Suitable Enclosure for a BP

Hey guys! Just a quick question: I was thinking about getting this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/hab...m-5147552.html terrarium for my future BP (haven’t purchased) mostly just because it is front opening and not crazy expensive. I was wondering if this would be a suitable size for a fully grown BP. If not, any suggestions for front opening terrariums around this price range (like around $250 if possible) would be greatly appreciated!!

I do want a terrarium, as this will be my first and only snake (at least for a while haha), and I want him to have a large enclosure with a lot of plants and hiding areas! Thank you :)

Dimensions are listed in the Description section of the link, but they are 36 by 18 by 18 for anyone who missed it!

Yes it will work fine for an adult however unless you are getting an adult or at least an animal that is 600 grams or more I would hold on before buying it.

If you purchase an hatchling it can take you a year to a year and a half before it reaches that size, in other words concentrate on the now because a lot can happen in a year of ownership.

I personally keep my 2600ish gram 4.5 foot female in a 48x24x15 AP T10 cage with a shelf and she uses every inch of that when she is out on her explorations. I got her as a 12 inch 90 gram worm and started her out in a 40 gallon breeder tank for the first hear i had her. Then i moved to the AP cage. Just be sure to give plenty of hides on the cool, warm and middle so the snake feels secure and can thermoregulate without sacrificing the feeling of safety.

Yes, it's suitable for adult BPs. Like Sauzo said, though some females can get pretty big and may eventually outgrow it.

I agree with Deborah 100% as well. Some juveniles do ok in a bigger starter enclosure, but some will lack the sense of security BPs crave and will refuse food until moved to a smaller, more secure enclosure.

My two cents: start smaller. As the snake grows, you'll have time to decide on a "forever" enclosure.

I’m a little different. I buy a big forever home, then give a lot of hides and darkness for the hatchling. As it grows, I remove the hides with larger ones.

My current hatchling has never refused a meal in his entire first year, growing like a weed and very stout. He lives in a large floor, low ceiling 56 quart underbed tub his whole life. All my juveniles are also happy as clams in large enclosures, but ONLY because I provide small hides and darkness for them to feel secure.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I’m a little different. I buy a big forever home, then give a lot of hides and darkness for the hatchling. As it grows, I remove the hides with larger ones.

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My experience exactly. Why buy a terrarium that you'll only need for a year or so? Besides, an empty enclosure is a dangerous thing to have. They demand to be filled!

I have a 170g male BP in a well cluttered Animal Plastics T8. My little guy loves those cardboard paper towel tubes. I toss a few in along with all his other hides and he's fine. He won't leave the tube for anything, anything but a mouse that is!

To the OP, the terrarium you link to is fine for size, probably, but you'll have a hard time with humidity and glass is lousy in general.

Everyone thinks that the glass aquarium style looks nice, but when all is said and done, and you have it working correctly, it looks like hell. You end up with three sides blacked out, a wet towel on top, some fire hazard of a heating element sticking awkwardly out the top, wires everywhere. I could go on.

What really looks best is a proper PVC enclosure designed for reptiles. A larger one than the one linked to costs the same (albeit plus shipping), and looks nice, slick, and is self contained when all set up.

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

My experience exactly. Why buy a terrarium that you'll only need for a year or so? Besides, an empty enclosure is a dangerous thing to have. They demand to be filled!

I have a 170g male BP in a well cluttered Animal Plastics T8. My little guy loves those cardboard paper towel tubes. I toss a few in along with all his other hides and he's fine. He won't leave the tube for anything, anything but a mouse that is!

To the OP, the terrarium you link to is fine for size, probably, but you'll have a hard time with humidity and glass is lousy in general.

Everyone thinks that the glass aquarium style looks nice, but when all is said and done, and you have it working correctly, it looks like hell. You end up with three sides blacked out, a wet towel on top, some fire hazard of a heating element sticking awkwardly out the top, wires everywhere. I could go on.

What really looks best is a proper PVC enclosure designed for reptiles. A larger one than the one linked to costs the same (albeit plus shipping), and looks nice, slick, and is self contained when all set up.

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Or maybe it might not look so bad. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d38b1e524b.jpg


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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Or maybe it might not look so bad. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d38b1e524b.jpg


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Well played!!!!

