125 gallon aquarium and the pros opinions

I’m buying a 125 gallon aquarium from a friend for 25 bucks!! It’s a steal but it’s also huge. I know that a lot of people are always concerned about to much space for ball pythons. We’ve kept our snake in a 30 long since we got him. We for sure had all the initial problems everyone does in using aquariums. Through trial and error we have gotten good and sorted it out. My plans for the 125 are pretty fun and exciting. They include an actual waterfall, small creek that runs into an actual pond. Lots of plants and rock cliffs and of course hides. I really wanna make it a focal point of our living room. My friend will be custom building and engraving a stand with a jungle theme. I know that most of you use pvc enclosures but what are your thoughts on the size. I’m under the assumption that as long as there are enough hiding places he won’t get stressed. Any concerns or thoughts on an idea like this

Sounds like fun
But I would not have so many water areas in it.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Sounds like it could be really cool, if it works out right.

What are the dimensions? How are you planning on heating? And are you sure it still holds water for those water features?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Sounds like it could be really cool, if it works out right.

What are the dimensions? How are you planning on heating? And are you sure it still holds water for those water features?

---

I don’t know the exact dimensions I just know it’s a 125 gallon long. The friend I’m getting it from his wife use to manage a salt water fish store,so everything was cleaned and stored properly. the water features will be removable and self containing so I should still be safe. I plan on a uth and probably some lights of some sort due to PA being cold I’ll need something. It should be a fun project that I can take my time get it running and make sure everything’s safe before the big move

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DandD

I don’t know the exact dimensions I just know it’s a 125 gallon long. The friend I’m getting it from his wife use to manage a salt water fish store,so everything was cleaned and stored properly. the water features will be removable and self containing so I should still be safe. I plan on a uth and probably some lights of some sort due to PA being cold I’ll need something. It should be a fun project that I can take my time get it running and make sure everything’s safe before the big move

---

Ok. The reason I ask is that the taller it is it may be tough to heat. Plus, with such a terrestrial species it may be a lot of wasted height.

I can't speak from experience with a glass enclosure that large though, so these are just my thoughts.

I'd look into radiant heat panels too, rather than lights. But again, just a thought.

It is defintely doable, it will be difficult to heat it though, unless you have a heated room, or a large Radiant heat panel. I would love to see it when you complete the project!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Godzilla78

It is defintely doable, it will be difficult to heat it though, unless you have a heated room, or a large Radiant heat panel. I would love to see it when you complete the project!

---

I’ll be starting it after the new year when money becomes available again lol. I’ll probably start a new thread and update it while I’m doing it. That way I can pick all your brains to make it right. It’ll be like the ball pythons forum community tank. Maybe I’ll add a plaque inside it with all the contributors names.

I have a 125 gal aquarium - it is 6' long x 18" deep x 24" high. It has housed a BRB, then a Dumerils boa, and now has a young Burmese python.

I use two large heat pads with it. The one on the cool side is at 82*F, the one on the warm side is 90*F.

I would strongly suggest having plexiglass tops made for it, and you can use the mirror fasteners to secure them. That will greatly help keep heat and humidity inside, and ensure no escapes.

Unfortunately there is a decent amount of heat loss through the glass so put a hide over each UTH. The air under the hide will stay warm, and you could make natural-looking Styrofoam hides which would insulate nicely.

I wouldn't load it up with water features. A few large bowls will suffice. Use cypress mulch as substrate, some driftwood for climbing, and some fake plants for décor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

I have a 125 gal aquarium - it is 6' long x 18" deep x 24" high. It has housed a BRB, then a Dumerils boa, and now has a young Burmese python.

I use two large heat pads with it. The one on the cool side is at 82*F, the one on the warm side is 90*F.

I would strongly suggest having plexiglass tops made for it, and you can use the mirror fasteners to secure them. That will greatly help keep heat and humidity inside, and ensure no escapes.

Unfortunately there is a decent amount of heat loss through the glass so put a hide over each UTH. The air under the hide will stay warm, and you could make natural-looking Styrofoam hides which would insulate nicely.

