Terrarium planning

Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to be building a terrarium. I have a decorate cast iron
stand that I plan to use. The stand is designed to hold an aquarium that is 12in x 48in. I've
decided that I would like to make it 12in x 48in x 36in to allow my bp to do some climbing. I
would like to use some various tropical plants and a small aquatic area on the "cool" side of
the terrarium.

As I understand things, Python Regius will choose security over thermo-regulation, therefore,
it is not advised to use different styles of hides on the hot and cool side of the enclosure.
Unfortunately, it will be very difficult to construct a semi-aquatic cool hide that is as
accessible as the dry hide. I was considering a type of "bridge" that would allow him to travel
to the other hide but I am worried that he will ignore the cool side in favor of the other. Are
my concerns valid, or am I over thinking this? I would really hate to spend a large amount of
time and money constructing this terrarium if it will be an inadequete enclosure.

Another concern of mine is about mold and bacteria growing on the wooden parts of the enclosure.
My current plan will only have the bottom 12in of the enclosure encased in glass and waterproofed.
The top 24in will be framed in decorate wood and screened in fiberglass screening. Would it be
too difficult to maintain temperature and humidify in such an enclosure, and will the humidity
damage the wood materials?

Lastly, are there any particular plants that I need to steer clear of to protect my BP's health?
I know that several plants are toxic to animals but I haven't heard of any that bother pythons.
As much as I would love to have a tropical semi-aquatic terrarium, the primary purpose is still
to be a home for my BP, so I have to put that first. I'm anxiously awaiting answers. =)

What do you mean by a semi-aquatic hide? :confused: Ball pythons don't tend to go for water much apart from drinking and the occasional soak to assist in shedding, for which a water bowl would suffice. Also, they tend to defecate in water when they soak, so you would have a fun time cleaning out the water of a semi-aquatic enclosure every time it pooped...

and I've used wooden parts (logs, sticks, etc) in ball enclosures and they don't seem to mold, because they only require about 50 % humidity, which isn't terribly high, and they're only in shed for a week or two, which means only a week or two of elevated humidity every so often.

As far as plants go, it's much easier to just go with fake, because then you don't have to worry about the soil potentially having come into contact with pesticides, you don't have to worry about plant toxicity, and you don't have to worry about parasites.

What I really meant was I would like to put a hide on the semi-aquatic side. I would really like to have a couple of goldfish on one side of the tank if possible. I wouldn't make the hide actually submerged in water, I was just concerned he wouldn't like the dampness on that side.

your hearts in the right place but for a bp this is a bad idea, doing anything aquatic would spike your humidity and the enclsoure you wanna make is two small for all u wanna put in it, if u wanted to so somethin like this pick a diffrent species like a yellow anaconda or something.

oh and its a bad idea to give ur bp anything higher then a few inches to climb on cause there clumbsy and not the best climbers and can get hurt from a fall

its a bad idea, ur husbandry is gonna be all jacked up, its prolly gonna stress out ur snake, and its gonna be a pain to clean everything. trust me, simple is better. thats why so many people use tubs and none of us have any issues with our animals.

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

your hearts in the right place but for a bp this is a bad idea, doing anything aquatic would spike your humidity and the enclsoure you wanna make is two small for all u wanna put in it, if u wanted to so somethin like this pick a diffrent species like a yellow anaconda or something.

oh and its a bad idea to give ur bp anything higher then a few inches to climb on cause there clumbsy and not the best climbers and can get hurt from a fall

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x2.

And speaking from experience, my bp just destroyed her "natural" terrarium. I ended up taking all the plants out and now she has her hides and a twisted branch about 10 inches high for climbing, her rock water bowl and that's it.

These are heavy-bodied snakes and their weight will crush plants if they try to climb on them (and they will). Change the screening to all glass to hold the humidity and a set up like this will be beautiful and much much better suited to an amazon tree boa or green tree python - not a ball. They simply do not live in areas like this in their native habitat. Think arid grass lands and termite mounds for bps.....

If you already have a bp, you can still do something naturalistic, but get rid of the aquatic part - that'll mess you up for sure. As I said, think grasslands and not tropical. Pick a forest-type printed background or cork bark tiles for background. Use grass bushes as your plants - this isn't as likely to be crushed or to entice climbing. Use sturdy broad twisted branches about 10" for climbing. Cypress mulch for substrate - it looks natural and holds humidity well. 2 hides - either "rock" or clay pots and a rock water bowl in the middle. There you go! Very attractive and relatively easy to clean.......

