Ball Python Cage Setup

I'm still new to the BP arena... I've only had mine a bit over 6 months. I researched before I got mine. I felt I knew what was bad, what was okay, and what was good. In my opinion, you have three options:

1. Buy a fish tank with a screen cover, a ceramic heat emitter, a heat mat (UTH) a cheap thermostat, some hides and a water bowl. You'll end up spending $300 before it's all said and done, and you'll have to work daily to keep your temps and humidity in check.

2. Buy a plastic tub, heat tape, Maybe a space heater for your room (if it's ever below 75 degrees), a thermostat, some hides and a water bowl. You'll spend a little less here... maybe $150, but you can't see your snake very well, and a tube isn't all that attractive sitting on your counter or dresser.

3. Buy a pvc enclosure made for a reptile, an RHP (radiant heat panel), thermostat, hides, and a water bowl. You could spend $500 on this, but it will look nice, and after a day or two, you really don't have to fool with your temperatures or humidity.


I started off with a used plastic (not pvc) enclosure, heat tape, and a CHE. temps were okay, but humidity was all over the place. I had about $200 invested. Then I moved to a tub setup (and built a small rack). I underestimated the need for good ambient temperatures with a rack/tub setup... so I ended up purchasing a good PVC enclosure (T8). I'm 100% satisfied with my T8, knowing my snake is safe, happy, and has plenty of room to grow and be content for the rest of her life.

You CAN start out with a 10 gallon fish tank... but I would HIGHLY encourage you to wait, save up a little more money, and just go with a PVC cage and proper setup the first time. It will save you and your snake a LOT of stress.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

You CAN start out with a 10 gallon fish tank... but I would HIGHLY encourage you to wait, save up a little more money, and just go with a PVC cage and proper setup the first time. It will save you and your snake a LOT of stress.

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This exactly.

Will also save you money in the long run. My bps are the cheapest reptile I've owned in terms of setting them up and there both in quite expensive vision cages. This was all bc I did what the pet stores told me and after realizing what I bought was all wrong I had to go and spend more money to make it right. My first reptile was leopard geckos and they cost me $700. Crazy right? Never buy those kits at pet smart or Petco either.

IMO getting a good thermostat is a priority. All it takes is one thing to go wrong and the cheaper ones will literally cook your snake. Plus with most on/off style thermostats if you set your temp to 90 it will drop to 85 before it kicks back on. It doesnt give your snake the choice of temp it feels comfortable at. Your snake will be on a rollercoaster with temps which I would think would be stressful. Its like being somwhere thats cold then hot and you constantly having to take on and off your coat. Not quite that bad but you get the idea. There is a couple that you can adjust so it turns on and off at let's says half or 1 degree which isn't bad but they still lack the safety features of shutting off if something goes wrong.