20 Gal. Long Tank?

My BP is about 20" long. But I thought since they get like 3-4' I'd get a big tank (40 gal. long). Now since I've been comming to this site I've heard of people usuing 20Ls.. Is that really big enough? I have my Leopard Gecko in a 20L and he loves to run, climb and explore. So I was thinking of cleaning both and putting my BP in the 20L and my Leo in the 40L. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Ball pythons are different than lizards in that no matter how big of a cage you put them in, they will curl up in their favorite corner and stay there.

Most snakes are like that. Ball pythons need nothing bigger than a 20g, and anything bigger is most likely very hard to regulate temps and humidity. Too much room can also be stressful as balls like tight enclosed spaces.

:gj:

Well, maybe not NOTHING bigger. I know of some females that would be cramped in anything smaller than a 30 breeder. :)

But, mostly that's true. BPs don't need a ton of room like Boas or giant pythons. A 20 long should be just right for most, if not all, of its life. Especially if your snake is a male.

A 20 long is good to start with. If you get a male it will probably work for the entire life of the snake. If you get a female it almost certainly will have to be replaced with something bigger in time.... but you should still start out with it.. or something even smaller.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Well, maybe not NOTHING bigger. I know of some females that would be cramped in anything smaller than a 30 breeder. :)

But, mostly that's true. BPs don't need a ton of room like Boas or giant pythons. A 20 long should be just right for most, if not all, of its life. Especially if your snake is a male.

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:D
You know how I exaggerate.

It's true if you have a huge female, a 20 long might not be big enough, though a lot of breeders keep all their adults in 32q all their lives. :/

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

:D
though a lot of breeders keep all their adults in 32q all their lives. :/

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Don't think this is true. Most breeders keep their female breeders in CB70 or 41 quart tubs.

41qt tubs are very close to the size of a 20long tank... just an FYI. :)

I myself prefer to give any snake as much room as A) I have available. B) As they will accept without being stressed.

Since most of my BPs love to stretch out and lift their heads, they are all in enclosures at least 10" high if not 12". But I never go higher than 12" for a non-climber.

And yes, Blackcrystal, I know how you exaggerate. ;)

A CB70 tub is 33.5" x 17.75"

a 20 long is only 30" x 12"....


Doesn't sound like a big difference, but the difference is HUGE. That means that a CB70 is 50% wider... and 15% longer.

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Originally Posted by mcavana

Don't think this is true. Most breeders keep their female breeders in CB70 or 41 quart tubs.

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Not saying I would personally put them in a 32q, but whenever I ask adult tub size usually I get some 32s, 41s, and CB70s.
It depends on the person. I will probably go with 41q for now until I decide to get deeper rack that'll allow for CB70s.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

41qt tubs are very close to the size of a 20long tank... just an FYI. :)

I myself prefer to give any snake as much room as A) I have available. B) As they will accept without being stressed.

Since most of my BPs love to stretch out and lift their heads, they are all in enclosures at least 10" high if not 12". But I never go higher than 12" for a non-climber.

And yes, Blackcrystal, I know how you exaggerate. ;)

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I'm not very good at really thinking before I type.
I realize that A LOT after I re-read my posts. :oops:

I have 2 males, both in 20L tanks. Doing excellent. Haven't been here in a while, think I made a bunch of people angry last time I was here. Decided to start coming back, maybe I'm forgiven.

Just make sure in the 20L you have a good amount of "stuff" in there. I have a little tree in each tank with a bunch of fake vines. Works out nicely. Also a branch for them to crawl on at night. I should post some new enclosure pictures. Plus, Vincent is getting BIIG!

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Originally Posted by Argentra

I myself prefer to give any snake as much room as A) I have available. B) As they will accept without being stressed.

Since most of my BPs love to stretch out and lift their heads, they are all in enclosures at least 10" high if not 12". But I never go higher than 12" for a non-climber.

And yes, Blackcrystal, I know how you exaggerate. ;)

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I agree with this completely(even blackcrystals exagertaions;)).

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Ball pythons are different than lizards in that no matter how big of a cage you put them in, they will curl up in their favorite corner and stay there.

