Hey all-

I've been debating whether or not to post this, since I am taking it from a book. The book is called The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe de Vosjoli. The section I'll be quoting will be on Vivarium Design for Ball Pythons. There is a small section on BPs (as well as a few other snakes, garters, water snakes, corns, boas, GTP, etc.).

The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe de Vosjoli, page 154-155.

"Potting soils, as well as BSS substrates with a dry surface, work well with ball pythons. Shrub like plants can be included in the setup, as well as sections of wood and large cork-bark shelters. Most ball pythons will choose to spend the day inside a ground-level shelter or, if provided with a mound that is a mix of soil and leaf or grass litter, will burrow into the stoft mound. To allow for visibility during the day, provide a large open-sided shelter. Some owners have had success using lateral shelters, such as sectioned cork rounds placed vertically and anchored securely. Vertically groiwng small trees, such as unbrella plants, ficus and dracaena, cand be used as decorative background plants. Starting in the early evening, even if the lights are still on, ball pythons will emerge from their shelters. If hungry, they will hunt and may even climb on branches close to the ground. Red lights make observation of their nocturnal activity possible. Keep daytime tempsatures in the 80s F and nighttime tempature in the upper 70s to low 80s F. Provide a basking spot with tempatures reaching 90°F."

The book tells you what BSS substrate is, how to create it, vivarium design, a chapter on plants that can be used, as well as some general information on many different types of snakes.