Why do they house......

My first was in a 20L because I did my research. Then a few years after that I switched everything over to using rack systems I built and you couldn't pay me to go back. Those mesh screen covers that tank can use never let the humidity stay right. Someone even told me to put aluminium foil over the screen to hold it in and I thought heck no, I bought the tanks to be able to see them. There just came a point when you have to say the python might not want to be seen and might feel more secure in a smaller enclosure. Btw, while in the 20L my new female baby ball would only eat a small mouse about couple of weeks, after switching to rack she started eatting the one same small mouse every two days.

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Originally Posted by Little B-Py

but there is a difference in the wild and being in a tank. They are having to survive in the wild but when their meals are provided for them IMO security is the best thing and making them comfortable.

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I agree but if you have several hides in a 55 gallon tank you are providing security and also a more varied temperature gradient that they can utilize. I use 55 gallon tanks that I paint black and put 4 hides in. I also put a large branch that I hotglue fake leaves onto which provides cover to most of the bottom of the tank. They use all 4 hides throughout the week and also sometimes just lay under the leaves. Never had a feeding problem whatsoever. As they get older I switch to two hides but keep the leaves as they seem to prefer the leaves as they get older.

I don't think a large tank is a problem if 2 crucial criteria are met.

1) Its thermal regulated correctly, and humidity as well.

2) there are money assorted places for your BP to squeeze into and hid. not necessarily a hide but some where he can get in tightly and feel safe. Hides are great, foliage, any of that stuff. but make sure theirs is a fair assortment of choice for them.

if you have done both. then you have provided them with a as natural as you can habitat with the feeling of security for your BP. be it 20gal or 55gal the same theories apply.

larger tanks are just a larger pain in the ass IMO

I tend to figure that it is two things primarily (despite how much research a person does and then dismisses)...

a) They must really like it. I mean I like having room, so my snake is the same.

b) BPs are GREAT display animals! Despite hiding 90% of the time, etc. Sadly this tends to be re-inforced when stressed out hyper active BPs in overly large enclosures spend more of their time pacing than they do hiding. That stress reaction is then percieved as *happy fuzzy snake loves his humongous house*.

Bruce

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Originally Posted by akaangela

I have seen many new owners put their balls in a 55 gallon? Why? I have seen little babies in such a huge tank. I resuced a ball that was in a huge tank, no hides, only heat lamp for warmth. I see this again and again.

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Originally Posted by Coins

I agree but if you have several hides in a 55 gallon tank you are providing security and also a more varied temperature gradient that they can utilize. I use 55 gallon tanks that I paint black and put 4 hides in. I also put a large branch that I hotglue fake leaves onto which provides cover to most of the bottom of the tank. They use all 4 hides throughout the week and also sometimes just lay under the leaves. Never had a feeding problem whatsoever. As they get older I switch to two hides but keep the leaves as they seem to prefer the leaves as they get older.

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Sorry, but does this mean you are housing more than one snake in a 55 gallon? It sure sounds like it..

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Sorry, but does this mean you are housing more than one snake in a 55 gallon? It sure sounds like it..

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that and it sounds like its almost impossible to clean

If space is not an issue than I dont see a problem. I used a 65 gal for my first bp for almost 1 1/2 years. Never had any incident with feeding issues or any other health problems. Only got rid of it because my collection out grew my space and I had to switch to racks. Some of the people that are so against tanks have no idea what they are talking about all your snake needs is proper husbandry and if you choose to supply it with some extra space to move around in if it so chooses then more power to you. And as for the difficulty of a tank as opposed to a rack/tub system. I never had any problem with humidity or temps. All I did was mist once a day and had one UTH and one heat lamp. In the end its your animals so choose to house thiem in what yor comfortable with. As long as there needs are met.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Sorry, but does this mean you are housing more than one snake in a 55 gallon? It sure sounds like it..

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I think hes referring to using several of the same setups for his snakes.

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Originally Posted by little b-py

it doesn't take much to put a 55 gallon on craigslist and go out and buy a rubbermaid tub and the cage accessories. I spent $100 on 2 tubs and that was 4 hides, 2 water bowls, 2 uths, 2 dimmers, and 2 19qt rubbermaid tubs. Cost isn't an excuse when you can sell a tank and stand of that size for at least $100.

Also a 33 long is the recommended size so there shouldn't be an issue there.

My buddy had his in a 75 gallon and had a 20l to feed him in. I told him to put the bp in the 20l and get him something to put into the 75...he went out a few days later and got a nice jcp.

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it was a joke.. Note the ;)

so what your saying a 4x2x1 is to big. i have a huge piece of drift wood that takes up almost the entire cage and i have added like 3+ other hides