Owning only 1 Ball Python

[ssecrest77]

Hi,

I recently bought a banana ball python with intentions of breeding, but due to family issues building a rack system and more balls, I am going to have to stay with just my one. So I was wondering what in the BEST living environment for him. I currently have him in a 20L but obviously the humidity is hard to maintain. I use Reptichip for bedding and have a day light on a timer for 12 hours and 2 hides. Until I can eventually buy more what is the best option for him?

Opinions and suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks!

[honeybee]

Ive heard great things about animal plastics enclosures, apparently theyre much better at keeping temps and humidity in a good spot and they still look beautiful as displays.

I personally only have one and I keep him in a tank. It was definitely a challenge getting humidity right, especially living in the very dry Alberta, Canada. What has helped me has been foiling the top (screen) leaving about 1/4 of it open and under the che open, adding damp (not wet) moss to his substrate outside of his hides, providing a humid hide (the only hide where damp moss sits inside, to avoid scale rot), putting his water bowl over top of the uth, and putting a dampened cloth on top of the screen under the foil. This all bumped my humidity from 30% to 55%. I'm also considering getting a room humidifier, especially for when he's in shed.

These could be options for you long-term or short term until you move him into something else. I've heard that standalone tubs can be difficult heating wise, but I don't have any experience with this personally so maybe someone else can chime in

It's so hard having just one. I still live with my parents and even though I'm in the completely separate basement, my mom has limited me to one snake. Bummer!

[BallPythonWannaBe]

Animal Plastics

[SDA]

Without a doubt and not to knock other methods but the absolute best enclosure for keeping a small amount of reptiles is a PVC enclosure. Animal Plastics, Boaphile, Reptile Basics. They all sell similar enclosures. For an adult 4x2' x12 or 15" high are the way to go. Animal Plastics, I would recommend the T10, Reptile Basics the 2x4 15" Single Door Cage, and boaphile the 421d
Animal Plastics has the cheapest initial price and more customization options to the cage itself but they also charge up to $55 for shipping so factor that in. AP's LED light option is not on the site but is $40 and really nicely recessed in. Both Animal Plastic and Reptile Basics have LED light fixture options for supplemental lighting but neither are truly necessary.

Radiant heat panel (RHP) for the majority of supplemental ambient and cool side heat or even as the primary hot side heat if you have a decent house temperature year round. A UTH of either Flexwatt, THG, or Ultratherm heat tape/pads are not a bad way to go for belly heat to suppliment a RHP
RHP vendors are Pro Products or Reptile Basics

PVC enclosures are great because all these manufactures build them to be stacked so you can place them on top of each other if you get another snake or reptile.

Thermostats are either spyder robotics herpstat or vivarium electronics and if you go the two heat method the herpstat 2 or VE 300x2

Coco fiber such as Reptile Prime or even Eco Earth are fantastic medium for substrate in these enclosures. Reptile Prime is already loose, has dust removed and comes dry.

For clutter and natural decor such as branches, artificial plants and leaf litter, don't over look craft stores such as hobby lobby or michaels or even walmart. Home Depot and Lowes are also great sources for materials if you want to build ledges, etc.

[PythonBabes]

Nobody on this site seems to agree with me, but having just one snake is awesome to me! Having just one means you can provide the very best environment for it.

I'm saving up for an Animal Plastics T10 enclosure.

[zina10]

I do agree.

Having just one can be just as awesome as having 10 !

However, I don't agree that "having just one means you can provide the very best environment for it"

You can do that even if you have more then one

[zina10]

If you have only one cage, and don't have to worry about stacking more on top, I LOVE the Neodesha slant cages. Tried and true. They are beautiful DISPLAY cages that are easy to maintain and clean.

Don't cost a fortune, you don't have to assemble anything, no leakage in seams, because there are none. I use the 3 foot wide one now, used to have 6 4 foot ones. Never a problem with them.

[BallPythonWannaBe]

If you have only one cage, and don't have to worry about stacking more on top, I LOVE the Neodesha slant cages. Tried and true. They are beautiful DISPLAY cages that are easy to maintain and clean.

Don't cost a fortune, you don't have to assemble anything, no leakage in seams, because there are none. I use the 3 foot wide one now, used to have 6 4 foot ones. Never a problem with them.

Really quick. What size is that? Are they cheaper than Animal Plastics? Those seem awesome

[zina10]

This is a 3 foot one. Most Ball Pythons will never outgrow that. You CAN get a 4 foot one if you want to add more deco...

I have a really big male in that display cage.

Let me check on price for you..

[honeybee]

Those are gorgeous!

EDIT: forgot to quote what I was referring to, but I'm talking about those neodesha cages. Why is shipping to Canada so expensive ;_;