I really like naturalistic enclosures myself but what you have thought of isn't quite right for a ball. The height is really very high I'd say that 24 inch at the highest, personally I like 18 it is a fair height but not really very difficult to control environmental controls with. There are lots of plants that will survive around balls but you really need to pick carefully they will get broken down quickly. I am assuming you are planning a bioactive substrate system like what is often used in Europe? The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe De Vosjoli is a good starting point. I'd recommend reading this book before finalizing a plan for a viv. Some of the UK forums often have stickies on the type of build you are proposing that also might be a good start.

Semi-aquatic and ball python don't really go together. What you are describing is great for a green tree python. Yellow anaconda gets too big.

Are you set on ball python? If so, then you can still achieve naturalistic like this:

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...photo-36-1.jpg

Not as natural as what you're describing but still gives a nice look.

I think it's fine, your aquatic area won't jack up your humidity unless you put a UTH under it. Your bp won't destroy your plants as long as you choose something sturdy.

Go wild with it...the only thing I would could say negative about it, would be it's going to be a pain to clean.

i never ment to give the impression im for simpler is better, lol i absolutly LOVE natualistic enclosures, and think they are great for a species that thrives.. i just dont feel a bp would do well with anything better then a bare minimum spot on enclosure. i feel that when a strong feeder is a abnormal snake then its best to go with the snakes best interests, lol i cant wait to have the space for the enclsoures i wanna build, 5 or 6 species gonna be decked out to the max..


i agree tho if you REALLY wanted to do something like this, id reccomend this

1)ditch the iron stand it wont work and will be a problem
2)build a 5x2x3 foot enclosure for it when its an adult
3) look for a tan astro turf to simulate the grassland grass
4) build two termite mounts one in each corner, make sure to build them in 2 pieces so part removes and have the inside completly smooth for easy cleaning (i can help exand more on this if desired)
5)put a water bowl, background and some kind of tree stump (can also help elaborate on this) right in the middle to not only aid sheding but for an astetic look(spelling?)

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

4) build two termite mounts one in each corner, make sure to build them in 2 pieces so part removes and have the inside completly smooth for easy cleaning (i can help exand more on this if desired)
5)put a water bowl, background and some kind of tree stump (can also help elaborate on this) right in the middle to not only aid sheding but for an astetic look(spelling?)

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Would you please elaborate on these two items? Even if he isn't interested, I am! LoL... :D I love the idea of creating natural-looking termite mounds and the tree stump. I have a 75 gal terrarium I am planning on doing as a "natural" habitat (with sturdier stuff, lol) for Ella and I'd love to know more about these ideas! Thanks!!!

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Would you please elaborate on these two items? Even if he isn't interested, I am! LoL... :D I love the idea of creating natural-looking termite mounds and the tree stump. I have a 75 gal terrarium I am planning on doing as a "natural" habitat (with sturdier stuff, lol) for Ella and I'd love to know more about these ideas! Thanks!!!

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well my ideas are ment for bigger scale like i mentioned and would have to be scaled down considerably to make em work in a 75 gallon mostly due to floor space. if your gonna do it tho id reccomend a mel~ enclosure simply because u can build one that will last her life time for under 50 bucks nd little or no carpentry skill if u have the store cut it. or plywood and seal it with a few coats of colored drylok abd hand pain a background. dont hold nothing back your imagination is the limit

but for the termite mount you take something like styrofoam, and shape what your looking for and then take a substance like drylock or a thick toxic free paint and paint it brown and take some think and rough up the paint before it drys to simulate the look of the termite mound.. its the same process people use to make waterfalls and rock walls just with a termite mound. when doing the mound tho u wanna make sure u make the inside clean and easy to clean or youll regrett it lol..

and then for the stump, this would be slightly more difficult and probably easier to just find or buy a big piece of stump and cut it to what u want and then seal it good!, or u can make it out of clay apply the texture and bake it in a kiln, youd need acess to a kiln tho which most dont have

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

I think it's fine, your aquatic area won't jack up your humidity unless you put a UTH under it. Your bp won't destroy your plants as long as you choose something sturdy.

Go wild with it...the only thing I would could say negative about it, would be it's going to be a pain to clean.

