Full Grown Ball Python in 20 gallon?

Hello. I’m planning on getting a ball python and I wanted to keep him in a tub all his life but my dad wants me to move it to a tank at some point because that’s what a lady at his work who has had snakes a long time suggested. He said we could get a 20 gallon and that a 40 gallon (which is what I would want) is too big. What is your take on this? Any suggestions on how to convince him to stay with a tub or move to 40 gallon? The 20 gallon just seems so small.

I’m a college student currently taking the semester off for medical reasons and am living with my dad this semester (he is paying for the ball python).

Your gonna get lots of opinions, but I’ll go first. If it’s a male, a twenty gallon should be fine for its entire life. But if it’s a female, definitely go with the forty. This is going off what some of the top breeders use to recommend back in the day, and tanks are kinda old school. Best of luck, either way. If you look in my gallery, you can see my current set up. Peace.

I’d agree that a 20L should be fine for a male and a 40 for a female. Many people keep them in tubs their whole lives, and that is fine, too. I personally prefer the commercially produced plastic or pvc cages due to the ease of heating them and better humidity retention. All three work, you just have to tweak each type of enclosure to maintain the correct temps and humidity.

At a minimum the snake should be able to stretch out its body fully in the enclosure so I would use that as a baseline for determining what size is appropriate once the BP is full grown.

I would personally favor 40 gal. size for a tank. As Luvyna said, a snake should be able to stretch out, & also, it's very challenging to offer temperature variation
in a small cage...you need some distance between warmest & cooler sides. While many don't favor glass tanks, I do...but that doesn't mean you don't need any
modifications for privacy, heat & humidity retention to successfully keep a ball python healthy. When you talk about a 20 gal. tank, I assume you mean a 20 long? That's better than a standard 20 gal. -it's not as tall, but longer by 6".

Are you getting a male BP? That would be better, they stay smaller. Another thing...if you're getting a young BP, it will take quite a while before it needs a
bigger tank/enclosure, & by then you'll probably not still be living with your Dad...so maybe think of the 20 gal. tank as temporary while your BP grows up?
When the 20 starts getting too small, you can trade up for a larger one.

Personally I would only put a very small male in a 20 gallon long. If it's not a long then I wouldn't keep one in it. Tell him the temperature and humidity requirements for a ball python. If the temps and humidity are not met, then ball pythons can go off feed for weeks, months, and there's even been cases of years! This can put a lot of stress on you and the snake, and you might end up with a lot of vet bills to pay if he starts loosing a lot of weight and you have to check on him at the vet during his fasting.

Tanks can be used only if you are willing to put in the work and time to maintain the humidity and temps. Depending on how much humidity you generally get where you live, you will more than likely have to cover the screen of the tank with layers of foil, plexiglass (which can be pricey), or a towel you have to dampen every time it dries out, you will have to mist multiple times a day, get a substrate that holds humidity (which you will also have to dampen every time it dries out), you may not be able to use an overhead heat source, and you might want to get a fogger/mister on a timer, a bigger water bowl, etc. Then for the temperature, you may need to add insulation to the outside and or multiple heat sources (which means multiple thermostats and can get very expensive). A lot of time and work compared to a tub which tends to keep the temperature and humidity in without many adjustments. Even after all of this, be aware that ball pythons are not very good display animals and you probably won't see it much since they hide all day, which kind of defeats the purpose of working so hard with a tank.

I used to use a tank, it's definitely possible to keep a snake in one, but a lot of work. I recently switched to a tub and won't ever go back. I hardly need to do any maintenance apart from changing the water and spot cleaning. Not to mention a tub is so much cheaper than a tank, doesn't take up as much space, and is much lighter.

Maybe think about investing in or saving up for a custom enclosure like from animal plastics. They have the visibility of a tank while keeping the temp and humidity within range. Most would agree they are the best enclosure for a snake.

So yes, you can use a tank. I don't bash on those who do, as long as they can, again, put in the extra time and work to provide adequate husbandry and care. If you want to use a tank, go ahead, but what concerns me is your fathers attitude towards this all? If he hasn't done the research, he probably doesn't know what's best for the snake. Make sure if you're dedicating the next 30+ years to this snake that you won't compromise its husbandry and care just because someone else says so. If your father is going to stop you from taking care of the snake properly because he decides that's not how you take care of one (despite numerous of experienced breeders and keepers saying otherwise) then perhaps wait until you can pay for the snake yourself. What happens if he decides the snake should eat prey smaller than it's supposed to? Or says he heard the snake doesn't need hides? Or thinks it's ridiculous to spend money on a thermostat?

I'm not trying to be hostile or say you outright shouldn't get a ball python.. but just make sure to do your research and be careful.

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Originally Posted by 55fingers

... but what concerns me is your fathers attitude towards this all? If he hasn't done the research, he probably doesn't know what's best for the snake. Make sure if you're dedicating the next 30+ years to this snake that you won't compromise its husbandry and care just because someone else says so. If your father is going to stop you from taking care of the snake properly because he decides that's not how you take care of one (despite numerous of experienced breeders and keepers saying otherwise) then perhaps wait until you can pay for the snake yourself. What happens if he decides the snake should eat prey smaller than it's supposed to? Or says he heard the snake doesn't need hides? Or thinks it's ridiculous to spend money on a thermostat? ....

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Yes, this ^ ^ ^ too! :yes: Might truly be better (for the snake) to wait if you don't see "eye to eye".

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Originally Posted by vrp98

Hello. I’m planning on getting a ball python and I wanted to keep him in a tub all his life but my dad wants me to move it to a tank at some point because that’s what a lady at his work who has had snakes a long time suggested. He said we could get a 20 gallon and that a 40 gallon (which is what I would want) is too big. What is your take on this? Any suggestions on how to convince him to stay with a tub or move to 40 gallon? The 20 gallon just seems so small.

I’m a college student currently taking the semester off for medical reasons and am living with my dad this semester (he is paying for the ball python).

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20 gal is WAY too small. Go with a 40 gal and get a male as they stay smaller. Imo a 40 gal tank isn’t big. I live in a tiny little apartment as I’m currently in grad school. I have 7 reptiles with my largest enclosure being 4’x2’x2’ and it’s not too big. It may help to measure everything out and show your father where it will go and the exact dimensions. Also, if you get a nice display enclosure he may be more inclined to go for it.


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I agree with you "55fingers"... Tubs are definitely ok to use for ball pythons especially if in a rack set up. What really pushes my buttons are those people who think all snakes need to be housed in tanks. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but NOT all snakes need to be kept in tanks and BP's are one of those snakes...They needs ample amounts of humidity/heat and tanks do not hold in the appropriate amounts when it comes to a BP.
Also a male ball python does not require alot of space when it comes to his enclosure. A male can thrive living in a 28-32 quart tub with holes for air circulation but a female BP would require a little larger as they get bit more girthier in size. BP's also need a hide to use and a water dish and that is about it.... And when it comes to hides, you be the judge on what size is right for your BP. I say this because my adult male has a hide which he will squeeze himself into when he wants to. You would think he would be uncomfortable but when I tried using larger hides for him he will not go into them. So I stick to the hide he likes. In a nutshell, tanks do look nice and you can really make them look very awesome inside, but if I were a BP I would just want a warm dark tight hide to shield away my predators and humidity to help me have a successful shed. Oh and of course, dont forget to drop in the appropriate size rat and I am good to go!! :relax:

My male BP is in a 40 breeder. I can't imagine him being in a 20 gallon. He was in a 20 gallon when he was a 160 gram youngster til 500 grams. At that point he outgrew the 20 gallon.