(Semi) newbie here with many, MANY questions!

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

That all sounds fascinating .,

You should start a new thread showing your progress and purchases .. like a visual diary we could all share. ?!?


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Probably can do that. This thread's effectively become an update thing rather than asking questions. I'll start a new one in the general BP section sometime today.

Also forgot to start one on the aquarium project, need to get on that.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Probably can do that. This thread's effectively become an update thing rather than asking questions. I'll start a new one in the general BP section sometime today.

Also forgot to start one on the aquarium project, need to get on that.

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Sounds like a plan !!

Being a business you could also put the updates and photos on Instagram/ YouTube and TikTok accounts to advertise yourself ...

Copy and paste everything..


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Sounds like a plan !!

Being a business you could also put the updates and photos on Instagram/ YouTube and TikTok accounts to advertise yourself ...

Copy and paste everything..


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Oh it's not a literal business, I meant in the context of "Finishing this task" kind of business as it's a tank setup I've been working on for a couple months. Sorry for the confusion. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Oh it's not a literal business, I meant in the context of "Finishing this task" kind of business as it's a tank setup I've been working on for a couple months. Sorry for the confusion. :rofl:

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No worries.. you mentioned ‘aquarium business’ and I take things too literally .. it’s part of my Aspergers..




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Originally Posted by Zincubus

No worries.. you mentioned ‘aquarium business’ and I take things too literally .. it’s part of my Aspergers..




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A fellow aspey eh? I get exactly where you're coming from then, have it as well and have the exact same "take everything literally" issue.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

A fellow aspey eh? I get exactly where you're coming from then, have it as well and have the exact same "take everything literally" issue.

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Nice :)

It has it’s drawbacks but it’s positives far out-way the negatives imho


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Resurrecting this thread since I've got several questions/rants that it'd be easier to just put them all in here.

Firstly, I got new hides from Reptile Basics and, they don't fit the way I expected them to. They only fit longways as the tank isn't wide enough, which means there would be barely any room in the enclosure left after they go in so I've left everything as is for now since the way the UTH is set up means the warm hide would only be somewhat over it.

Secondly, I looked in two hardware stores and two pet stores and could not find coconut husk for the life of me. Several YT videos I watched said you could just buy bags of the stuff at a home improvement store for a lot cheaper, apparently not. Guess I'll just have to order a bag of Reptichip online...

And finally, I did some measurements and I think I'll have to buy a new plastic tub altogether because the one that came with the subpar enclosure I got (which I've since managed to resell) is smaller than the 30 gallon he's already in. The tank's 36"x13"17" and the tub's 27"x16"x13" so he loses height (which he never really uses granted) and length for a mere few inches of width.

In short, what I think I'm gonna have to do is get bigger plastic tote, another, better thermometer/hydrometer (the Grovee brand looks good) and another pair of thermostats. Possibly a bigger UTH too.

Hides: um, good idea to check measurements before you order hides- R.B. gives you the dimensions, but they cannot force you to double-check what you're ordering. ;)

Coco. husk: I've never seen it in a hardware store, other than maybe in garden section, but it might not be safe (ie. without contamination) for pets. I'm surprised your local pet stores don't carry it, but if they did, it wouldn't be cheaper there. Have you tried online suppliers such as Chewy.com or Petco.com? Pretty sure even Reptile Basics sells it? https://www.reptilebasics.com/substrate

(I have bought huge bags of orchid bark from a florist supply, & also a plant nursery, but these places may or may not know whether it's safe for your use with pets. Reading actual packages might help, if it's well-labeled.)

Yeah I know, another mistake... I don't know why I didn't bother to measure the dimensions of the hides to the tank width. But it's becoming obvious he needs to move to something bigger anyway so at the absolute worst, he just has to keep using the log hides a little while longer.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Yeah I know, another mistake... I don't know why I didn't bother to measure the dimensions of the hides to the tank width. But it's becoming obvious he needs to move to something bigger anyway so at the absolute worst, he just has to keep using the log hides a little while longer.

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Just excited & eager to get going, but yeah, you need to be less impulsive, otherwise "when you decide in haste, you're likely to regret at leisure". ;)

But you can also modify clean cardboard boxes (even cardboard oatmeal cartons) to use for hides in the meantime, & just toss them when they get wet or dirty. Snakes don't care what it's made of, they just care that hides give them privacy. I use a box-cutter to cut doorways in cardboard all the time. Most of my snakes have permanent hides, but some are using cardboard for various reasons, & with no "complaints" btw. They may not look as nice but you can't beat the price- free! ;) Some people also modify plastic bowls or plant pots for use as hides too. And with minimal skills you can make them out of wood & various other materials too.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Just excited & eager to get going, but yeah, you need to be less impulsive, otherwise "when you decide in haste, you're likely to regret at leisure". ;)

But you can also modify clean cardboard boxes (even cardboard oatmeal cartons) to use for hides in the meantime, & just toss them when they get wet or dirty. Snakes don't care what it's made of, they just care that hides give them privacy. I use a box-cutter to cut doorways in cardboard all the time. Most of my snakes have permanent hides, but some are using cardboard for various reasons, & with no "complaints" btw. They may not look as nice but you can't beat the price- free! ;) Some people also modify plastic bowls or plant pots for use as hides too. And with minimal skills you can make them out of wood & various other materials too.

