Please critique my noobie setup

Hi All....hoping to get a BP young'un in about a week. Got my temps and humidity figured out, so I put in the decor for the final dry run.
I am a total noobie so please look at my setup and let me know if I need to make changes.
The cage is large (4x2) so I crowded the tank a bit with stuff to make the snake feel more secure. I could add crumpled up paper if you think more crowding is better.

http://i.ugtz.com/albums/Jens-Terrar...1_07.sized.jpg
The thing in the front is one of those Habba Huts. The hides are both smallish black plastic ones that I will upgrade as the snake grows. The far right (cool side) has a hide and large water dish. The far left (hot side) has a hide and small water dish for humidity.

http://i.ugtz.com/albums/Jens-Terrar...1_07.sized.jpg
Installed a cage around the bulb today....yay!

you may want to add more stuff in there to take up space. that is a real large enclosure for a small BP

I'd definitely 'crowd' that cage a lot more. If you're getting a baby BP, you may have significant trouble getting it to eat in that large of a cage. I'd seriously consider setting it up in a plastic shoebox tub for at least awhile.

If you really want to use that huge cage (which is bigger than even the largest adult female ball python will ever need) definitely put some crumpled newspaper, and more hides.. and smaller hides. Those black plastic hides are really oversized for a baby bp. Something more along the lines of a houseplant pot saucer with a hole cut in the side or top would be better.

Also.. I don't see anything in there that measures temperatures and humidity. You'll need something that's digital, those little dial thermometers are useless. Walmart or Target sells indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometers that work wonderfully. You can set them up so that the 'indoor' temp measures the warm side of the cage, and the 'outdoor' temp measures the cool side. A hygrometer is important as well.

If that bulb is the only thing that is providing heat in the cage, you may need to add an under tank heater.. which will need a thermostat as well. The disadvantage to such a huge cage is heating and humidifying it properly for a small baby..

Either way, best of luck to you and I'm glad you're asking these questions before you buy the snake rather than after. :)

Looks good to me if the temps are right...though, the light is really for you, not the snake, so if it were me, I wouldn't keep it on all the time.

Also, did you seal the inside of the cage? If the corners aren't sealed in some way, urine and other bad stuff is going to get into the cage and it may begin to smell after some time.

Thanks for all the advice!

To answer your questions:
The cage is sealed (It's a Boaphile enclosure)
There is a digital thermometer/hygrometer on the hot side but you can't see it because of the angle of the photo. It is about 3 inches off the floor.
The cage has a good UTH as well as the CHE for extra ambient heat - both are on a good digital thermostat (Herpstat). The hot side thermometer probe is taped to the floor under the substrate, since that gave me good results measuring with the added CHE heat.
The incandescent bulb shown is a CHE and there is a fluorescent light on a timer.

I will add more stuff and some smaller hides based on what I am hearing. Thank you! I don't have a BP picked out yet so I am not sure of the size. I will probably pick up some appropriate sized hides at NERD when I go there to get my new pet :sunny:

I am planning to use paper towels for a while until I have a good sense of my snake's bowel habits. I hope to switch to aspen bedding eventually.

What is the temperature gradient and the humidity in the cage?

That's a really nice cage!

What did you use to "get your temps and humidity figured out" and what are your temps and humidity?

Be aware that if you are using a bowl of water on the warm end of the enclosure to raise humidity, that warm water grows bacteria faster than cool water, so you will have to make sure it is always fresh and clean. Also make sure you are using water bowls that a small snake will not be in danger of drowning in if you are using larger than normal bowls for that size snake to increase the humidity level.

I also agree that you may need to fill the cage more so the young snake will not feel so exposed and stress out. I am not sure which size black hides you got, but they might even be too large for the size of snake you are intending to aquire. As Shelby suggested, try a pot small pot saucer turned upside down. This will function as a hide that will make the snake feel more secure as it feels its body being "hugged" by the hide.

When you take your trip to NERD, let them know about the size of your setup and I'm sure they will be able to help you decide on the size of snake. :)

the hot hide runs 94F and the cool side ambient is 80F
The hot side ambient is 88F
humidity I easily get to 60% (cool side...50% hot side) by just flicking some water on the back wall. I am just beginning tests today to figure out how the humidity changes over the course of the day so I will know how often to mist if ever.

Sounds good. If you can get a slightly bigger ball python instead of a baby I think you will be better setting yourself up for success.

thank you!
I am hoping for a well started snake, and if I can get one that is larger I definitely will! I am a snake noobie completely so I figure the older the better. I can experience the joy of growing one myself when I have my sea legs.
Otherwise I can definitely crowd the enclosure with small hides, tupperware, and crumpled paper :D

seeing how tall this enclosure is made me realize that when I add snakes later on (not IF :P ) I will likely buy the shorter Boaphile for BPs in the future and use this taller cage for a semi-arboreal species like a carpet or BRB.

plans within plans....

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

seeing how tall this enclosure is made me realize that when I add snakes later on (not IF :P ) I will likely buy the shorter Boaphile for BPs in the future and use this taller cage for a semi-arboreal species like a carpet or BRB.

plans within plans....

