is ventilation needed?

[jseber1982]

I read the document on tank setup here, very nice. I see on some peoples setups, that they have no ventilation. The entire top is covered by something, with a hole just big enough for the light.

I tried that on mine, i coated the entire top with aluminum tape, and left a hold perfectly sized for the light. Wife says that mold will build up with nowhere for the moisture to go, but i see other people do it on here.

Will mold build up? And is this a good way to insulate? I will add a layer of duct tape on top of it followed by another layer of foil.

[elevatethis]

You want a balance between fresh air exchange and heat/humidity retention. Basically, the more air you let in and out, the faster the heat and humidity escape. Most of the time, the space that is left open for the heat lamp provides enough ventilation while also preserving the temps and humidity.

Besides, when using a heat lamp - you don't have to worry about moisture hanging around - the bulb usually sucks most of the moisture out of the air as it is.

[littleindiangirl]

I think when you find the balance for keeping both heat and humidity up to par, you wont have to worry about mold growing.

I know that you can have mold grow in the substrate if its too wet. So thats something else to think about.

[Argentra]

No mold here. And I even cover half of that opening with a moist paper towel to up humidity when she's showing signs of shed.

I think your wife is basing what she says on figuring the cage will remain covered...but it won't. You open it for a few minutes at least every other day to spot clean and change water, not to mention to handle your snake (except the two days after feeding of course). This fact, and the fact that you NEVER soak the substrate but just mist it if you need more humidity, means that the hole for the lamp is adequate ventilation.

[jseber1982]

here are some pics of my setup.

Currently there is a 50watt bulb, a few mins ago i went and got a 75 regular bulb, and a 75 infra red bulb to play with. The temp on the bottom is reading about 82, so it needs to be warmer on the warm side. I also just bought 2 fluker stick on temp and humidity gauges and a piece of foliage for the right side.

I covered the top in aluminum tape.. The light is another story, the dood at petco recommended this over a regular light. This one had a frame that made it sit 6 inches above the tank. So i enclosed it. The top 1 inch of the light is open because it got so hot near the bulb that burned myself, now i can touch it.

I am also gunna go buy a reptile mat to put on the bottom to keep them off of the glass if it gets too hot to burn,, which it doesnt seem to be.
Any tips or recommendations is appreciated.
For some reason the IMG script wasnt working. So i just posted as links

pic 1
pic 2

[jseber1982]

and yes those are 2 snakes in the same tank. If they start having probs, i will separate them. When i got them, i didnt know that they shouldnt be together..... even though it is just a matter of opinion. I have talked to plenty of people that have multiple snakes together and they are fine

[SatanicIntention]

No, it's not a matter of opinion.. Snakes kept together experience alot of stress. It is only a benefit to the keeper(not really since you'll have twice the vet bills when they get sick) to house them together.

Snakes are not social creatures, they do not appreciate each other's company. If one regurgitates from stress, how do you know which one it was? If one had an abnormal bowel movement, how do you know which one did it? Ball Pythons and other Boids have been known to be cannibalistic in times of stress, so one day you may come home to one large snake in the tank or two dead snakes, one from being partially digested and regurged, the other from the damage the regurgitating did.

It is not a smart thing on your part to keep them together. One is going to be dominant over the other and the subordinate snake is going to be the one getting sick, not eating, regurgitating out of stress, not properly thermoregularting because the other one doesn't allow it to..

Separate them, it will only lead to problems if you don't.

Edit: It looks like there are THREE in the tank, two in one hide, one in the other.. Which isn't even set up properly whatsoever. How do you know what temperatures and humidity they are experiencing, when it's not even being measured properly?

[PythonWallace]

and yes those are 2 snakes in the same tank. If they start having probs, i will separate them. When i got them, i didnt know that they shouldnt be together..... even though it is just a matter of opinion. I have talked to plenty of people that have multiple snakes together and they are fine

Here we go again.

[jseber1982]

No, it's not a matter of opinion.. Snakes kept together experience alot of stress. It is only a benefit to the keeper(not really since you'll have twice the vet bills when they get sick) to house them together.

Snakes are not social creatures, they do not appreciate each other's company. If one regurgitates from stress, how do you know which one it was? If one had an abnormal bowel movement, how do you know which one did it? Ball Pythons and other Boids have been known to be cannibalistic in times of stress, so one day you may come home to one large snake in the tank or two dead snakes, one from being partially digested and regurged, the other from the damage the regurgitating did.

It is not a smart thing on your part to keep them together. One is going to be dominant over the other and the subordinate snake is going to be the one getting sick, not eating, regurgitating out of stress, not properly thermoregularting because the other one doesn't allow it to..

Separate them, it will only lead to problems if you don't.

Edit: It looks like there are THREE in the tank, two in one hide, one in the other.. Which isn't even set up properly whatsoever. How do you know what temperatures and humidity they are experiencing, when it's not even being measured properly?

There are 2, not 3. Im not gunna come on here and lie.
And if you read what i posted above, you would see that i just bought 2 more thermometers today(digital) also got 2 more humidity gauges. Tell me that is is not setup properly whatsoever is not entirely helpful

yea i know i turned it into a flame post, oh well. Now everybody is gunna gang up on me and tell me how cruel i am being

I have to keep them up high right now because i have a 2yo and a 4yo. I dont have another place to set a second tank yet. Cant set anything down low. I am not just gunna put it in a rubber maid and put it in the closet which is the only place i really even have space right now.

I didnt find you guys until after i bought them. I talked to a bunch of people that i work with that have snakes and they all said that its ok to put them together. So now i have a second one which needs a different container which i dont have room for right now. I have to make do with what i have until i figure something out.

[SatanicIntention]

No, no one is going to gang up on you. You just need to realize that snakes are solitary creatures and will THRIVE, not just survive, when kept separately.

If you're prepared for stress-induced illnesses such as respiratory infections(which are contagious by the way), poor shedding, aggressive behavior, stress-induced fasting(not eating), and possibly cannibalization, then go ahead and keep them together.

A second set up would likely run you about $20 for a plastic tub, hides, water bowl, digital thermometer, bungee cord to hold the lid down, and an undertank heater(flexwatt runs $4-$5 for a wired 1ft x 11" piece).

You need to think about what is best for the snakes and not what you think looks nice or cool. They need to be separated, and that's that.

The tons of people who you've talked to, are likely very inexperienced pet shop keepers who don't know Ball Python husbandry from a hole in the wall. They keep them together because it's convenient for them, and they take no mind to how it affects the animals in the end. It's only about what is cheap and convenient..

Vet bills sure aren't cheap or convenient, neither is burying one or both of your snakes because of mistakes that could have been prevented.