When we purchased our first BP last summer, we purchased an Exo-Terra viv (24"x18"x12"). Humidity on Long Island during the winter was a challenge to say the least.

Recently we purchased an RBI viv (3'x2'x12") when our boy hit 800 grams and I cannot believe the difference. Switching from glass/UTH/CHE to PVC/UTH/RHP has vastly improved our husbandry. Temps are more uniformly distributed by the RHP and the PVC enclosure holds the humidity so much better than glass.

The difference in total cost between the Exo-Terra set up and the RBI set up was around $150 and well worth it. Something to think about...

I agree with what others have said about large enclosure and security needs for hatchlings.

We have a new girl now who currently occupies our Exo-Terra viv however we are ordering another RBI viv for her. We are thinking about keeping her in a smaller tub, placed inside the RBI viv until she is big enough to comfortably move into the viv. But with summer coming, humidity will not be an issue, so we may abandon that plan and leave her in the Exo-Terra until next winter.

Could you provide a link to the PVC enclosure? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Snakeydoodles

Could you provide a link to the PVC enclosure? Thanks!

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Here's RBI: http://www.reptilebasics.com/reptile-cages/

Here's AP: https://apcages.com/collections/terrestrial-cages

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Or maybe it might not look so bad. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d38b1e524b.jpg


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Yeah, that is wicked slick! I take it back, it seems you can set up an aquarium to look good.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Or maybe it might not look so bad. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d38b1e524b.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Yes, looks great, but you are losing a lot of heat and humidity with that setup, not to mention exposing the snake from all sides. He was saying that if you alleviate the humidity, heat and light problems by covering the back and sides, and covering the top with a wet towel... not so nice any more

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

Yes, looks great, but you are losing a lot of heat and humidity with that setup, not to mention exposing the snake from all sides. He was saying that if you alleviate the humidity, heat and light problems by covering the back and sides, and covering the top with a wet towel... not so nice any more

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Yes, is looks really great, BUT if you look close you’ll notice two pieces of 3/8 acrylic covering each tank. I lose very little heat and humidity, and depending on their location they are technically covered on a minimum of two to three sides if not more. And I recently posted pictures of all my animals, and I believe they are all extremely healthy. And for at least six months a year my humidifier is off. Maybe I misunderstood the point, but there are many ways to skin a cat. I trust myself enough to know I’m doing well by my animals. I even only provide one hide and find they slide it to were they are most comfortable, not to mention in my humble opinion, it’s all about ambient temps anyway. I don’t mean to sound defensive, But I remember when all we had was tanks and snakes ordered out of the back of magazines.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I’m a little different. I buy a big forever home, then give a lot of hides and darkness for the hatchling. As it grows, I remove the hides with larger ones.

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I did the same thing, I started with a 40 gal breeder and a 150ish g snake. He had 8 hides total, two water bowls, fake plants, logs and rocks, and three covered sides. He wasn't stressed, never missed a meal. I think if you study them and mimic their needs to the best of your ability, you can successfully keep a snake in a larger cage. BUT and this is a big but for a first timer - your husbandry MUST BE 100% spot on. or you will have a stressed snake.

Mine is now 1050g and in a T11. He has 4 hides and still has tons of stuff to clutter it up.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Yes, is looks really great, BUT if you look close you’ll notice two pieces of 3/8 acrylic covering each tank. I lose very little heat and humidity, and depending on their location they are technically covered on a minimum of two to three sides if not more. And I recently posted pictures of all my animals, and I believe they are all extremely healthy. And for at least six months a year my humidifier is off. Maybe I misunderstood the point, but there are many ways to skin a cat. I trust myself enough to know I’m doing well by my animals. I even only provide one hide and find they slide it to were they are most comfortable, not to mention in my humble opinion, it’s all about ambient temps anyway. I don’t mean to sound defensive, But I remember when all we had was tanks and snakes ordered out of the back of magazines.

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Thanks for the writeup, sounds like you really got it dialed in!!! Very good setup, I’m impressed, it seems you have the glass tank setup as best as possible.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I’m a little different. I buy a big forever home, then give a lot of hides and darkness for the hatchling. As it grows, I remove the hides with larger ones.

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I also agree with this too. If you have the experience and have been doing it for a while you know what can be done and not done. But I totally agree with Deborah also, because most people come here looking for advice and are newbies. And she is pretty much guaranteeing you success if you follow her advice.