can a tank be too big?

The only problem I can see with Larger than necessary enclosures is the larger it is the more of a pain it'll for the snake to get its food. There is no comparison between a tank and the wild. And why would a snake probably die if its natural environment is simulated? I doubt predators or uncontrollable weather conditions are gonna be placed in with snake lol... If the snake is eating and drinking regularly, has a secure hide in a warm and cooler end, and the owner doesn't mind the upkeep,cost, and staring at bunch of decor then I think thats all the justification he or she needs!

Yes a tank can be too big, they're shy snakes and easily stressed. In the wild they don't explore, they live in burrows and hunt at night in the same small area, so a smaller tank is better for them.:)

Aspen bedding btw. big bags 10-15 bucks cant go wrong many many months of use.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DesignerBP

The only problem I can see with Larger than necessary enclosures is the larger it is the more of a pain it'll for the snake to get its food. There is no comparison between a tank and the wild. And why would a snake probably die if its natural environment is simulated? I doubt predators or uncontrollable weather conditions are gonna be placed in with snake lol... If the snake is eating and drinking regularly, has a secure hide in a warm and cooler end, and the owner doesn't mind the upkeep,cost, and staring at bunch of decor then I think thats all the justification he or she needs!

---

Well I don't really like letting a ball python actively hunt for their food. If they have to roam their enclosure in search of food, then the enclosure is too big. Ball pythons like small, tight spaces. They live in burrows in the ground the majority of their life, only coming out to hunt (even then it is close by) and to drink water. Other than that, they are happy to sit contently in their burrows the majority of their time. Ball pythons DO NOT enjoy roaming their cages. They do not explore. Roaming the cage is a sign of stress, not a sign of enjoyment.

I'd say giving a ball python a larger tank is just asking for problems. Better to use the bigger tank for a different kind of reptile as a display animal.

Keeping a ball python in a 125 gallon enclosure would be fine. As long as the husbandry is met and the tank is "busy" with decorations, the bp will be fine. But dont have two hides a water bowl and newspaper substrate and thats it. Your snake will stress. In the wild they have plenty of holes and burrows to get in when they need to and its not just barren, there is grass, some trees and shrubbery.

Quote:

---

These snakes that we keep as pets are NOT in the wild

---

Yes they are pets, but not domesticated by any means. We could put them in the wild and they would know what to do. Our herps instinctevly know what to do when it comes to surviving. As much as we like to think they love us and come out to see us, its just not true. They are acting on instinct, always, with limited cognitive thought. Yes some snakes such as retics will get into a routine with their owners and recognize them over a stranger, but with any herp we own, bringing them to the wild, they would know what to do. So if you set it up as a naturalist setup, with driftwood/branches, plenty of leaves for ground cover, around four hides, and a large water dish, the BP will do just fine. I am assuming that the temps are consistant with correct husbandry and the humidity is kept at appropriate levels.

I know Alexander is a wee one at 2 feet, but I ran across a used partially broke 10 gallon tank or a couple of dollars at a thrift store and decided to try my idea out on combining the two tanks into one long one. I broke out the panels needed and since I didn't have a screen for the other side I just put a wood panel and turned it to the wall. This gave him a glass look out to the room in the addition. Remember I was the one who turned his tank on it's side for easy access.....This worked fine but he didn't care for the other side, though I had it decorated and had hidey spots. What was the problem? He wanted a screen front after I turned it around and got a screen for it. He goes on the other side all the time. I think he felt more trapped or something being behind glass.

Anyway he has a nice 3 ft home to run about in now. I relocated it on a shelf that runs the length of my bed and it has a window that gives heat in the daytime. Too bad it frosted glass though, he could look outside otherwise. And decorative lamp at the far end that gives off a bit of heat too as well as ambient lighting.

As he get's bigger I will remove some of the decor so he can stretch out. But still leave enough so he can hide as well.