Bp Enclosure question.

[tjones]

i can afford it but its just alot of money, maybe i could get a dresser and have a enclosure on top and one on the bottom, what do you think about cages made from dressers or cabinets???

[DutchHerp]

But the thing is that im only 16 years old and this will be costing me alot of money, and also the only reason i am aloud to get another bp is that i was planning on building a cage from a dresser and keeping both snakes in the cage but now i told my parents that i should have two different cages and now their saying that, thats not a good idea so thats why i wanted to keep both snakes in one cage. See my problem, im luck for having one snake

Two 32qt tubs take up a LOT less room than 40 gal.... and if you can't provide proper housing for the snakes, you really shouldn't get a second snake yet...

[tjones]

But what do you think about with converting a dresser into two snake cages, one on the top and one on the bottom???

[blackcrystal22]

But what do you think about with converting a dresser into two snake cages, one on the top and one on the bottom???

If you could do that, or make a single cage with a divider, that would work fine. :]

[Slim]

i insist on housing them together(i'm pretty persistent, sorry) So in the case of housing them both together, what would be a good size tank at adult growth?

You came here for advise, and now that you have it, you insist on not taking it. Sorry, but we've all seen this story here before. If your BP set up is for your pleasure, and not the snake's comfort and security, you should be keeping corn snakes. You may want to open up a Word Doc and get a jump start on writing up your, "My Snakes Won't Eat" thread. It'll save you some time in the future. Sorry, but the question of housing BPs together in the same enclosure comes up almost weekly, and it's just not a good idea.

First off i know plenty of people that keep there snakes together, and its my choice for doing this, secondly, just because they are kept in the same cage doesnt mean that their going to be uncomfortable or have a bad life, if you have a big enough enclosure so that they both have enough room to move I dont see why having two ball pythons together is a bad thing!!!

You are making a very bad choice. Please see my response to DaPyro above.

I will listen to you and keep them apart.

Now, you are making a very good choice.

Is a 20 gallon big enough for a ball python at adulthood it seems small.

Unless you have a big female, a 20 Gal long will be plenty big enough, and please remember your BP won't be full grown for several years.

i told my parents that i should have two different cages and now their saying that, thats not a good idea so thats why i wanted to keep both snakes in one cage. See my problem, im luck for having one snake

Then you really shouldn't be getting a second BP. Concentrate on the one you have and provide it with the best husbandry you can. Dude, take it from an old man, you're 16, you have a whole lifetime to get more snakes.

[frankykeno]

First off i know plenty of people that keep there snakes together, and its my choice for doing this, secondly, just because they are kept in the same cage doesnt mean that their going to be uncomfortable or have a bad life, if you have a big enough enclosure so that they both have enough room to move I dont see why having two ball pythons together is a bad thing!!!

To be blunt you do not have the herp keeping experience at this point to see why having two ball pythons living together all the time is a bad thing and folks in this thread are trying to help you avoid problems for you and the snakes.

The problem with tubs however (unless you have a heated room or special heating; i.e., one large heat source on the cool side [set at like 80*] and a smaller on on the hot side [set at like 90*]) is that you can't get the right temps... that would be the issue for me, at least.

Funny, I have tons of tubs and they all hold temps and humidity just fine. I have two glass enclosures, those cause me trouble.

Sorry DutchHerp for being so definsive, i just thought that it would be alright to keep them together, ok so what are my options for housing... i have one in a 40 gallon breeder tank, and im not getting my other one until summer, and im not going to breed them i just have them for pets thats it, also i dont have that much room for cages, so what should i do. I will listen to you and keep them apart.

Two snakes, two enclosures.

But the thing is that im only 16 years old and this will be costing me alot of money, and also the only reason i am aloud to get another bp is that i was planning on building a cage from a dresser and keeping both snakes in the cage but now i told my parents that i should have two different cages and now their saying that, thats not a good idea so thats why i wanted to keep both snakes in one cage. See my problem, im luck for having one snake

Do your parents own or have experience keeping snakes? It comes down to this. You have one snake now. Why not focus on that one snake and learn to enjoy it and understand it as a species. If you do not have the money or the room to house another snake, then wait till you do. It may be best anyways to wait until you are older and have your own home and can set your own rules since it doesn't sound like your parents are all that interested in these snakes or learning about their needs.

[tjones]

Look down at the other one i screwed up on this one

[tjones]

Ok i will wait till after college, which will be a very very long time because i will be attending UW-Madison for Vet Med (about 9 years average), then i will be transfering to a college that specializes in reptiles(5-8 years about)!!! i have a few in mind but do any of you know any??? But when i get out i will hopefully be a REPTILE VET !!!!! So in about twenty years if you ever need help with your reptiles i will hopfully be your man. Look for my name TANNER JONES!! HAHAHA

But anyways thanks for the advise i will take it, and wait even though i really really really really wanted that bumblebee!!!

But look for me at the WIRE show in Wisconsin ( Im going to alot in the Midwest since I live in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, All Animal Expo in IL, Sewerfest in WI, NARBC in Chicago, and maybe I might be down at the NRBE down in FL. So i hope to see some of you there, because I would really like to be more involved in the reptile community, have any ideas besides going to shows????

Thanks Again
Tanner Jones
REMEMBER LOOK FOR MY NAME IN 20 YEARS!!!!

[tjones]

By the way can I see your reptile setups (racks, cages, ext.)
or pictures of your room

[frankykeno]

Sounds like you've got a great future, Tanner. It might be best really when you think of it to stick to one snake right now anyways. With all the years of school facing you, you can't know at this point if you'll be living on campus in a dorm room that won't allow reptiles or whatever. It's very hard to have to rehome your snakes if college prevents you from keeping them so if you do expand your collection while still in high school I'd really suggest you make a plan now for their future care. We see an awful lot of younger people here that are struggling because they want to get a higher education but they don't want to have to give up their pets to do so. Sometimes it comes down to that if you haven't set up a plan in advance.

Here's a thought for you. In order to fill your need to work with more snakes maybe you could look into a program at your local zoo in their reptile house. Our zoo here in Toledo has a wonderful teen program where kids get to do some basic work around the reptiles. Also you could research and see if you have any major snake breeders near you. Offering to work for them or volunteer for them is a wonderful way for a young person to see the real goings on of snake breeding and keeping. Another area might be a regular reptile show in your area. Contact the organizer and see if they'd like some help. That would expose you to many different breeders and owners of reptiles and lots of different creatures. Also shows build a network for you for your future.