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No disrespect intended in my comments, but the above comment is not only an exageration...it is simply Not true. I witness my girl coming out and exploring every nook and corner of her cage nightly, just like a nocturnal snake should. I am normally asleep during her cruising hours..but having her cage visible from my bed... I do know that this is a nightly exercise. While she does have her favorite spot to curl up and sleep... and she will spend a lot of her time there... by no means does she just curl up and stay there... The only time they will curl up in a corner and stay there is when they are in a bin that does not allow them to explore.

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Originally Posted by SoCaliSon

I agree with this completely(even blackcrystals exagertaions;)).



No disrespect intended in my comments, but the above comment is not only an exageration...it is simply Not true. I witness my girl coming out and exploring every nook and corner of her cage nightly, just like a nocturnal snake should. I am normally asleep during her cruising hours..but having her cage visible from my bed... I do know that this is a nightly exercise. While she does have her favorite spot to curl up and sleep... and she will spend a lot of her time there... by no means does she just curl up and stay there... The only time they will curl up in a corner and stay there is when they are in a bin that does not allow them to explore.

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I'm with California on this one. Right now Ruth's in a tub and doing great, much easier to clean and regulate temperatures. But I'm currently looking around for furniture every garbage night that I can convert into a roomier enclosure for her and storage for me.

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Originally Posted by SoCaliSon

I agree with this completely(even blackcrystals exagertaions;)).



No disrespect intended in my comments, but the above comment is not only an exageration...it is simply Not true. I witness my girl coming out and exploring every nook and corner of her cage nightly, just like a nocturnal snake should. I am normally asleep during her cruising hours..but having her cage visible from my bed... I do know that this is a nightly exercise. While she does have her favorite spot to curl up and sleep... and she will spend a lot of her time there... by no means does she just curl up and stay there... The only time they will curl up in a corner and stay there is when they are in a bin that does not allow them to explore.

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I don't think it's always as false as you say it is. I would find the SnakeBytes video where they explain that, but I'm not sure which one it was (big snakes I think).
For ball pythons and large snakes, I have noticed this to be true, however there are other types of snakes that would not be suited well with this.
Ball pythons usually only come out at night, and even then they aren't very likely to 'roam' far from their original spot. From what I've been told on here, excessive roaming = stressed out snake. :]

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Ball pythons are different than lizards in that no matter how big of a cage you put them in, they will curl up in their favorite corner and stay there.

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I say this is false...

You say...

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I don't think it's always as false as you say it is.

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Ball pythons usually only come out at night, and even then they aren't very likely to 'roam' far from their original spot. From what I've been told on here, excessive roaming = stressed out snake. :]

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So you are saying that there Ball Pythons that will find one spot, stay there, and never have the urge to roam, hunt, or find a new spot? Just stay happily coiled in that one spot there entire lives? That would worry me more than a snake becoming active at night to roam. If my sanke was wondering , at random hours of the day, nose rubbing, and not eating, or pooping, I would think that maybe they are stressed by the environment. But I personlly think she is just enjoying her space, as she is eats readilly, and exercises her routine like clockwork, including pooping and shedding. If anything I think that this shows that given the sace, they will make use of it.

How do populations disperse in the wild??? If what you are saying is true, you would find families of BP's in the wild hanging out together in the same general area their entire lives.

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and even then they aren't very likely to 'roam' far from their original spot.

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= Speculation.

Not trying to lock horns with you blackcrystal, I just think that in a hobby like this we need to be carefull when addressing husbandry issues in "absolutes", Makes it easy to give people the wrong idea. While you did explain yourself, the original statement that I had a problem with(quoted again above), does specifically state "ball pythons", and is not referring to any other kind of snake.

~Joe

Sorry to jack the thread for a sec...but what is everyones opinion on like Animal Plastics cages, Vision cages. There's ones that are like 2ft by 2 ft which is small and then the next size is 3ft by 2 ft....I was thinkin of gettin a 3x2.....too big???

I think BP's tend to cruise around a bit more than most people think. My BP's in larger tanks are all very active at night (and they are not stressed), they also tend to be more active when held in general. They seem to enjoy being held more than the tub snakes too.

And some of my rack housed BP's are more active than others. I have a big girl who just lays on the cool side all the time, and a male who hangs out on the warm side most of the time, in the same rack. Every snake is different.