Your thoughts on small spaces

I know its important to have two small hides for the snake. But when I was doing all my research before I got a bp, I read a LOT of stuff saying they prefer smaller enclosures and one too big will stress them out. Mine is about 4 months old and about 20 inches. I had him in a 10 gallon but couldn't find a decent lid that would keep him in. He was ALWAYS looking to get out of it any way he could, and he loves climbing and crawling through his water. All of my husbandry was correct. I went to an expo last weekend and got a sweet 20 gallon that has a lid that slides into place and two locks on it. My husbandry is still perfect in this one but he loves being out and about, exploring and testing every square inch of that lid. SO long story short, do you think they REALLY prefer small enclosures if they are like this? Or do I just have a crazy ball? If you think about it, they dont have a small habitat in the wild...I dont know what to think.

Exploring tends to be a sign of stress.

My thoughts on size of enclosure is this:

If they are behaving like a non-stressed snake, eating every week, and are healthy, and you are providing adequate heat and humidity and a clean living space, your enclosure is working regardless of size.

We have a 40 gal tank. Got the ball at 50 grams. She has never been stressed and only went off food during her first shed. The last one she did not go off, and now she is 167 grams.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

do you think they REALLY prefer small enclosures if they are like this?

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I don't think so............I know so based on experience give it time and you will see ;)

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If you think about it, they dont have a small habitat in the wild

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Contrary to what you probably think BP do not room around in the open, travelling miles after miles. BP spend 80 to 90% of their time inside termite mounts that offer them the security they need and come out at night to ambush their prey.

I think it really depends on the snake and what they are use to. Got a 1300g male pastel. He had always been in a 32q tub in a rack. I put him in a 40 breeder. Wouldnt eat for me for like 2 months. I put him in my rack in a 28q tub... 2 days later he was eating again. Now on the other hand.... I have a 300g russo male. In a 40 breeder. He explores all over eats like a pig and seems very happy. I think it really depends on the snake.

I have my BP who is about 3' long in a custom built 162G enclosure. He is always out exploring, swimming in the pool or playing in the fountain. He has never hissed, struck or bit. He has never turned down a meal and is very sociable when taken out each night to be handled. I know the prominent believe on here is to put them in a small plastic tub and they will be happy, but to me it seems like my BP is very happy having all that room to move around in and strech out if he so chooses. He also spends time in his hot and cool hide. The husbandry in it is on point with what is recommended. So like a few others have said, it may just depend on the individual snake. Good luck with whatever way you choose to go.

Mine eats every week with no problems, hissed and struck once but that was when I switched him over in the first day. I left him alone for 4 days and he is fine again.

I think GENERALLY ball pythons prefer small, tight spaces. But on occasion you do get a snake that does just fine in a larger enclosure.

I have some ball pythons who would probably care less about where they are. As long as I'm shoving a rat in their face once a week and they have a warm place to hide, they are good. Others are a bit more picky. I have a female who will refuse to eat unless she is in a 16qt tub. She's over 1000g now but will not eat if I take her out of that tub.

If someone were to ask me what size enclosure they should get for their ball python, I will always recommend a small enclosure, but if that person finds a way to make a larger enclosure work and is providing all the necessary care, then it works.

I don't think you can make generalities I have a male that doesn't like tub he refuses most meal in one and rarely refuses in an enclosure. I have rotated some to a rack and out of enclosures and back every once in a long while. Some like one over the other most don't seem to care. The keeper make the difference not the methods a diligent careful keeper will make a good home for the snakes in their care.

I have not been doing this long, but I would have to think it is not how big the enclosure, but what you have in it. Are there places for the snake to hide that will make him feel safe.

I think it has less to do with the size of the enclosure and more to do with how properly you provide hides. Yes they spend most of their time in a small hide in the wild. But the wild is huge. A small enclosure is like that small hiding spot in the wild, but they can't leave if they want to thermoregulate like they could with that space around them. You shouldn't toss them in a bald 50 gallon tank either, though. That's like filling up their wild termite mounds and leaving them to die or get eaten. Scary!

I prefer a slightly bigger tank than our current 'favorite' tubs provide while providing a much greater range of hides and cover so the snake feels secure at any area of the tank. I did this in a 55 gallon tank once and found that Maru was happy to explore the very hottest end of the tank all the way to the cool end. I liked being able to give his WHOLE body the temp he wanted. In the tub he's in now it seems he can't get the freedom to have his whole body at a certain temp. He can be all in the hot area, but that's still got a bit of temp variations. I found in the big tank he would find the exact perfect spot and depending on if he was digesting, hungry, shedding, sleeping, etc. he would be curled up in a different hide, and he used the entire length of the tank!

Two hides on either end DON'T Cut it in a big enclosure. The bigger the enclosure, the more hides and decor you have to hide. When it comes time for cleaning that means more work. That's fine for people like me with a small collection. It's worth it to me to provide that area, which I plan to do again someday(he's currently in a tub due to space issues). I plan to build a custom enclosure. Not as big as the 55, but not as small as the tub. Going to build some cool hides that are safe and secure and pathways and covered areas for him to sneakily explore and move without feeling exposed. If you want the bigger space, you just have to put in the work I believe. I think a large area with tight, secure hides is more natural to a snake's environment than simply being locked in the termite mount. They don't explore or leave them much, but they do, and it's good to give them the option I think.