New tank

I got a new tank at Petsmart yesterday because it was on sale. It's a 40gal Kritter Keeper with the sliding lid. It's 36" x 18" x 16". Basically what I'm wondering is when I should try to switch my ball python into the bigger tank. The one I have now is a 20g tall. This new tank sames a lot bigger and I don't want to stress my snake out to much by making the switch. The snake is about two feet long now.

How big is the ball python? There really is no need to switch right away, but the 40 gallon kritter cages are what I use for my adult ball pythons. However, you could try to switch the snake over, and if it does not eat and continues to stress out past a week, you could always switch back.

I have a ball that is about a year old. I was given a 30gal for free so I couldn't pass that up. I've been told that a 30gal is a little large for a young snake, but I made sure to fill it up with plants and hides to make him feel comfortable. Heating is always harder in a larger tank, but I'd say as long as you make it comfortable and safe feeling for your snake, and there are no signs of stress then it should be fine. Mine is!

I thought a 20 long was enough for most adults.

a 20g long is fine for an adult male, but a female might be more comfortable in a 30g breeder.

The snake is about two feet right now.

I'm not sure of the sex yet and with the sale the 40g was like $10 more than the 20g long tank so I figured I would go ahead and get it so I wouldn't have to worry about it becoming cramped if the snake becomes to large.

Being cramped is the least of your worries. A ball python would rather be cramped then have extra room. They are shy animals that spend all of their time in tight termite mounds and rodent burrows. They don't normally go wandering around open spaces.

So, to be honest, the smaller the better. Especially while the snake is young.

Well I already have the tank so I just need to know the best way to transfer the snake into it. I figured I would wait for it to grow some but i also don't understand the problem of the tank being to big as long as it still has small hides to be under. Don't they wander around Africa? That is not small by any means so how could it stress the animal if it had more room to go in between hides?

The best way to transfer them into a larger tank is to get as many trees, bushes and hides as you can into there. In the wild they are mostly in the over grown grassy areas of Africa, so they do like to be hidden most of the time.

Transfer when ever you want... I started my snake as a baby in a 38g tank... Just have hides and I use a fake plant to clutter up the cage and give her something to hide under... never had any problems.

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Originally Posted by chris4554

Well I already have the tank so I just need to know the best way to transfer the snake into it. I figured I would wait for it to grow some but i also don't understand the problem of the tank being to big as long as it still has small hides to be under. Don't they wander around Africa? That is not small by any means so how could it stress the animal if it had more room to go in between hides?

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Housing snakes in a "too big" enclosure is not a problem, if it's done right. As you said, in the wild they are not restricted to a small space, though they generally stay in burrows and hiding areas for most of the time. The key is to set up the enclosure to mimic a snake's natural habitat. If the snake can travel from one side of the enclosure to the other without being seen, then there shouldn't be any problems. Provide three or four different hiding areas, and cover the entire cage with either fake foliage, crumpled newspaper, or both. I personally prefer crumpled newspaper. I fill cages to the top with it, so that you can't see much of anything in the cage at all. Especially for nervous snakes like BPs, this method works very well.

Housing a 2ft ball python in a 40gal should not be a problem, though it depends on the individual. Try it out. Make sure the temp gradient is right, make the cage into a very secure environment, and move your BP in. Worst case scenario, he doesn't eat, and you move him back to the 20gal.

i have tried 20,29,40,55,75 gallon tanks, never really seemed to matter much as long as they had plenty of hides.Funny thing is, they always try to, well manage to squeeze into the smallest hide together,lol.

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Originally Posted by phantom1bc

i have tried 20,29,40,55,75 gallon tanks, never really seemed to matter much as long as they had plenty of hides.Funny thing is, they always try to, well manage to squeeze into the smallest hide together,lol.

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:confused:

A lot of people think that is way to big of a tank. I started with one though when Furio was no bigger than a hatchling and I cluttered it up pretty good (advice I received on here when I was a noob to BP's) and have never looked back. Keep it cluttered and crazy in there and he will be fine. They are mobile and may explore all that space for a few days but they'll figure it out.