Custom Cage

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I think your best bet is to find a different species of snake that would be better suited for a nice display enclosure. Ball pythons make awful display animals (sorry guys, you just do).

When they are happiest, they will RARELY come out of their hides and while they do -sometimes- climb, it is usually due to stress from being in such a large enclosure.

I see my snakes out of their hides once or twice a week right around feeding day.

Perhaps you could look into some more arboreal or semi-arboreal species? They would be much more fun to watch in such a cool enclosure :)

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I agree...sounds like a very nice setup, I'd put a carpet python in it and get a tub for my ball.

Interesting, where do you get your information that healthy ball pythons never come out of their hides but to feed?

Mine is not stressed, feeds regularly and is quite docile handling (often content to sit and chill for long periods) Climbs regularly during the evening and night. Typically he hides for a day or two after feeding then will usually spend an evening 3/4 out of his hide, often moving to his fav high spot over the doors of the enclosure. This is typical for a day or two again and the night before feeding day he starts actively poking around 'hunting'

If your ball has always been in a tub how do you know it won't climb?

When mine was in a tub the behaviour was very different and did not display typical wild. Could not climb as the tub was too short. I am not saying that a tub is bad but a display enclosure isn't bad either. I agree that they aren't the best display animals but they are a great all round one!

Being in a tank is not like being in the wild. Just because it is moving around more doesn't mean it is "happier".

Ball pythons will rarely leave burrows and termite mounds in the wild. That is a fact.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

often moving to his fav high spot over the doors of the enclosure. This is typical for a day or two

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No disrespect, but if this is typical behavior by your bp, you need to check your husbandry. What are you heating with, temps, humidity, ect?

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Originally Posted by FatBoy

No disrespect, but if this is typical behavior by your bp, you need to check your husbandry. What are you heating with, temps, humidity, ect?

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I agree

My bp leaves his hide to eat, maybe drink or to go across the tub to his cool hide. Iv yet to see him out "exploring"

@ OP

And for that cage maybe you should look into a diff species. Maybe a boa xD

Mine's in a nice big boaphile display cage, he doesn't seem to mind the extra space, I don't have it filled full of crap either but it is harder to heat and like stated, BPs are not a display snake, they are pretty inactive, will roam around during the night sometimes but often hide if you start looking at them anyways, the rest of the time you will see their head at most. Also mine is an adult male, he was in a 10 gallon tank when he was small. I wouldn't put a baby bp in a large enclosure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Being in a tank is not like being in the wild. Just because it is moving around more doesn't mean it is "happier".

Ball pythons will rarely leave burrows and termite mounds in the wild. That is a fact.

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No, a enclosure is not the wild but it MUST be a facsimile of one, we as keepers work hard to simulate the natural conditions in which a Ball python is adapted. To believe other wise is naive.

"Replicating a snakes's natural environment can ameliorate some adaptation problems" Dr. J Rossi 'What's wrong with my snake'


I disagree Ball pythons in the wild must as in captivity regulate their temperatures, the must bask to raise the internal temperatures, they must also hunt. Usually this means moving from burrow to occupied burrow and eating the residents.

" A ball python will usually begin spending more time in water just days before shedding. After about five days of swimming and then sunbathing, the ball python will be ready to shed. It will spend hours rubbing against a rock or tree to loosen its skin before sliding completely out." - David Barker

"In the wild, ball pythons are mostly active at night. They spend most of the daylight hours hiding in holes or other shelters." B Cornett Ultimate Guide to Ball Pythons

"...Under these conditions, my ball pythons are healthy, ACTIVE and eating regularly." B Cornett Ultimate Guide to Ball Pythons

"Starting in the early evening, even if the lights are still on, ball pythons will emerge from their shelters. If hungry they will hunt and may even climb on branches close to the ground." Philippe de Vosjoli 'The Art of Keeping Snakes'

FatBoy, It is possible that you mis understood what I intended here. He will often climb up to is high spot 2 or 3 times a week for 20-30 min a visit. He does not stay there during daylight just evening/night.

For the record...

My temps are ambient 'air' inside the enclosure (physic middle) 83ºF (IR gun cannot measure 'air' temps just spot temps and there are differing degrees of angle if you have a scanning type I have a basic IR gun, a Hart handheld 1521) the cool side is 80.7 the hot side interior is 90.8. Humidity is 57% hot and 62% cool (there is a slight gradient)


Climbing,

"Despite being heavy bodied, Ball Pythons can climb adeptly. We there-fore provide a minimum cage height of two feet and elevated perches." Bartlett and Bartlett 'Snakes'

Op there is no reason that with work your enclosure cannot be made a good environment for a ball python. Its shape however is better suited for a arboreal snake. It may be possible to close off the a bit of the top to help with environmental controls.

The quotes are from reputable published sources. I hate being told that an active snake must be sick or stressed. A typical pattern of hiding during the day and after meals. Emerging from a hide during night time/evening hours and spending some time out and about is not abnormal. I don't mean to say all night or every night but not emerging at all isn't normal either. There is a lot of room for variations here I don't think either extreme is normal hiding all the time could be in security with the condition of the enclosure not hiding at all the same hold true, some where in between seems is logical.

It is 8:30pm here and my boy is just peeking out of his hot hide. He fed yesterday so he will likely not come out tonight or tomorrow but usually wednesday night he will leave his hides and spend a bit of time out and about. The end of the week he will likely climb on his branch and or door top. I am NOT saying that a tub enclosure is un-healthy that has been proven incorrect. But I am saying that a snake that is active some times at night isn't stressed or not being well cared for.
Alex

KiteDemon, thank you very much for the details and the quotes… definitely food for thought…


For those who think considering another species is advisable for my situations… what species would you suggest for a 2’ x 2’ @ 3’ tall display that stays at or under 6’?

Toby Np how much experience do you have? As I mentioned a ball could be made to work but something else might do better. The question of what is how much do you know now. What are you looking for from a snake?Something that handles well or that looks good, or is very active?

I started keeping ‘exotics’ back in the mid 80’s and have had either reptiles or fish ever since…
For the last dozen years I’ve had 300~1200 gallons of fish tanks…
I’ve been burnt out on fish for a year or two and have been downsizing while becoming more interested in reptiles and amphibians again…
I’m finishing up putting together a handful of vivariums for Poison Dart Frogs…
I currently have a very hand tame 4’ Tegu…

So I’m no expert, but I am the type to thoroughly educate myself about my pets and I do take their care seriously…


I’m looking for a Boa/Python that I can keep in a decorative display cabinet that also is handlable. I do like snakes that come in different ‘morphs’. I do plan to breed the pair that I acquire.

The display cabinet I have in mind will be side by side 2’x 2’ @ 3’ tall enclosures… but could be remodeled to be 4’ x 2’ @ 1.5’ tall… As the enclosure is not built, all of these numbers are negotiable.


I looked into Corn Snakes for a while and while they come in a wealth of breedable morphs, their smaller frame and overly simple care seemed like something that would fail to really fill my nook. I’m not looking to be crack open a new area of the hobby, but I do appreciate a challenge… I also favor the robust look of Boas/Pythons over the skinny little field snakes.


I did look into Carpet Pythons a little bit last night and they do look like they would fit my nook quite well…