I wouldn't load it up with water features. A few large bowls will suffice. Use cypress mulch as substrate, some driftwood for climbing, and some fake plants for décor.

---

The plexiglass is a great idea much more astetically pleasing then the silver insulation I use now. As for the water features, they won’t be giant. I want to make something really natural looking while being functional and easy to maintain. The double uth idea is great to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DandD

The plexiglass is a great idea much more astetically pleasing then the silver insulation I use now. As for the water features, they won’t be giant. I want to make something really natural looking while being functional and easy to maintain. The double uth idea is great to.

---

Are you sure the water features will be "easy to maintain" when your snake takes a dump in them? :rolleyes: Snakes often do that which we fail to plan for...;)

Personally I'd go more for driftwood that a BP could easily climb on, & a cave or two, but anyway, I look forward to seeing your ideas put into action.

If I had such a large and open enclosure and I wanted to make a stunning display PLUS see a snake out and about using it, I would actually put a different species into it.

Ball Pythons actually come from arid regions. So having it lush, jungle-y and lots of water features may look naturalistic, but not really for that species. Of course you can make it work. And in the beginning you will see a lot of your Ball Python, because that large of a space is scary at first and there will be a lot of cruising.

Once the BP gets used to the enclosure and relaxes, most of the time will be spent hiding. If the enclosure is beautiful to look at, there is nothing wrong with a snake being in the hide.

But something so big, there is so much you could do with it, and then put a species in that explores , is out and about, makes use of all the climbing, water, foliage and enjoys it tremendously. There are some Colubrids that get quite big and are bold and out and about. Carpet Pythons would enjoy it.

Its all about whether you are ok with looking at the enclosure empty (hidden snake) or you want a display that features the animal making use of all the deco a lot.

zina10 makes a very good point. Ball pythons hunt by ambush & mostly in evening hours...what would be a lot more fun is a species that is an active hunter,
& one that climbs, to use all that space. Things like large rat snakes (Taiwan Beauty perhaps? Or a stunning orange Everglades rat snake) or a pine/bull/gopher
snake would use every inch of it. They're bold, & spend time in branches where you can see & admire them...instead of a cage that looks empty with a hiding BP.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Are you sure the water features will be "easy to maintain" when your snake takes a dump in them? :rolleyes: Snakes often do that which we fail to plan for...;)

Personally I'd go more for driftwood that a BP could easily climb on, & a cave or two, but anyway, I look forward to seeing your ideas put into action.

---

I actually plan on building a small stream connected directly to a pond( think sort of a water bowl with a creek attached to it) so you can pull the entire thing out at once and clean it. I’m for sure almost going to make it two levels with plenty of climbing space.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

If I had such a large and open enclosure and I wanted to make a stunning display PLUS see a snake out and about using it, I would actually put a different species into it.

Ball Pythons actually come from arid regions. So having it lush, jungle-y and lots of water features may look naturalistic, but not really for that species. Of course you can make it work. And in the beginning you will see a lot of your Ball Python, because that large of a space is scary at first and there will be a lot of cruising.

Once the BP gets used to the enclosure and relaxes, most of the time will be spent hiding. If the enclosure is beautiful to look at, there is nothing wrong with a snake being in the hide.

But something so big, there is so much you could do with it, and then put a species in that explores , is out and about, makes use of all the climbing, water, foliage and enjoys it tremendously. There are some Colubrids that get quite big and are bold and out and about. Carpet Pythons would enjoy it.

Its all about whether you are ok with looking at the enclosure empty (hidden snake) or you want a display that features the animal making use of all the deco a lot.

---

This is a fantastic point and I am for sure going to add some different species to my collection in the future. Unfortunately I’m still in the break in process with my fiancée lol although it is promising. Strangely enough she has no issue holding my friends giant boa but she gets nervous holding our 1 year old ball python. With everything zina said in mind I can always build this tank and just move our Bp back into his original I am really interested in the cribos.