Day Dreaming

[Kreature]

I am day dreaming of the day to own a Ball Python. I wanted to ask how this sounded as a setup:

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Long enclosure.

Warm End: kind of barren with a rock hide. Just outside of it a pool (kind of) with a waterfall-like thing (a small hose. Nothing fancy.) for continuous vibrations that might mask small vibrations that might startle a ball python, and for water flow instead of standing water that bacteria can fester in. Soft, fine sand. with some rough, large rocks in random spots for rubbing against for shedding. Directly over that, a red light set to a thermostat to evaporate the water and produce humidity and heat and not disturbing the snake.

Cool End: Lots of vegetation. Aspen bedding (shredded), Tree-like structures for climbing and hiding inside. A UTH set on a thermostat with a low setting to ensure the cool end doesn't dip beneath 80F.

I plan to feed outside of the home, as this set up is going to be crowded, and I'd be more comfortable if my Ball Python had room when they are eating.

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Open to opinions, corrections, etc.

[Soord]

I would steer clear of sand. It's usually bad news

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[Soord]

Also if you wanna go a looker cage you'll have to make some sacrifices. That cage sounds to me like a big pain to clean. That being said you have 2 hides, water, bedding, and you mentioned heat (even though i personally don't like lamps). So theoretically it would work.

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[voodoolamb]

Sounds like a pain to clean and sanitize TBH. Especially the sand and water feature.

I tried using the sand with my beardies and omg it was a NIGHTMARE. Urates and sand make this God awful cement that adheres to everything. If you want something other than traditional substrate - have you looked into creating a viv with bioactive substrate? A nice little isopod colony for janitorial duty might be right up your alley.

Be careful about what kind of water fall you use. Many of them are difficult to clean every nook and crannie of (inside the hoses especially) become breeding grounds for bacteria - exactly what you are trying to avoid. A simple water bowl is easy to remove from the cage and spray down with a disinfectant covering the entire surface area. If your heart is set and you do want moving water you might want to look into the water fountains for dogs and cats. They are much much easier to sanitize.

Sounds like you'll have a cool set up though

[Coluber42]

If you're concerned about keeping the water clean, use a ceramic bowl that is smooth and easy to wash. Imagine what would happen to the waterfall thing if the snake pooped in it!

If you are daydreaming about an attractive, enriched enclosure, check out this Tumblr: http://rainbowsnakes.tumblr.com/snakesetups

They have some really nice looking setups, plus good information on why the stuff in them is appropriate for the different species they keep.
Sand isn't a good choice, but there are lots of other substrate options that are appropriate and it's perfectly fine to use different types in different areas of the cage.

One thing to factor in, if you want to use live plants, is lighting. Plants will need full-spectrum light, which should be on a timer for convenience. It won't bother the snake to have it on for 12 hours a day, that's a normal photoperiod anyway.
I'd also go with a radiant heat panel instead of a red light bulb for heating; the RHP can be mounted to the inside of the ceiling and won't get hot enough to burn on contact like a light bulb will. A light bulb either needs to be mounted above the cage and shining through a screen, which makes humidity more difficult because of the open screen, or inside the cage and surrounded by a mesh guard so the snake can't touch it.