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Or if you are inclined to do some word working, build your own. It is much cheaper to build your own over buying a plastic one. What I feel is the only downside is the weight unless you can work with the plastic yourself.

I am not a builder by any stretch of the imagination


I envy those who do though...I have seen pics of some GORGEOUS wooden projects on here :rockon:

I'm a newbie myself (I just got my Ultratherm heat pad and Herpstat today, so I'm having fun playing with them), so I'm not sure on the setup, but it looks nice to me :)

As far as finding a larger animal at NERD, I'm sure they could help you out. The first time I went up, Kara suggested a larger, more Juvenile-aged BP and showed me a few that were in the pet store. I'm willing to bet that either male or female, you could get a well-started snake from them. I decided to go the morph route for my first BP, though, so I'm getting a wee one. But had I chosen to get a normal, I definitely would have bought a Juvie, I think :)

Best of luck and happy-hunting! I'm sure you're all giddy and excited at the prospect of picking out your baby--I know I was. And I'm even more giddy about picking him up in a few weeks!

yep, I'm pretty excited! :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

Love your boaphile cage and best of luck with your new purchase! can't wait to see what you end up getting! :)

Love the heart shaped water bowl, A woman always adds a touch of class!

Good luck with your new Ball Python! :)

Everything looks good to me! :gj: I like seeing people who have everything ready before they get the snake instead of posting, "My ball python's tummy is red and yucky! I don't think he likes his cedar bedding!"

thanks guys :P


I truly and deeply love animals, so I never put them at risk when I'm learning something new. It's hard to be patient but it's so important when dealing with a living thing!

I found that for my little guy, he liked his aspen at about 2 inches thick. He would tunnel through it and make all sorts of cool designs in it. However, the thicker the aspen the harder it is to find any deposits. Fortunately, you will know when he makes one -- they really smell.


I would put the aspen in first, instead of using newspaper (just my oppinion). I think that with a beautiful enclosure like the one that you have, newspaper makes it look low rent. Go upscale and start out your new guy with rich luxurious aspen!!!

BTW, my snake only poops when he sheds. So that is about every 3 to 5 feedings.

Can't say do anything different then what has been said. I had my bp in a AP cage that size when he was about a 1 old and I had lots of things in it to take up the space ie plastic plants, hollow logs, hides etc. he did fine.

I think it is great how you have been working and adjusting and getting everything just so before you even head out to buy your bp. I just wish more people did that. You should have one happy bp for a long time w/ the care and concern you have already displayed. Props to you!

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Originally Posted by AkivaSmith

I think that with a beautiful enclosure like the one that you have, newspaper makes it look low rent.

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Heyyyyyy!!!!! :(

:sunny:
hey, quick question then:

when 'taking up space' what counts?
does it need to be totally blocked off like with tupperware containers and stuff, or do things like silk plants take up space enough to make my pet feel secure?

It looks like it will be another 10 days before I get my BP (NERD is BUSYBUSY - Good for them!) so I have some time to add stuff and continue to work on my humidity :)

I am finding I need to mist twice a day right now, so I will add a much larger water container on the hot side. Do you suppose that the wood pieces I have in there are absorbing humitidy? Would I be better off soaking them? I assume the humidity will stabilize over time as the wood swells....
what do you think?

I had that problem w/ my AP because
1. I have elec heat and my house is very dry
2.I used overhead lights w/ red heat bulbs which sucked it out. Summer time w/ the ac on was no real problem but the heat on in the house just killed it
so I got a small humidifer(sp) and that solved the problems. Stay right in the 53% range steady

did you put the humidifier in the cage or just in the room?
I may need to do that - It's incredibly cold out and my room humidity is below 20% so I doubt I can keep up with the cage humidity with misting.

is the small humidifier you got ultrasonic or something else? Also if you know what brand it is/where you got it that would help me alot. I live in the boonies and will probably have to order it online.

thanks :)

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

did you put the humidifier in the cage or just in the room?
I may need to do that - It's incredibly cold out and my room humidity is below 20% so I doubt I can keep up with the cage humidity with misting.

is the small humidifier you got ultrasonic or something else? Also if you know what brand it is/where you got it that would help me alot. I live in the boonies and will probably have to order it online.

thanks :)

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I had it in the room close to the cage. It is a small white Honeywell brand not sure of the model number. It is a warm mist type which worked better than the evaporate type. I know when I fill it w/ water and run on high it will run for about 7 hrs and on low for at least twice as long if not longer. Very easy to clean. It is small like table top size. It also helps keep temps warmer in the room as humidity seems to, for lack of a better word, conduct heat.
I think I got it at Walmart. I will look online and see if I see it and send you the link in a email.

Thanks for the info!
no need to do a search...it sounds like a pretty straightforward type.
I like the warm mist ones too...I can't help but think that the non-heating types are just bacterial breeding grounds :lol:

I will begin humidifying the room this weekend ... I could sure use it anway...my nose is sooooooo dryyyyyyy!

I figure I will also add a humid hide just to be sure.

thanks everyone for all your advice!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AkivaSmith

I think that with a beautiful enclosure like the one that you have, newspaper makes it look low rent.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Heyyyyyy!!!!! :(

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ROTFWL:D :D :D :salute:


dr del