New Setup..

Here I go again... putting my neck out there on the chopping block...

BUT... we got these snakes and they have to live in our house. Therefore, it is a symbiotic relationship. If ONLY the snake's needs are to be met, we should leave them in Africa. But, since we like to keep them as pets, then the reptile gets to benefit from our care as well as we get to benefit from our experiences with them. Just as we have to adjust to the reptile, the reptile, would also need to adjust to our house. It is a delicate balance that needs to be achieved.

Having said that, I do not get much out of a snake that spends 90% of its time hiding under a rock. Therefore, for me, putting that snake in a 55 gallon or bigger decked out as a replica of an African forest gives me plenty to look at with or without the snake visible. I can look at it all day long and even have a few of my hardier orchid collections growing in this mini-forest that has the temperature and humidity settings perfectly suited for orchid growth. Yes, it takes a lot more effort to maintain, but that's effort I will gladly take on to enjoy my little piece of Africa. And of course, every single thing the snake needs is provided = the right temperature, the right humidity, right sized hides and plenty of canopy foliage.

So, yeah, 55 gallon or bigger - it can work. Just put in the extra effort it requires to maintain it. If it is what you desire. There's nothing wrong with anybody saying, I WANT THIS. As long as the health of the snake is also being considered and a balance achieved.

As a side note, our ball python was doing great for 3 months in a 55 gallon and then she went on a fast, so I moved her to a 20L. She started eating again. When she gets a few more regular feedings, I'll move her back to the 55 gallon. Or maybe not, depending on how she feels. Like I said, it's a delicate balance.

See this is someone who understand a little of what I am saying. I really appreciate your input. I know a lot of people are out there that do not care about their snakes. I love my BP,and eventually want to get into breeding. I have my eyes on a female G stripe right now(hopefully I will be able to get one soon...SO yes I really care about my snake and want him to be in good health. AND when I said I want this was refering to "I know people are going to disagree but I am likely considering getting this" SO I mean if you have the means to make it work then go for it, but If you do not want to take that much time then don't... I know breeding is different, and when I start breeding I will have a rack system for the babies..and Yes I am going to QT when I do get new BP's I already have the room to start the QT'ing in. I really love this site and yes we all can get our words mixd up in how we say them, and people might get confused...But that is where the correcting needs to be instead of being like a wild child bashing..THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR OPINION'S!!!! IT really helps a lot..And just to let everyone know my otto is in his shed YAAAY!!!!

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Originally Posted by Otto1208

But also I know for a 4 foot python a 20L is not enought floor space is all I am saying

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Actually, Otto, a 20 gal long is plenty of room for a 4 foot Ball Python.
It's been proven countless times by many owners here on BPnet, many of whom have been keeping BPs for many, many years.

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Originally Posted by anatess

Just as we have to adjust to the reptile, the reptile, would also need to adjust to our house.

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You are a human being and as such, are uniquely designed to adapt. Your rather large brain mass in proportion to your body size help you do that, as do your higher congnative powers.

Your Ball Python is orders of magnatude less capable of adapting to an unsuitible environment.

We may like to give them atributes to which they are not capable of, but it does not change what they are.

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Originally Posted by anatess

As a side note, our ball python was doing great for 3 months in a 55 gallon and then she went on a fast, so I moved her to a 20L. She started eating again.

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Just saying' :gj:

:snake::snake:Yes I do agree that we need to adapt to them..Thank you for your inputs all throughout this whole thread...You guys are soooo. amazing and I am looking for the ride when the time comes that I start the breeding feiasco..LOL!!! Even though sometime people bump heads as long as Good comes out of it I have no Prob....I might eventually build my own tank// Rack systems for my babies (when that time comes) and I look forward to all the help in the coming years!!:snake::snake:

Hey. If you need any help with your 55 gal let me know. I can send you pics of mine. My baby is happy with it, and that's all that matters. Remember where there is a will, there is a way :) Send me pics of yours when its done. Maybe i can get some ideas from you too. A little secrect, as bad as half logs are, my bp won't use anything else.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Actually, Otto, a 20 gal long is plenty of room for a 4 foot Ball Python.
It's been proven countless times by many owners here on BPnet, many of whom have been keeping BPs for many, many years.



You are a human being and as such, are uniquely designed to adapt. Your rather large brain mass in proportion to your body size help you do that, as do your higher congnative powers.

Your Ball Python is orders of magnatude less capable of adapting to an unsuitible environment.

We may like to give them atributes to which they are not capable of, but it does not change what they are.


Just saying' :gj:

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You are right, of course. And that's why it is a delicate balance with my human-ness on one side of the scale and its snake-ness on the other. :)

When I was researching snakes, I keep on hearing things about the corns and kings and ball pythons being "hardy". I interpreted this to mean that they have the quality to be able to adjust to alternative environments. Like the reptile store owner by my house. He's been keeping snakes for over 30 years. And, crazy as it may sound, he has his pet burmese, retic, boa, and anaconda in the same enclosure the size of my office. I've always wondered about that. But, who am I to say he's an idiot for keeping them together? Ya know what I mean?

Anatess,

How big is your office? Burmese pythons, retics, boas, and anacondas have different requirements. IMO it's EXTREMELY stupid, and I emphasize "extremely", to keep those four species together.

To throw my .02 in I would say that if you're going for a glass tank like that to keep the height down a bit. It's easier to maintain temps and humidity and your bp will probably hardly ever venture up high.
As for that other guy keeping those four species together.....that's just insanely ridiculous. I've always said "nothing has ever gone wrong...until it does"
That's kind of like saying I like to play in traffic and it's ok cause i've never been hit by a car...something will more than likely go wrong at some point.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Anatess,

How big is your office? Burmese pythons, retics, boas, and anacondas have different requirements. IMO it's EXTREMELY stupid, and I emphasize "extremely", to keep those four species together.

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Oh, I completely agree with you (from my meager research)! That's what I meant when I said I thought it was crazy.

Here are pics:

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...7/multiple.jpg

And here's the anaconda that is swimming in the pool at the end of the room (you can see the wall of the pool to the back of the above pic).

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l.../multiple2.jpg

But, like I said, he's been keeping reptiles for over 30 years so he's no newbie. I guess it works for his pets. I could easily wag my finger at him on that set-up but, I just couldn't justify doing that when he knows his pets best and I'm just a mother of 3 bp's and a hognose for a little over 5 months. I have to defer to his opinion on the matter.

I honestly don't even care when people say they've had x years of experience.

Point is, they're doing it wrong. It's that simple. Anacondas and boas live in the same region. I still think it's wrong but it would be acceptable to some extent.

A burmese and retic WITH these other two species? Come on, man. 30 years of experience and still you're making yourself look like a total idiot.

Just my .02.