Tall Cage or wide cage for a Ball???

I am going to buy a Ball here in about two weeks and was wondering if I should get a 20 gallon tank that is taller than it is wide(36"tallx24"wide) or a 20 gallon tank that is wider than it is tall(24"tallx36"wide)? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Floorspace is the key for BP's. The more the better ^_^

Do yourself a favour and buy a 116 quart Sterilite tub instead. A glass tank is much more difficult to maintain the right temperatures and humidities for. On top of that, ball pythons can rub their noses against a screen top, resulting in injuries.

If the aquarium is a must, go with the wider one. As hhw said, though, it's much easier to maintain temps and humidity correctly in a Sterilite or similar container.

I'm new to all this and really appreciate all the help. My only concern with the tub was the ability to see into it from the side and also keeping the lid on besides its not exactly the best looking thing out there. So glass aquariums are not a good idea even for small pythons?

You can see pretty well inside the sterilites from outside, but you just can't take very good pictures from outside ^_-

In order to keep it closed, I use 3 bungee cords, some people put holes in the lid and the lip and use velcro strips. Bungee cords are cheaper and require less work IMHO. 40" bungee's you can get at Wal-Mart for like 2$ each and they work perfectly with the 90qt, so if those don't work with 116qt, then they have 52" as well I think. Though at my Wal-Mart they don't have 116qt sterilites, I wish they did though T_T

A glass aquarium can keep temps and humidity just as well as a rubbermaid, however they require some modifications in order to do this (covered top, air exchange, etc) and are more diffucult to clean.

In short;

Glass - good looks, harder to clean, maintain
Rubbermaid - not as pretty, functional, easy to maintain

So just decide what means more to you, and thats the one to go with. Niether is going to house a more or less healthy bp if set up correctly.

i use a 29gal aquarium for rex, and i have no problem with my temps/humidity. you just have to cover the top.

Glass tanks work fine. had my bp in one until I got the Animal plastics
He did great, all 3 sheds were prefect. Like posted you have to do a few minor modifications but no big deal.
Easy to clean and at least you can see your animal which to me is one of the reasons I have it, is to be able to observe it.
If you buy a rubbermaid you have to do modifications so it is really 6 to 1 or half a dozen the other.
Which ever YOU like and want.
To answer your question I would go for wider than higher.

i was a petco the other day and i was thinking about getting a 40 gallon tank that is wider than tall, is that to big for a foot and a half ball ?

Most likely yes. But the thing to do is fill it with TONS of hides and greenery and branches and anything that will fill the space so the bp doesn't feel lost in the huge area, as they get stressed easily in large open spaces. Then as the bp grows, you can take some of the extras out(if needed) so he has some room again.

Here is the 90qt how to that i wrote a while back it shows exactly the kind of tub a ball python would be comfortable in. http://www.ball-pythons.net/PNphpBB2...ic-t-2825.html

Also check out www.sterilite.com the underbed storage boxes are perfect also.