What is TOO big for a ball python terrarium?

[NewbieSnakeLover]

I am looking to buy an "Exo-Terra" terrarium for my ball python and I'm wondering what's too big? The one the website recommends is their "medium low" that measures 24x18x12? Is this large enough for my ball python once it's fully grown or will I have to buy another larger tank? By the way I know females can grow up to 6ft but I'm not sure if I'm getting a male or female so I need to accomdate for both. If this is too small for a full grown ball python would the "low large" exo terra terrarium (36x18x12) be too large?

[daniel1983]

The large Exoterra is the the same as a 40 gallon breeder tank. Both have approximately the same footprint as the most common tub (Iris CB-70, FB70, etc) that is used in rack systems to house adult ball pythons.

I think it would really depend on the size of your bp at adulthood. If it is a small adult male, the smaller terrarium might work.

[redshepherd]

24x18 would work for an adult male, but it's not "large" for them at all.
The 36x18 would work for either male or female, but I wouldn't start out a hatchling in one if that's what you're getting, just to be safe and avoid potential feeding issues.

[Spiritserpents]

I know someone who houses their ball python in those *enormous* christmas tree bins you can find this time of year, and those snakes are completely happy because they've got all sorts of stuff to explore and climb on/over/under. Because of their success, I elected to get a 4ftx2ftx14in tank for my Whiskey girl, though she's only 700 grams right now. As long as I clutter it up enough that she feels secure, she should do fine in that tank. Honestly, if I have the space/money when she gets full grown, I'd love to get her a 6x3 so she can really have room to stretch out and explore.

[BPGator]

I have my 700g male in a 48x24x12 and he's great. I also have 3 hides, foliage, log and water bowl to clutter it up for him. But certainly if you're getting a hatchling, like redsheperd says, that would probably be too big. I'd put a really small BP in a small tub at first. For adults, I'm more concerned with too small rather than too big. You can always clutter up a tank to make the snake feel more secure.

Out of curiosity, what does that exoterra cost? You may be able to get an Animal Plastics T8 for a similar price. You can get a divider for it to make a smaller area until the snake gets bigger.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Coluber42]

Their natural habitat in the great outdoors is pretty big.

But they do need lots of cover, lots of hides, foliage, tubes, etc. They don't like empty open expanses. It's nice if they can move around a certain amount without being seen (or seen very much), and if they can have the full length of their body in contact with stuff as they move around. A small snake in a big cage needs LOTS of clutter.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Anything too big or inadequate is something that does not allows you to provide proper temps, humidity, sens of security and leads too feeding issues, stress and RI (which will be a combination of unproven husbandry and stress)

If you know your animal, you will know if the enclosures work or not.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Ptshay]

I am looking to buy an "Exo-Terra" terrarium for my ball python and I'm wondering what's too big? The one the website recommends is their "medium low" that measures 24x18x12? Is this large enough for my ball python once it's fully grown or will I have to buy another larger tank? By the way I know females can grow up to 6ft but I'm not sure if I'm getting a male or female so I need to accomdate for both. If this is too small for a full grown ball python would the "low large" exo terra terrarium (36x18x12) be too large?

I got my broomhilda at 81g. I have 2 identical hides (wooden caves from petsmart, she loves em) lots of plants to make sure she can make it from one end of the cage to the other without being seen. Water bowl, etc. It's hard with humidity in that cage and heat. I got 100 daytime basking light and 100w night light. She was nippy for the first 2 weeks. Then now she is completely fine, sweetest thing ever. It's really your call on how much you want to spend. Humidity in that this is horrible so I have a reptifogger, but that kinda sucks because it drips water in the enclosure (which I get super worried about scale rot).


Honestly if I could go back in time I'd get a vision cage or similar.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Neal]

Just get a smaller setup for now, several things you can do, and look at it this way, it's a nice enclosure for a future animal one this one outgrows and moves into your other tank.

[TurkeyPython]

If you can keep proper temps/humidity there's no such thing as too big as long as it's properly cluttered and has plenty of hides. I'd say more than 4x2 is overkill but if you can keep the conditions right and keep the snek feeling secure there's no such thing as too big. I'd say the large low would be the best size