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I'd like to think I'm not terribly impulsive... It's not something I did on a whim, I've been carefully considering new hides for a while, I simply messed up a crucial step. In fact while running around the stores I held off buying a number of things that I knew I didn't immediately need when more pressing supplies would be needed.

I did nearly get some pick up some plastic containers at the dollar store though, but I remembered my previous attempts to make holes in such things before which went horribly... Really need a blowtorch or something because every time I tried cutting out an entry hole I'd always get uncomfortable with how sharp the edges would turn out.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

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I did nearly get some pick up some plastic containers at the dollar store though, but I remembered my previous attempts to make holes in such things before which went horribly... Really need a blowtorch or something because every time I tried cutting out an entry hole I'd always get uncomfortable with how sharp the edges would turn out.

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Easiest way to cut/modify & smooth edges /or put holes in plastic is with a cheap (about $10 or less) soldering iron, like this (just random example). The only thing though is that plastic off-gases toxic smoke that you must not breathe, so ONLY do this outside on a porch or in the garage where it can be aired out. ;)https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach.../9/69060_I.jpg

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Easiest way to cut/modify & smooth edges /or put holes in plastic is with a cheap (about $10 or less) soldering iron, like this (just random example). The only thing though is that plastic off-gases toxic smoke that you must not breathe, so ONLY do this outside on a porch or in the garage where it can be aired out. ;)

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That's what I use, too. And I snap off the strings of plastic that always happen, although I've seen people who don't worry about it.

And Snagrio, this is how people put all those little ventilation holes in plastic totes they use to brumate their snakes in. ;) You can use it to smooth (melt) the rough edges.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

And Snagrio, this is how people put all those little ventilation holes in plastic totes they use to brumate their snakes in. ;) You can use it to smooth (melt) the rough edges.

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Oh. I simply drilled holes from the inside outwards for the container I put him in when I do cleaning (that way the "shrapnel" only faces outwards). Would certainly make doing that a lot easier when I need to make holes for bigger totes.

A nail file or sandpaper can also be used to soften the rough edges, not to point out the obvious or anything. :D

Hey. Been a long time. Haven't posted here since, well, I've been very sick for nearly a month now. Viral infection similar to mono (fevers and extreme fatigue for the most part).

As a result my husbandry has taken a hit and Zebra had a terrible shed a couple days ago. Bits and pieces everywhere and stuck shed in several places. Managed to get most of it off but there's still a little bit on the neck and on top of the head I couldn't manage to comfortably remove, so I'm just keeping his enclosure more moist than usual and hoping that helps.

His T10 should also be entering the production line at some point soon. Got charged for the pro products heat panel recently which means it's been shipped over to their facility I'm guessing.

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First of all you should make sure a ball python is the right pet for you. Many species of snake are commonly kept as pets and they all have different characteristics. Do your research to find the perfect pet snake for you. If you don't have enough money to get the snake you want, wait and save. It's a big commitment. Snakes can live a long time. You don't want to spend that time regretting your decision.

As for your other questions, I'll just share my limited experience. I purchased by adult male normal ball python (1320 grams) for $40 at an expo. The ambient temp in his room is 75 degrees. I kept him in a plastic sweater box with an under the tank heater (UTH). No additional lighting and newspaper for substrate. After a year, he started pushing, so I built him a 3x2x2 plywood enclosure. The enclosure is divided in two. The upper part is a terrarium with a glass front and repti-carpet for substrate. The lower part is a tub heated with a UTH. Newspaper for substrate. I recently bought a radiant heat panel for the terrarium because the ambient temp dips slightly below 75 degrees in the Spring and Fall and I want to encourage him to use the terrarium more.

The point of sharing all that was to say that you'll have to try different things to see what works for you. This site has a good care guide if you haven't consulted it yet.

I should say that the first UTH I used was too small. My ball python developed a slight respiratory infection. I got a larger one and he hasn't had any health issues since.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

First of all you should make sure a ball python is the right pet for you. Many species of snake are commonly kept as pets and they all have different characteristics. Do your research to find the perfect pet snake for you. If you don't have enough money to get the snake you want, wait and save. It's a big commitment. Snakes can live a long time. You don't want to spend that time regretting your decision.

As for your other questions, I'll just share my limited experience. I purchased by adult male normal ball python (1320 grams) for $40 at an expo. The ambient temp in his room is 75 degrees. I kept him in a plastic sweater box with an under the tank heater (UTH). No additional lighting and newspaper for substrate. After a year, he started pushing, so I built him a 3x2x2 plywood enclosure. The enclosure is divided in two. The upper part is a terrarium with a glass front and repti-carpet for substrate. The lower part is a tub heated with a UTH. Newspaper for substrate. I recently bought a radiant heat panel for the terrarium because the ambient temp dips slightly below 75 degrees in the Spring and Fall and I want to encourage him to use the terrarium more.

The point of sharing all that was to say that you'll have to try different things to see what works for you. This site has a good care guide if you haven't consulted it yet.

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You probably know this but the best way to get it using the upper terrarium is to add some branches for it to explore and climb .

Royals absolutely love climbing in the evenings, folks


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

You probably know this but the best way to get it using the upper terrarium is to add some branches for it to explore and climb .

Royals absolutely love climbing in the evenings, folks


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Thanks. I often let him out in the evenings and I'm surprised by how much and how well he climbs.