Display Enclosures for Ball Pythons: Expectation vs. Reality

[Kcl]

I need to get my kiddo a viv since nowadays he seems to spend all night sitting one of his hides with his face out on the log in front of it, staring out. I thought for the longest time he wouldn't want one because of how much visibility the clear door provides but nope, he seems to like to know what's going on. He's less than a couple feet away from my bed too, so I look at him, he looks at me (or ignores me), and oddly, he's perfectly happy about it. So I guess my tax refund is getting devoted to someone's upgrade.

Also, somehow I haven't managed to kill the lucky bamboo in his tub in the past year+ even though I always forget to change their water (don't worry - the snake's water gets changed at least every other day. It's just the plants that get ignored).

[zina10]

I see a lot of new keepers (and more experienced ones) talk about maintaining a display enclosure so they can watch their snake cruise around. Something pretty to look at. I get it! I've kept my ball pythons in tubs and display enclosures and for me, the actual snake viewing time is the same: non at all.

So, I just wanted to share with you a funny comparison photo. Display enclosure expectation:



Vs. Reality:



I've fixed up the plants every day for the last two days and every morning I awake to this mess. Lol! I give up! If this is how she likes it, this is how I'll leave it.


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OMG, that is so funny !!!
I see these elaborate natural setups for the hatchlings and always think to myself, you just wait till they grow up !! They are BULLDOZERS. I think they enjoy it, LOL.

All that said, I have one Display cage and it houses a BIG Ball Python, 5 feet long and heavy.
He has one big natural looking hide that is really just a planter upside down, looks cool, though. It has a plant hot glued on top of it. So this is deco item #1.
Then he has a big home made corner shelf that has a piece of drift wood screwed on to it. It also has plants hotglued onto it. One to stay on top, and some that hang down, turning that shelf into a hide. That entire structure makes deco item #2.
Deco item #3 is a pretty and natural water dish.

All that on natural looking substrate.

So its VERY easy to maintain (only 3 pieces to take out for cleaning) and he makes full use of it all !!! Cage is a 36 inch wide classic Neodesha.

While he does flatten the plants some, they are easy to bend upwards again

[Zincubus]

I need to get my kiddo a viv since nowadays he seems to spend all night sitting one of his hides with his face out on the log in front of it, staring out. I thought for the longest time he wouldn't want one because of how much visibility the clear door provides but nope, he seems to like to know what's going on. He's less than a couple feet away from my bed too, so I look at him, he looks at me (or ignores me), and oddly, he's perfectly happy about it. So I guess my tax refund is getting devoted to someone's upgrade.

Also, somehow I haven't managed to kill the lucky bamboo in his tub in the past year+ even though I always forget to change their water (don't worry - the snake's water gets changed at least every other day. It's just the plants that get ignored).

Well I hope you do try him in a viv . It's a whole new experience and if he's near to you in the evening they're fascinating to observe especially if you put a couple or more branches in as well .

[Kcl]

Well I hope you do try him in a viv . It's a whole new experience and if he's near to you in the evening they're fascinating to observe especially if you put a couple or more branches in as well .

I definitely always planned to. His tub is decently oversized from what is commonly used (I think it's a sterilite 105 quart) and has a home made climb (long dowel rod and two eyelet hooks), a bunch of plants which he used to like climbing on top of but I think he just knocks down when he tries now, and a wooden log he likes to rest his face on. I'd still like to give him more space that he can use if he wants it. He's just gotten himself moved up on the priority list now that he actually likes looking out.