Is my enclosure too small?

I found him/her sleeping like this and its always trting to escape scratching its head on the screen at times

temps are at 23,8 in the middle of tank digital therm says so humidity is at 52%, hide spot is under the heat lamp and over the heat pad

he/she only has one hide as two dont fit

and every time i put water she tips it over and tries to climb out

i poor the water from the top so it does splash and make vibrations

the aquarium is currently on a counter top 6 feet away from the store entry so she does hear the door open amd close plus a radio is always on in the background

i had a corn 7 yrs old that died because i think i didnt know or take proper care and for this one i do not want this hapenning i adopted him/her dnt know age or sex

also i should mention feeding day is in 1 or two days i feed it every 10/12 days

here is a picture of it sleepin or whatever ahaha



https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1c3c8d615.jpeg

What are the temps right above/below the heat sources? And how are you measuring?

Also... how big is the enclosure, and how big is the snake?

It's really best to have at least two hides so they can feel secure with sacrificing the ability to properly thermoregulate. I would imagine she is rather stressed out being in such an open environment with constant simulation and relatively few places to seek refuge. If I were you I would cover some of the sides of the aquarium so she doesn't feel so vulnerable.

If the second hide doesn’t fit I would say yes it’s too small. Two hides are a necessity for ball pythons not a vanity. Are your heat pad and lamp controlled by a thermostat? If not it’s also a MUST. might also be good to invest into a heavier water bowl.

No they are not i am looking into the herpstat 2 saving up for it rn i can only get a digital temp reader with humidity for the air temp which i put on the bottom in the middle r it as its been 2/3 weeks i have it when i got it it had nothing just a water bowl so im looking inti building my own box for it with only a front window and

At least get a temp gun right now to check the surface temps. Thermometer won’t give you surface temps it gives ambient. Your snake might very well be burning itself. Temp guns run prettt cheap and are a good tool to have

Abient temp on digital say 21 this morning his light went on should warm up this is in middle , will buy heat gun

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Originally Posted by Nick6969

Abient temp on digital say 21 this morning his light went on should warm up this is in middle , will buy heat gun

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What’s the heat mat situation? How much of the cage does it cover? What kind of mat is it?

The snake pressing up against the glass like that would make me worry that the enclosure is too warm and he’s seeking cooler temps. However, 21-24 is actually rather cool for a BP ambient so that seems to rule that out.... unless the heat mat is extremely hot and that’s causing the temp on the floor to be too warm for comfort.


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Heat mat i would say is small i had a 12inch by 6 for my other corn before this one is square and looks to be 6by 6 inchs i just fed him today

this morning he was in his hide as soon as i had the small rat he came right out

pet shop never have big enough so i am breeding my own rats and will get ride of one adult by feeding it to the snake and if they get too big well ill sell em or bring em to the petshop aha

where to start......he’s in the open in a store? You pour the water through the screen top? IMO nothing seems well researched and in the animals best interest. Sorry just being honest, best of luck.

I didnt want to put him in the store btw if yoh should know i adopted this bp and have been slowly getting what he need i am moving him into the store staff room where no one goes and i can heat the room since it very cold hear

the old owner that had abandoned it pass by an said his snake always moved and tipped everything

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

where to start......he’s in the open in a store? You pour the water through the screen top? IMO nothing seems well researched and in the animals best interest. Sorry just being honest, best of luck.

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And btw the tank had clear side i blacked out 3 sides with black garbage bag

and will be moving him in a better heated less walkin around room

I normally would be encouraging you to get a bigger enclosure... but honestly at the moment I think it’s more important that you figure out how to provide the necessary conditions in the enclosure you have. Then take your time about planning and buying supplies for a bigger, better one. If you’re going to be keeping the snake in a room that’s on the colder side, I highly recommend a PVC cage such as Animal Plastics, or a wooden vivarium (well sealed). The material is much better at insulating than a glass tank or even a plastic tub. Acrylic doors will insulate better than glass, if you have the choice. 4’x2’x2’ is a good size, assuming you fill up that space with lots of hides, foliage, platforms, branches, tubes, etc. It’s not good to have a big empty space.

If the water bowl keeps getting tipped, get one of the pet bowls with sides that slant away from the opening, or at least a wide bowl with vertical sides. If it’s designed to prevent a dog from tipping it, your snake won’t tip it either.

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Originally Posted by Nick6969

I didnt want to put him in the store btw if yoh should know i adopted this bp and have been slowly getting what he need i am moving him into the store staff room where no one goes and i can heat the room since it very cold hear

the old owner that had abandoned it pass by an said his snake always moved and tipped everything

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Well now I know .........

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Originally Posted by Nick6969

And btw the tank had clear side i blacked out 3 sides with black garbage bag

and will be moving him in a better heated less walkin around room

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Hey good to know, looks like this is off to a great start.

• Enclosure is good size i got a bigger heat pad and a heat pad thermostat with suction cup and set it right under the tank on the pad
• heat pad temp is set to 30 celsius/85 faranheit
• ambient middle temp is 25/26
• ambient temp on hot side 85/90
• snake is now in shed when i touched him i heard a wheezing kinda like a little whistle nois is it because he is in shed
• he was at 19 celius ambient for couple weeks (at night) and 25 celsius ambient in the day
• i posted more pics on my gallery will try to get links here

I put him in the office where nooo one goes and its heated better than the store

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../0/5/image.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1ef0be981.jpeg


https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3e27689b0.jpeg

Ok, I know I'm a novice... But he's just shedding now? And you've had him since Feb.?

Wheezing? That *could* be from a bad shed but it could also be from a respiratory infection. Given his housing conditions being less than ideal to start, that is actually a decent possibility and really should be addressed.

It's good that you're getting the temps and humidity regulated! Maybe bump that heat mat up to 90 to provide good belly heat for digestion. :)

• I got him/her a month and a half ago
• the day i got him/her it shed in the cars on the way home in one piece
• this morning he she shed but in a couple pieces as 5 days ago i noticed it was dry and upped it right before the shed good timing
• eye caps are off i found them
• no skin on tip of tail
• am going to offer meal today

And the whistle stopped i didnt hear it at all temps are good and stable as i put snake in a stable heated room

Will bump it up was just going slowly becaus its used to a tiny heat mat hehe and if i turn up the mat to 90 can i get rid of my heat lamp as its ans arse for the humidity if its off ambient temp is 24 celsius in the middle