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yes it will jack up the humidity. when we first started using our current rack, we used small dishes, and the humidity wasn't high enough. the snakes weren't shedding properly. replaced all the dishes with bigger ones, and the humidity went way up and they all shed perfect now. of course all our dishes are on the cool side of the tubs.

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

well my ideas are ment for bigger scale like i mentioned and would have to be scaled down considerably to make em work in a 75 gallon mostly due to floor space. if your gonna do it tho id reccomend a mel~ enclosure simply because u can build one that will last her life time for under 50 bucks nd little or no carpentry skill if u have the store cut it. or plywood and seal it with a few coats of colored drylok abd hand pain a background. dont hold nothing back your imagination is the limit

but for the termite mount you take something like styrofoam, and shape what your looking for and then take a substance like drylock or a thick toxic free paint and paint it brown and take some think and rough up the paint before it drys to simulate the look of the termite mound.. its the same process people use to make waterfalls and rock walls just with a termite mound. when doing the mound tho u wanna make sure u make the inside clean and easy to clean or youll regrett it lol..

and then for the stump, this would be slightly more difficult and probably easier to just find or buy a big piece of stump and cut it to what u want and then seal it good!, or u can make it out of clay apply the texture and bake it in a kiln, youd need acess to a kiln tho which most dont have

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Thank you! That was kind of in line with what I was thinking of. My plan is to take the 75 gal and make the termite mounds "disappear" through the top so they look bigger than they are. They wouldn't be open inside all the way up, but would be a nice snug hide for Ella and provide something for her to climb on (she's a climber). As you said, imagination's the limit! Thanks again for the tips!

Thank you for all the feedback guys! Some very interesting ideas and excellent advice. The picture of the natural enclosure posted seems like a great alternative to my idea for my BP. I think I just might go pick up another species to work with the semi-aquatic idea. I would really like to mix a few different animals together but I will have to be very careful about what I choose.
As far as the styrofoam termite mounds are concerned...another great idea! I have seen a few natural fountains built from foam and it would be pretty cool to design a terrarium in similar fashion. I think I will look into that as well.

im gonna suggest if u really wanna do something like this, go with lizards or something.

tree frogs are a comunial species and can live well together and with the right enclosure u can have a few and combine all of the forementioned ideas rather easily actually. a small water fall, plenty of plants and bright colored frogs sound awesome to me! snakes for the most part need there own enclosure though, very few keepers can keeep snakes together with posative results, and theyv been doing it for YEARS and know there animals in and out. lizards are your best bet if u wanna house more then one, but make sure the research is done cause even with lizards it can go horribly wrong

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

im gonna suggest if u really wanna do something like this, go with lizards or something.

tree frogs are a comunial species and can live well together and with the right enclosure u can have a few and combine all of the forementioned ideas rather easily actually. a small water fall, plenty of plants and bright colored frogs sound awesome to me! snakes for the most part need there own enclosure though, very few keepers can keeep snakes together with posative results, and theyv been doing it for YEARS and know there animals in and out. lizards are your best bet if u wanna house more then one, but make sure the research is done cause even with lizards it can go horribly wrong

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This is an excellent point. If you truly want a couple different species to live harmoniously together, frogs are probably your best bet. I have heard (no hands on experience though so someone correct me if I'm wrong) that some chameleons and/or leopard geckos do well together (2 females - no males) and green anoles can do well in a small community. But if I were after multiple species, I'd do tree frogs - fewest worries. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do! Pictures would be great too, once you get things set up... ;)

yeah im looking to get a small viv of tree frogs together, i love the color differnces in posion dart frogs, whom if cbb arnt posionus.

a few species i can think of who live well together are

bearded dragons
diffrent gekos
frogs
tegus
diffrent monitor species (not reccomended due to size/cost)
collard lizards
chucks

these are just a few off the top of my head i can think of and for the most part your right its all females, males are much more territorial and will fight. u just gotta do your research and ask yourself what your looking for in said colony or viv

I'd love to build a tropical vivarium with dart frogs - so colorful! But their care seems a bit more meticulous than I have the time or desire for right now. I'm thinking about a bearded dragon myself. I know they do require a fair amount of time, etc, but their needs seem more easily met. And a desert viv can be quite beautiful! Either that or a couple more ball pythons, lol...... :D

For Chris, I still say that aquatic idea would be best paired with tree frogs, dart frogs, a couple geckos, or a green tree python or amazon tree boa. Those would be my recommendations for what he's got in mind. Or change up how he's going to set up the terarrium... :P