What enclosure for a 3 foot ball python?

[Chillmatic]

My cousin's friend found her on the sidewalk while doing his route. It's my first time ever working with a snake and I've been doing as much research as possible to make sure it's in a suitable home and is taken care of how she is supposed to be taken care of.


My cousin put her in a 20 gallon tank, (not long). It's about 30x12x12 inches. With her hide and water dish, there doesn't seem to be a good amount of room in there for her. (She's about 3-3 1/2 feet long)


What size tank would be suitable for her, and where can I find one? Also, I heard to go with a terrarium without a screen top/with plexiglass top to minimize humidity issues (I've had nothing BUT humidity and shedding issues since I got her). Thoughts?

[Sauzo]

He found a BP outside? Someone is missing a pet lol. For the price, an Animal Plastics T8 with a shelf would work fine. It's a little low for my taste but for the price, they are awesome.

You can still use a screen lid if that's what you got her in but you need to cover about 3/4 or more of it with something like thick cardboard wrapped in tin foil or a cut piece of lexan or acrylic. If you room is warm enough and you only need a UTH, you can actually cover the whole top and just make a few holes and wait and see what the humidity is at and add more if needed. Also what I do in winter if I need more humidity is put a damp folded up paper towel on top of one or both hides. That will bump the humidity a lot. And they are easy to just re-wet, don't smell, easy to replace and cheap. But I would look into a PVC cage as it makes life a lot easier.

Also don't forget, whatever heat source you use, you NEED a good thermostat to regulate the heat source. Never guess and never let a heat source run unregulated.

Woops and to give an answer to the question, I have my 4' female in a 48x24x14 cage. She was in an Amimal Plastics T10 until I poached it for my retic but she will get it back lol.

[Chillmatic]

He found a BP outside? Someone is missing a pet lol. For the price, an Animal Plastics T8 with a shelf would work fine. It's a little low for my taste but for the price, they are awesome.

You can still use a screen lid if that's what you got her in but you need to cover about 3/4 or more of it with something like thick cardboard wrapped in tin foil or a cut piece of lexan or acrylic. If you room is warm enough and you only need a UTH, you can actually cover the whole top and just make a few holes and wait and see what the humidity is at and add more if needed. Also what I do in winter if I need more humidity is put a damp folded up paper towel on top of one or both hides. That will bump the humidity a lot. And they are easy to just re-wet, don't smell, easy to replace and cheap. But I would look into a PVC cage as it makes life a lot easier.

Also don't forget, whatever heat source you use, you NEED a good thermostat to regulate the heat source. Never guess and never let a heat source run unregulated.

Woops and to give an answer to the question, I have my 4' female in a 48x24x14 cage. She was in an Amimal Plastics T10 until I poached it for my retic but she will get it back lol.

First off, thank you for replying. Secondly, I was reading another post in which you talked about this stuff. I currently am using a UTH for this 20 gallon and have a thermostat set at around 94. Also, have a thermometer probe inside of her hide, on the substrate so I know what the max temp is. (I'm really trying to do this as right as possible so I've been researching like mad)

I'm looking into the tank that you suggested. Can you tell me what exact heat sources you would recommend to heat the tank for her? I saw you discussing RPHs which I know nothing about.

Thanks again!!

[Sauzo]

Well first off, you want to take the temp reading from the floor of the tank on the glass, not on top of the substrate as the snake will push the substrate aside. As for the heat, I would drop that down to closer to 90F as most UTHs aren't 100% exactly even on the heating so you will find some spots a couple degrees higher and a couple degrees cooler. That's why 90F is a good point as it the median.

As for heat sources, if your room is above 75F, then just a UTH should work fine. If your room drops under 75F, then you will need a radiant heat panel. I personally just use flexwatt on all my cages except 1 which I use a RHP because it has one already installed. I keep my house set to 75F and the snakes are in the basement which is actually a little warmer so their cool sides sit at around 78-80F.

Oh and the Animal Plastics cages aren't tanks. They are PVC cages. Really awesome bang for the buck. If you do need a radiant heat panel, check out Pro Products or Reptile Basics. And if you do buy one, you can have them drop ship it to Animal Plastics and they will install it for you and route a channel for the wiring for it. Just have to call Animal Plastics and talk to Ali so they know to expect it and stuff.

Depending how tight funds are, my advice is a T10 for a BP and get the shelf. But if funds are tight, a T8 will work fine too and you don't have to have a shelf. just I know my BP and all my snakes do make use of the shelf at night. A lock is nice too as it's only $20 extra but again, if on a budget, you can bend a coat hanger into a shape that works well as a lock. I have to find that as I didn't bother keeping the thread as I always get locks, shelves, flexwatt and LED lighting install in my Ap cages.

And if you are looking to get the LED lighting installed by them, its $40 but not listed on their website so you have to call Ap and talk to Ali and have her add it to your order.

[Chillmatic]

Well first off, you want to take the temp reading from the floor of the tank on the glass, not on top of the substrate as the snake will push the substrate aside. As for the heat, I would drop that down to closer to 90F as most UTHs aren't 100% exactly even on the heating so you will find some spots a couple degrees higher and a couple degrees cooler. That's why 90F is a good point as it the median.

