the windows and a normal incandescent bulb in the ceiling fan to provide them with a light cycle in the snake room, but once they're in the rack, will the little bit of light coming through the front of their tubs be sufficient to let them know when it's daytime?

I know these are two pretty silly concerns, but they've just been weighing on my mind. ... I'm past the point of having a fancy naturalistic cage setup for my animals, because I'm up to 6 now (about to be seven). And my collection will continue to grow. I can't afford all that. And besides, I'm of the mind that Ball Pythons thrive BEST in a tub setup. Anyways, I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance before I embark on this next phase as a snakekeeper. Thanks everyone!


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[Eric Alan]

1) Overall Demeanor/response from my snakes. I'm worried that putting them in the v-18 tubs will change them. Right now all of my snakes are puppy dogs, but they kind of see me coming right now in their tubs and have a way of sensing me I guess. But I feel like that may change once I start sliding them out of the darkness so to speak since the rack is only front sliding and closed off on three sides. I just don't want to scare them half to death and make them start becoming defensive. My animals are definitely a project that I have in the works, but first and foremost they are my pets and I love holding them and building a relationship with them (not like a bathing together, drinking from my mouth kind of relationship, but you know what I mean).. am I overly worried? Just trippin? Lol

Yep. Just trippin'. If that were the case, then every snake kept in a rack would have that same tendency, which is of course not true. I mean, don't go blindly reaching into tubs without making sure they're not in strike mode, but I don't recommend anyone doing that no matter what type of enclosure they're kept in.

2) Light cycle. I know BPs don't really REQUIRE a light cycle but I guess as a caring human, I hate to have them always in the dark. Right now I just use light from the windows and a normal incandescent bulb in the ceiling fan to provide them with a light cycle in the snake room, but once they're in the rack, will the little bit of light coming through the front of their tubs be sufficient to let them know when it's daytime?

The light through the window will be plenty. As reclusive animals which "in the wild" which spend their time in a rodent burrow/termite mound, they get about as much of a light cycle as you'd expect in a hole in the ground. The light from the front is plenty.

[Mangiapane85]

Ok thanks man. I know I'm just over analyzing things and there's no reason to worry.


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[DLena]

Actually, once I switched a few of my more tightly wound balls to a rack with 3 sides (changed from Neodeshas with full front glass) they relaxed more and have become easier to handle for longer periods of time.

[Mangiapane85]

True, they will have more security so I guess it could make them even better.

What about hides? I'm thinking I won't even do a hide for them because the v-18 tubs are so deep. Thoughts?


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[DLena]

I put hides in the front and back. All of them use the front hide when they want a cooler area. Some use the back, warm hide and others squish in between the back wall of the tub and the hide. I have a big normal named Ethel in a sideways c110. When I was changing her water, she flipped the one hide right out of the bin, startled the crap out of me! I left the second hide in and she just drags it wherever she wants to be.

[Macropodus]

... I'm worried that putting them in the v-18 tubs will change them. Right now all of my snakes are puppy dogs, but they kind of see me coming right now in their tubs and have a way of sensing me I guess. But I feel like that may change once I start sliding them out of the darkness so to speak since the rack is only front sliding and closed off on three sides. I just don't want to scare them half to death and make them start becoming defensive. My animals are definitely a project that I have in the works, but first and foremost they are my pets and I love holding them and building a relationship with them...

I very much relate to "first and foremost they are my pets and I love holding them and building a relationship with them" and this is one of a few reasons why I don't ever see myself breeding on a serious level. Regardless of whether snakes are kept in racks or tanks, sheer quantity alone dictates less quality time with each individual. Throw my 9 to 5 problem, familial obligations, the rigors of daily life, etc, into the mix and clearly having "puppy dogs" are more likely with < 1 dozen snakes, pour moi.

Please update your post 1 year from today and let us know if behavioral changes have been noted. Thank you.

[Mangiapane85]

Will do.


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