Ball Python Housing Question?

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post and I'm about to buy my first snake! I just wanted to be sure of something before I went to get her. I know that baby BP's should be kept in 10 gallon tank, but would it be hurtful to put her in a 40 gallon tank right from childhood, as long as I have a hot and cold side, multiple hides and a few space fillers (logs and such). I tried looking on yahoo answers and found two questions dealing with it pretty much both give opposite answers.

If your curious here they are...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2212534AAs0qSs

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2233039AA14vtd

Any help you could give would be great.
Thanks,

Mike

Start here... http://ball-pythons.net/modules/Sect...warticle&id=59 In my opinion a 40 is way to big for a hatchling ball , I would stay at a 10 to start with.

you could cut off much of the tank with a divider.home made would be fine.

Third time I've posted this tonight...

To keep it simple, cheap, and easy to take care of, I'd just use (for a hatchling) a shoebox sized tub, a used buttercup with an entrance cut as a hide, and paper or paper towels for substrate. Then a little Flexwatt for heating because it's SO much cheaper than a UTH. This inexpensive digital thermostat. And the Accurite unit w/probe. Also some small water bowl that is hopefully difficult to tip. I'm using an ashtray right now.

This works great even if you plan to move them up to a glass tank one day. I don't think they ever really need more than a 20gal. And they seem to do much better when they're obnoxiously crowded into a space, rather than when they have room to move around. (better=eating)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stevepoppers

Third time I've posted this tonight...

To keep it simple, cheap, and easy to take care of, I'd just use (for a hatchling) a shoebox sized tub, a used buttercup with an entrance cut as a hide, and paper or paper towels for substrate. Then a little Flexwatt for heating because it's SO much cheaper than a UTH. This inexpensive digital thermostat. And the Accurite unit w/probe. Also some small water bowl that is hopefully difficult to tip. I'm using an ashtray right now.

This works great even if you plan to move them up to a glass tank one day. I don't think they ever really need more than a 20gal. And they seem to do much better when they're obnoxiously crowded into a space, rather than when they have room to move around. (better=eating)

---

He didn't ask how to care for the snake. He wants to know what size of a tank he can keep a Baby BP in.

Start him out in a 10 Gal Tank. A 40 Gallon is too big I made this simple mistake when I was going to pick up my Ball Python I told the breeder I was going to put him in a 40 gallon with lots of furniture and he said to put him in a 10 Gallon and I haven't had one problem with him. So to answer your question strait and simple. Put the Baby BP in a 10 Gallon Tank. =)

The important part to take from my post was the size of the enclosure, which was it's main focus. Will a little extra information about what's in it hurt him?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stevepoppers

The important part to take from my post was the size of the enclosure, which was it's main focus. Will a little extra information about what's in it hurt him?

---

You didn't once mention a 10 Gallon Tank in your post. He specifically asked a question about Tanks not how to setup a snakes cage and what kind of enclosure to use. The extra information is appreciated but if your going to post in a thread try and keep in on topic. Also a 20 gal tank is to small for an Adult Ball Python.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hunter94

You didn't once mention a 10 Gallon Tank in your post. He specifically asked a question about Tanks not how to setup a snakes cage and what kind of enclosure to use. The extra information is appreciated but if your going to post in a thread try and keep in on topic. Also a 20 gal tank is to small for an Adult Ball Python.

---

A 20 gallon tank is plenty big for an adult male ball python. Anything bigger will just stress out a snake. A female can go into a 30 gallon long.

OP: Would it be hurtful to put it in a 40 gal. right from childhood?
ME: Yes. I recommend something much smaller, such as a shoebox-sized plastic tub, not just because of size, but because it will also make your life easier.

Happy with that?

Thank you both for showing a NEW snake owner how condescending we can be here on BP.net.

Great Ambassadors,
Jim Smith

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by python1024

A 20 gallon tank is plenty big for an adult male ball python. Anything bigger will just stress out a snake. A female can go into a 30 gallon long.

---

The Care Sheet on BP.net recommends using a 36x18x12 for an Adult Male or Female and that is a 30 gallon, so no 20 gallon isn't big enough for an Adult unless your Adult snake is very small. Iv seen people put there BP's in a 55 gallon tank and have no problems. If you just put a Water Dish and 2 hides in the cage, well then yes I could see the snake being stressed. But if you add additional stuff like Fake Plants, more then 2 hides...ect the snake wouldn't be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stevepoppers

OP: Would it be hurtful to put it in a 40 gal. right from childhood?
ME: Yes. I recommend something much smaller, such as a shoebox-sized plastic tub, not just because of size, but because it will also make your life easier.

Happy with that?

---

I'm not trying to be rude or anything if thats what it seems like but if some one asks a specific question about tanks you should answer it in the same format he asked it. Instead of not mentioning a 10 gallon tank at all in the post you say some thing about a shoebox-sized tub. Thats fine though other recommendations are ok but at least answer the question about the tanks. Sorry if I came off rude in my posts I didn't mean to, its really hard to make judgments on how a person means some thing because you can't really hear the tone of voice. ;)

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm defiantly going to start her in a smaller tank.

And no worries hunter, I didn't take it as rude, thanks for the advice :D

Cheers,
Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by classy

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm defiantly going to start her in a smaller tank.

And no worries hunter, I didn't take it as rude, thanks for the advice :D

Cheers,
Mike

---

No problem. :)

I keep my 3 ft male in a 20 gallon long tank (30x12x12). He seems to do great in there. Has a hide on both ends and a large water bowl in the center. Eats every week and sheds nearly perfect. If i were to get a baby to keep in an aquarium, id get a 20 or 30 gallon tank and make a divider to limit the space. This will save money in the long run when the snake gets bigger and you can just remove the divider for more room.

To save money, you can buy a 30L now and put a divider in it to keep the snake within 1/3 of the tank. You can use just a regular block of wood or some such. If you are using an Undertank Heater (UTH), get the heater sized for a 30 gallon and tape it to the tank using aluminum tape (do not peel off the sticker that it comes with) so that half of the UTH is under the side where the snake is and half of it is under the side that is empty.

The snake can grow pretty fast, so you can just move the divider and UTH over a little bit at a time as the snake grows until he is big enough for the entire tank.

Hope this helps.

P.S. The snake can get pretty strong as he grows bigger, so just make sure the divider won't topple over and potentially hurt the snake.