My current set-up for Monty!

Hi all! Iv been on here for a couple months and it’s been very helpful, now I just want to show off my enclosure for my ball and get some feedback!

He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium.

Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable.

This is my first snake ever and he’s doing so well for me. He’s very calm, eats once a week, I’m very happy with the progress I’m making to make him a very happy animal.

Any feedback to upgrade or make his home better will be very beneficial to me and more importantly, my snake. Thanks in advance!

Also, inquires on water purification and feeding inside/outside the enclosure is very appreciated.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2228272b1c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9f5c6ff2a0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6bf5885c71.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me :)
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

As above really ...

Looks good already..love the substrate as well :)

Hopefully as mentioned your heat source is regulated by a thermostat .

Any digital thermometers you get should have a wired probe not one of those stand alone ones or plastic stick on ones ..

Good point made about the rope-vine in the viv as they're better when wrapped around a couple of branches ( from local park ) then you have a nice little climbing structure for him in the evenings..




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Omg the chair is cracking me up! Lol. Please take out the sticky thermometer/hygrometer. Nothing sticky ever goes into a cage. Raise the hot side and cold side to 90/80. Looking good! Again...love the chair!

It may be a suction thermostat/hygrometer..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caali

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me :)
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

---

In what way are logs bad for them? Also I’ll keep the temperature thing in mind.. I can get more powerful bulbs to keep him warm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Omg the chair is cracking me up! Lol. Please take out the sticky thermometer/hygrometer. Nothing sticky ever goes into a cage. Raise the hot side and cold side to 90/80. Looking good! Again...love the chair!

---

I actually need to take that out now that I have hydrometer probes.. thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caali

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me :)
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

---

I don’t use a thermostat for the heat mat because it’s not in direct contact with the glass, it’s weird.. but it works!

Also, I did start with aspen, but it didn’t hold humidity well so it was efficient for him. Iv been thinking about switching to coconut shaving or whatever it’s called. The cypress mulch is good but I know coconut is better. Thoughts?

He’s one a once a week feeding schedule so he’s getting big! Iv been trying to find better hides/log things for him. Any suggestions beside a local pet store? Thanks in advance.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wait what? No thermostat? How is you uth not touching the glass? I'm confused.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by M.C.757

In what way are logs bad for them? Also I’ll keep the temperature thing in mind.. I can get more powerful bulbs to keep him warm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Ball pythons like tight, dark and secure places to hide. Not only are these logs not as smooth as they seem (they often have splinters) but they can't give the snake a feeling of security. It's best to get a hide with only once entrance/exit and not two openings. You also don't want your snake to get a splinter stuck in their skin.
I personally use cypress mulch as well and I'm really happy with it. If you're not, you can definitely use coco chips but I don't have any experience with them.
Also I would definitely use a thermostat. Heat mats (no matter where they lay) can have dangerous heat spikes that can hurt your snake even if the heat mat is not directly under the glass.

Where is your temperature probe for the heat mat? From what it looks like to me the hot side probe is on the side, do you have one under the substrate where the heat mat actually is? I'm a bit worried you're not measuring the glass over the heat mat, which if you don't have a thermostat (You can get starter ones like JumpStart until you can afford a better one) could be a lot hotter than you think. Correct me if I'm wrong!

On the topic of the half-log hide, I bought one for my first beep as well. I didn't have a problem, but one side was blocked up. Also I can't tell if you have paper on the sides of the tank? That will help your Beep feel more secure (which as he's eating, dosen't seem like a problem to me!)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caali

Not only are these logs not as smooth as they seem (they often have splinters)

You also don't want your snake to get a splinter stuck in their skin.

---

Theoretically speaking....doesn't the entire bed of substrate have splinters as well? Because it's....you know....wood? :rolleyes:

What size is the enclosure ?

Check out my post two threads back for help on your humidity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

Theoretically speaking....doesn't the entire bed of substrate have splinters as well? Because it's....you know....wood? :rolleyes:

---

Yes, yes that should be the case but to be honest I never thought about that. I'm kind of an idiot :D
But in the substrate the splinters can least move a bit when the snake moves. The logs hides are not that flexible​.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Wait what? No thermostat? How is you uth not touching the glass? I'm confused.

---

It’s not like an adhesive mat that sticks to the glass.. I have one of those and used it once and realized I needed a thermostat after it got stupid hot.

It’s like a sheet of plastic that just slides under the tank, so it’s not in direct contact. It also doesn’t get nearly as hot as an unregulated heat mat. It’s a good compromise, he likes it and doesn’t get burned


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Booper

Where is your temperature probe for the heat mat? From what it looks like to me the hot side probe is on the side, do you have one under the substrate where the heat mat actually is? I'm a bit worried you're not measuring the glass over the heat mat, which if you don't have a thermostat (You can get starter ones like JumpStart until you can afford a better one) could be a lot hotter than you think. Correct me if I'm wrong!

On the topic of the half-log hide, I bought one for my first beep as well. I didn't have a problem, but one side was blocked up. Also I can't tell if you have paper on the sides of the tank? That will help your Beep feel more secure (which as he's eating, dosen't seem like a problem to me!)

---

You can’t see it well but it’s up against the glass, so there’s only one way in or out. However I like that paper idea so it’s more secure.

Do you know a site or a certain store to find better hides? He’s growing pretty fast and I’ll need better hides overall. Any suggestions will help, thank you in advance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caali

Yes, yes that should be the case but to be honest I never thought about that. I'm kind of an idiot :D
But in the substrate the splinters can least move a bit when the snake moves. The logs hides are not that flexible​.

---

No worries lol. I have used log hides for 17 years without a problem, I would make plain black plastic hides my first choice like you said but I just don't like telling people to go out and purchase new equiptment when what they have will work without problems :gj:I have no doubts you have good intentions though. :)

If it has not been said yet - make sure that NOTHING is touching the heat lamps - huge fire risk. Looks like there is some material wedged on it. Depending on the type of bulb it can get over 400*F (paper combusts as 451*F)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by M.C.757

Do you know a site or a certain store to find better hides? He’s growing pretty fast and I’ll need better hides overall.

---

I like the look of the Exoterra ones! I find the medium ones work best for 150g-700g and then you can upgrade to a large size. They are a bit pricey though. I also use plain plastic black ones I got from an eBay shop.

The enclosure looks good mate. Maybe add some more ground cover.

For water purification I recommend Zoo Med Reptisafe as it adds electrolytes as well as remove chlorine.

When it comes to feeding, cage aggression is a myth so no need to feed in a separate enclosure. Feed within the enclosure over a paper plate to prevent substrate ingestion and mess. Consider using a snake hook for tap training.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by M.C.757

I actually need to take that out now that I have hydrometer probes.. thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Just had to say I love that red chair in your enclosure :P