Display Enclosures for Ball Pythons: Expectation vs. Reality

I see a lot of new keepers (and more experienced ones) talk about maintaining a display enclosure so they can watch their snake cruise around. Something pretty to look at. I get it! I've kept my ball pythons in tubs and display enclosures and for me, the actual snake viewing time is the same: non at all.

So, I just wanted to share with you a funny comparison photo. Display enclosure expectation:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2b52c6f7d1.jpg

Vs. Reality:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03f51e1693.jpg

I've fixed up the plants every day for the last two days and every morning I awake to this mess. Lol! I give up! If this is how she likes it, this is how I'll leave it.


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Hahah that's pretty cute. :) Have you thought about using some type of reptile-safe adhesive?

I don't see anything wrong with display enclosures if you are able maintain the temp and humidity requirements. I think its more economical to go with a tub/rack system when you have lots of snakes and it's much easier to provide them with an environment they will thrive in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cayley

Hahah that's pretty cute. :) Have you thought about using some type of reptile-safe adhesive?

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I need to be able to take them out to wash them. ;) otherwise I would!


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I think because of how big and heavy balls are when they go cruising, making a display enclosure with that in mind is key. So something like this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...KLIrlzkJog.jpg
Hides

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...w%2Fs-l300.jpg
A nice tunnel

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-branch-v1.jpg
A good, sturdy climbing branch

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...2F6557%2Fsmall

Water dish (this one is neat, it sits down under the substrate!) and then for your bit of green getcha a couple of these

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...2F4124%2Fsmall https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...small-tp-k.jpg
And put reptile safe live plants in them! You'll want to get mature plants that can stand up to vigorous noofing and being slithered on, and you may want to keep back ups to cycle out so one can have a recovery break, but they'll be less likely to be pushed over than the flimsy plastic things.

Nice finds! I've considered some more natural hides, but I'm cheap and I like things that are easy to clean. ;)

No way will I put live plants in with a BP.

1. They will eventually knock them over.
2. I am terrible at keeping house plants live lol.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I see a lot of new keepers (and more experienced ones) talk about maintaining a display enclosure so they can watch their snake cruise around. Something pretty to look at. I get it! I've kept my ball pythons in tubs and display enclosures and for me, the actual snake viewing time is the same: non at all.

So, I just wanted to share with you a funny comparison photo. Display enclosure expectation:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2b52c6f7d1.jpg

Vs. Reality:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03f51e1693.jpg

I've fixed up the plants every day for the last two days and every morning I awake to this mess. Lol! I give up! If this is how she likes it, this is how I'll leave it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Lol that's why I switched the plants in my one cage.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3b46980b99.jpg

The ones I had before woukd get knocked down CONSTANTLY! New ones will definitely not come down at all,I made sure of it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SKO

Lol that's why I switched the plants in my one cage.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3b46980b99.jpg

The ones I had before woukd get knocked down CONSTANTLY! New ones will definitely not come down at all,I made sure of it.

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Those look awesome! How did you set that up?


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Beautiful accessories and tanks!

My corn finally became large and heavy enough to squash the delicate carpet of fittonia. It was very pretty, but I doubt it will last another month. Might just pull it while it is still alive. I love planted tanks, but they can be a challenge (just like planted fish tanks). The sanseveria, hedera helix, and potos growing in that enclosure are still going strong.

The way I look at it, a planted that is beautiful is still a lovely addition to the home even if the snake always hides. That said, I've only done them for the two snakes that had bad dry sheds otherwise. Of the other two, the rosy boa needs her environment dry, so the display tank is an arrangement of drift wood for her to climb, set in a Sani-chip substrate. Ditto (so far, for the baby Sonoran gopher). They are still attractive environments in glass boxes, but I don't have to run lights on them. Way too many plug-ins as it is!

I screwed nails into them lol. A big part of switching to these was the fact that she can't climb on top of them the way she was with the other ones.

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