Critique my BP set up?

Hello everyone, first post here! I plan on getting my first ball python soon. I've owned a lot of lizards, frogs, and a few corn snakes, but never a BP. I've been doing a lot of reading and searching on here, and I *think* I have a pretty good idea on where to start. But I'm always open to opinions and suggestions. Here's my current plan ( nothing is bought or set in stone yet)

Boamaster 48"x24"x12" enclosure ( or should I go with the 36"x24"x12"?)

80W RBI heatpanel

Herpstat 1 Basic ( or should I spend the extra $20 and get the herpstat 1?)

I plan on using Cyprus mulch for substrate

And then there's the misc. hides, water bowl, temp gun, ect.

Ambient room temps are about in the low to mid 80's in the summer, mid 70's in the winter, I'm in North florida, so we do have some cold weather for a few months.


Anything else I should be looking at, or is there anything I should change? Any and all advice is welcomed!

Sounds like your on the best track for success.... You would be fine getting the 36x24x12. If you get a hatchling clutter the cage up a lot to provide security.....unless boamaster has dividers.

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4x2x1 is way too big IMO for a ball python. That is the size that I keep my fully grown female boas in. Also, you won't need an 80 watt heat panel, thats major overkill. 40 watt is plenty. Save yourself the money.

I would say it probably depends on gender and whether or not you intend to buy an adult or a baby. If you plan to purchase a baby I would start with something much smaller.

I don't think you'll have any issues housing an adult female in a 4 x 2 cage (many people here use the AP t8 of similar dimensions without issue)

The Herpstat is a quality product.

With the conditions where you are, It may be smart to forgo the idea of the RHP all together and use belly heat. Your preference.

If you do go the route of the RHP you could email Bob @ Pro Products and he will set you up with the proper equipment based on your needs and you will avoid any confusion about whether or not you're picking the right one.

I second talking to Bob at Pro Products. He is very thorough and helpful. I have a very similar setup with a Proline cage, herpstat 1, and a RHP from Pro Products. I live in Arkansas so we're also pretty warm. It's been working great. Good on you for researching before you got your bally. I had to sit and talk with a kid at Petsmart the other day who was about to line his cage with chicken wire /shudder

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Originally Posted by tbowman

I would say it probably depends on gender and whether or not you intend to buy an adult or a baby. If you plan to purchase a baby I would start with something much smaller.

I don't think you'll have any issues housing an adult female in a 4 x 2 cage (many people here use the AP t8 of similar dimensions without issue)

The Herpstat is a quality product.

With the conditions where you are, It may be smart to forgo the idea of the RHP all together and use belly heat. Your preference.

If you do go the route of the RHP you could email Bob @ Pro Products and he will set you up with the proper equipment based on your needs and you will avoid any confusion about whether or not you're picking the right one.

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4x2 for ANY ball python, regardless of gender is massive overkill, especially for a baby bp. Unless you are really into viv construction and maintenance, it doesn't really make sense to have an enclosure that size for a bp. I have seen some nice ones on here of those dimensions, but for your first snake I would start out smaller. I know that many make the argument that with appropriate hides and cage accessories that any size enclosure works for a baby. But IMO it is much more manageable and efficient to have a baby bp in an appropriately sized smaller enclosure. Not only does it provide added security, but it makes it much easier to monitor the health and wellness of the juvenile. Much easier to spot mites, defecation, urination etc.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

4x2 for ANY ball python, regardless of gender is massive overkill

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Really? You think this snake would not fare well in a 4x2 enclosure? (shown in a v70 tub)

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f1&oe=564B75D5

photo belongs to Steve Tillis of ReptillisHerps

Sure it could. But it doesn't need it. At all

A 4x2 enclosure is almost twice the floor space of a V70 tub.

Lots of great info so far! I'll switch out the enclosure for a 36x24x12", and Ill get a smaller heat panel, "tbowman", you brought up a topic that I was going to ask about, do you think I would just need the UTH and ditch the RHP? It would save me quite a bit of money (which is always nice!). I guess I can always start with the UTH and if need be, buy a panel down the road... I think in the summer I should be fine with just the UTH, but I'm not sure about the winter. Thanks again everyone!

Pick one or the other. RHPs in my opinion are a better option

It seems to me that you have a tendency to disagree with everything I say. But I will just say this.

Our snakes don't need to be fed like clockwork on a weekly basis, either. I bet we could get away without providing water in the form of a dish as well. That doesn't mean we're all going to do it.

I'm guessing this person wants to be able to view his animal to some degree. And is not approaching this with the mentality of "how small of a space can I cram this thing into without running into problems"

I'm not saying you need to house a Ball Python in a 4x2 enclosure, or even that you should. All of my animals are in CB70s. But to make the blanket statement that it is overkill in any and every circumstance is extremely ignorant

OP, if you are buying a hatchling animal or an adult male, I would consider putting it in a smaller enclosure to start out.. It won't be too hard to figure out the appropriate size enclosure for a baby or juvenile.

If you are purchasing an adult female, and you want to house it in a 4x2 enclosure, that is perfectly acceptable and you shouldn't run into problems.

BP are not as fragile as some make them out to be.

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Originally Posted by Jake95

Lots of great info so far! I'll switch out the enclosure for a 36x24x12", and Ill get a smaller heat panel, "tbowman", you brought up a topic that I was going to ask about, do you think I would just need the UTH and ditch the RHP? It would save me quite a bit of money (which is always nice!). I guess I can always start with the UTH and if need be, buy a panel down the road... I think in the summer I should be fine with just the UTH, but I'm not sure about the winter. Thanks again everyone!

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In my experience RHP will kill your humidity. Now that my room is kept at 80, I will eventually be getting rid of the RHP in the PVC enclosure that I have and switch it over to belly heat.

I would consider the RHP only if your room temp drops below 75

Okay, ill start with UTH and see how it does. I plan on getting everything and setting it up at least a week in advance before getting the snake to make sure everything is dialed in. So if I went with the 36x24x12" enclosure, which size heat tape should I get?