Terra Cotta?

Hello,
Im currently setting up a tank for a Banana Ball Python. Is it safe to use a Terra Cotta pot as hides and as a water bowl from lowes/home depot. (Of course different ones)

I have for years. But I don't buy ones made in China. Make sure you don't have sharp or raw edges.



Good luck!

I would use terra cotta as hides ONLY. Terra cotta is porous & not good as water bowls, you never know what might leach into the water, plus it's going to be hard to keep clean & sanitary.

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

I have for years. But I don't buy ones made in China. Make sure you don't have sharp or raw edges.



Good luck!

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Thanks ill check where they are made

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I would use terra cotta as hides ONLY. Terra cotta is porous & not good as water bowls, you never know what might leach into the water, plus it's going to be hard to keep clean & sanitary.

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Any ideas on good water bowls? All the ones i see are tiny

Large water bowls = dog food bowls. You can find them at the Dollar Store or Walmart. If you have a hot knife they can be made into hides, so can any plastic box.

I use glazed 12"-18" planter dishes (Terra-Cotta) for water bowels. They help with humidity an I've had them for years. Any "new" AP cages get dog bowls.


Lowes an Home Depo also carry plastic Terra Cotta stuff. A hot knife cuts it an the pots are sturdy.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Hockeyfan08

...Any ideas on good water bowls? All the ones i see are tiny

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I love to shop in thrift stores- lots of great heavy flat-bottomed type glass bowls for sale cheaply, all sizes & types. Some ppl use dog bowls too (the non-tip kind).

+1 for dog bowls. I get mine at Walmart for $0.88. I have a handful of extras to swap in and out.

The hollow bottom actually doubles as an extra hide while the snake is still small enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I love to shop in thrift stores- lots of great heavy flat-bottomed type glass bowls for sale cheaply, all sizes & types. Some ppl use dog bowls too (the non-tip kind).

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+1 for thrift stores and heavy flat-bottomed glass bowls. They're heavy so they're hard to tip over. Plus, I buried mine in the substrate, or rather put it on the bottom of the enclosure and build the substrate up around the bowl so there's only a small lip. This helped me hide the god awful color bowl so it doesn't detract from my set up, so you can still have something naturalistic while using a bowl meant for something else.