As for heat sources, if your room is above 75F, then just a UTH should work fine. If your room drops under 75F, then you will need a radiant heat panel. I personally just use flexwatt on all my cages except 1 which I use a RHP because it has one already installed. I keep my house set to 75F and the snakes are in the basement which is actually a little warmer so their cool sides sit at around 78-80F.

Oh and the Animal Plastics cages aren't tanks. They are PVC cages. Really awesome bang for the buck. If you do need a radiant heat panel, check out Pro Products or Reptile Basics. And if you do buy one, you can have them drop ship it to Animal Plastics and they will install it for you and route a channel for the wiring for it. Just have to call Animal Plastics and talk to Ali so they know to expect it and stuff.

Depending how tight funds are, my advice is a T10 for a BP and get the shelf. But if funds are tight, a T8 will work fine too and you don't have to have a shelf. just I know my BP and all my snakes do make use of the shelf at night. A lock is nice too as it's only $20 extra but again, if on a budget, you can bend a coat hanger into a shape that works well as a lock. I have to find that as I didn't bother keeping the thread as I always get locks, shelves, flexwatt and LED lighting install in my Ap cages.

And if you are looking to get the LED lighting installed by them, its $40 but not listed on their website so you have to call Ap and talk to Ali and have her add it to your order.

Ok I adjusted the temperature. My house temp fluctuates as it's not my house and the landlords sometimes keep the heat off to save money. What exactly is the difference between the T8 and the T10? I'm super OCD so I would definitely be getting the locks, basking shelf, etc. With the lighting, they offer the flourescent lighting or the circle on the top for a lamp. What's different about the LEDs? And I was looking into making this humidifier contraption to increase the humidity in her cage, would I still need something like that if I were to purchase the T10 or how would that work? Humidity has been my biggest issue so far. I know, a million questions. I just know nothing about this stuff, I was not expecting to own a snake ever.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Sauzo]

Ok I adjusted the temperature. My house temp fluctuates as it's not my house and the landlords sometimes keep the heat off to save money. What exactly is the difference between the T8 and the T10? I'm super OCD so I would definitely be getting the locks, basking shelf, etc. With the lighting, they offer the flourescent lighting or the circle on the top for a lamp. What's different about the LEDs? And I was looking into making this humidifier contraption to increase the humidity in her cage, would I still need something like that if I were to purchase the T10 or how would that work? Humidity has been my biggest issue so far. I know, a million questions. I just know nothing about this stuff, I was not expecting to own a snake ever.

Thanks again for all your help.

If the heat fluctuates, then you probably want to order the RHP and have it drop shipped to Animal Plastics.

LEDs are a small light strip they flush mount to the roof. I don't think they even offer the fluorescent anymore even though its on the list. They are big and bulky.

You most likely wont need to raise the humidity with a T8 or T10.

The difference between a T8 and T10 is 3" of height. T10 is 3" taller.

Here is what the LED in white looks like. You can order it in red. blue or white. This is the light in white in a T10 with shelf.

[Chillmatic]

Thank you VERY much. I did not expect to get this much help when I came onto this forum.

So, the LEDs are really for when you want to observe the snake, not really meant to be left on all the time, right? What kind/size RHP would I need for this size tank (flexwatt, right?), and I won't have to do anything at all to increase the humidity when I get this T8 or T10?

[Chillmatic]

Also, will I need a thermostat for the RHP?

Thank you very much again.

[Sauzo]

Thank you VERY much. I did not expect to get this much help when I came onto this forum.

So, the LEDs are really for when you want to observe the snake, not really meant to be left on all the time, right? What kind/size RHP would I need for this size tank (flexwatt, right?), and I won't have to do anything at all to increase the humidity when I get this T8 or T10?

I have my lights all set on a digital timer. You can get them from pretty much anywhere. I just use three plug extension cords daisy chained for all my cages. Then they all turn off and on at the same time. I set them for on at 8am and off at 9pm.

An RHP goes on the roof of the cage. Flexwatt or heat tape goes on the bottom of the cage. If you need a RHP, Bob at Pro Products will ask you questions about room temp and stuff and find the size you need. If you are buying one from RBI, my advice would be an 80 watt one on a Herpstat T-stat.

As for humidity, you should be fine. If you do need more, I just fold a paper towel into a square and soak it with water and squeeze it to remove excess water and place it on top of a hide. That takes my humidity all the way to 80% and that's using aspen. I'll be switching to ReptiChips as soon as my bails of aspen run out so if you use that, you wont have an issue with humidity.

As for a thermostat, yes you will need one. You need one for any source of heat. I personally use Herpstats but a lot of people also like Vivarium electronics. Herpstats are a little more money but have more bells and whistles and I believe more safeties. Also the firmware on them is upgradable by sending the unit in if needed.

[Chillmatic]

Thank you thank you thank you again.

I will probably be buying the T8. I emailed Ali earlier tonight in regards to having the RHP drop shipped for my purchase. Once the tank arrives, I will also need to attach a UTH for the hot spot? and does it install the same way as you would with an aquarium tank?