how big does a bp have to be to put in 60 gallon

i know that it costs a lot i have thousands of dollors invested in my other reptiles. i just want to find the best price possiable.

thanks for the conscern though

fish

I've got a tank about the same size.... got it from a thrift store next door to where I work... while I was thinking of getting a snake. I figured, the more space, the better and it was just $25. But now I'm not so sure.....

My BP is less than a year. She's been doing well, but seems to never come out of her "lair" (main hide). Now that I'm beginning to read this forum, I see there are some changes that need to be made. I realize that I need a lot more hiding places. I've got the temp about 94 on the hot side and 82 on the cool side, both maintained with heat lamps. The center I've got an under-the-tank heater. I've got two water dishes and a half-log and a tree branch.

Humidity is a problem, and the first time she shed, it was really hard. At least the top is sliding glass, with small screens on either end which is where I have the lights. The light on the hot side is surrounded by aluminum foil to keep moisture and heat in. I mist the tank to get the humidity up, but really need to cover the other screen too in order to do that. Right now it is around 50% but drops below that a lot.

I wouldn't get a half log hide. They're usually not secure enough for the bp's. Go for the exoterra caves or make your own out of clay pots...it works better.

Personally, I think a 60 gallon tank would be more trouble than it's worth to get the heating and the humidity right in.

does it have to be a big glass cage? there are alot of cagebuilders out there! a nice plastic cage, with the right heat setup and glass doors would look nice too, imo.


vaughn

In my NON-expert opinion, I'm still not convinced that ball pythons would be stressed in large enclosures so long as they have some good hides and correct temperatures and humidity. I mean, if they're stressed in large enclosures, then ball pythons in the wild must be basket cases. And so would any ball python that is allowed to roam around the room (under strict supervision) during handling sessions. And finally, if they don't like large areas, why are they always inclined to escape if you leave something unsecured?


I did want to build a 6-9' long enclosure, but got talked out of it. For me, probably more because of the logistical concerns of having such a huge vivarium. The one I'm currently planning is 3'x1.5'x1.5'. It's going to be made out of wood, so heating shouldn't be as difficult as a glass cage that size. And all the wood is going to be stained and sealed with polyurathane with envirotek along the bottom and several inches up the sides, so cleaning will be as easy as with a glass setup.

Does anybody have solid knowledge either first hand or from a reliable source (not just a story) of a ball python in a large properly set up enclosure (heat, humidity, hides, etc) that wouldn't eat, be handled, be friendly, etc? I'm more inclined to believe the cases of stressed pythons in large enclosures is more due to improper setup, not size.

But that's my non-expert opinion.

thats what i have been told that the size is ok as long as they have pleanty of hides.

thanks

fish

Just my very non-expert take on large enclosures. I think it is about set-up and maintaining proper temps/temp gradients as well as humidity. Also issues of lack of hides/cover that leave a shy snake like a BP feeling very exposed. I think if you address these things very carefully and monitor a larger enclosure very strictly that you can likely provide quite well for you BP. It may mean a different lid to deal with the open mesh issues, extra hides, fake vines to minimize wide open head space, extra monitoring devices, etc. but I don't think it's unmanageable. For someone like me with 6 BP's it's unrealistic, for someone with hundreds of them it's completely impractical. For the pet owner though I'm sure it can be an interesting challenge and as long as the snake is provided for correctly then I see no harm in it (though again I'm certainly no expert).

I had 2 BP's in a 55 gallon (of course before I came here!!!), and moved them into their own plastic tubs. My female began eating like a horse, and my male completely stopped for 2 months. Took him to the vet, and he told me to put him back into the 55. VOILA! eating like a horse again. BTW, my male will NOT use anything else except for those half logs.

It just goes to show how different each Ball is. Do what you want to do first (of course with proper temps, hides, humididty), and then adjust as neccessary as your BP gives you clues.

yha my babby, well 1.5 ft is in a 60 gal that i got for him. it dosent seem to big. i have one hide i made of a small cardboard box for now. and i bought one of those stone ones for like 35 bucks and of course what one would he prefer???

the one i made from a box hahahah. i know that most care sheets say not to feed for a week or so but the place where i got him from said to feed the first day in his cage to make sure he would eat. and if not to bring him back. as far as heating i had to go and buy bigger bulbs for his tank now the temp is great
and he seems to be happy.

thanks

fish

LLLreptile told you to feed first day? Weird...