New tank

[chris4554]

I got a new tank at Petsmart yesterday because it was on sale. It's a 40gal Kritter Keeper with the sliding lid. It's 36" x 18" x 16". Basically what I'm wondering is when I should try to switch my ball python into the bigger tank. The one I have now is a 20g tall. This new tank sames a lot bigger and I don't want to stress my snake out to much by making the switch. The snake is about two feet long now.

[bsash]

How big is the ball python? There really is no need to switch right away, but the 40 gallon kritter cages are what I use for my adult ball pythons. However, you could try to switch the snake over, and if it does not eat and continues to stress out past a week, you could always switch back.

[Brstin2flames]

I have a ball that is about a year old. I was given a 30gal for free so I couldn't pass that up. I've been told that a 30gal is a little large for a young snake, but I made sure to fill it up with plants and hides to make him feel comfortable. Heating is always harder in a larger tank, but I'd say as long as you make it comfortable and safe feeling for your snake, and there are no signs of stress then it should be fine. Mine is!

[stevepoppers]

I thought a 20 long was enough for most adults.

[Kaorte]

a 20g long is fine for an adult male, but a female might be more comfortable in a 30g breeder.

[chris4554]

The snake is about two feet right now.

I'm not sure of the sex yet and with the sale the 40g was like $10 more than the 20g long tank so I figured I would go ahead and get it so I wouldn't have to worry about it becoming cramped if the snake becomes to large.

[Kaorte]

Being cramped is the least of your worries. A ball python would rather be cramped then have extra room. They are shy animals that spend all of their time in tight termite mounds and rodent burrows. They don't normally go wandering around open spaces.

So, to be honest, the smaller the better. Especially while the snake is young.

[chris4554]

Well I already have the tank so I just need to know the best way to transfer the snake into it. I figured I would wait for it to grow some but i also don't understand the problem of the tank being to big as long as it still has small hides to be under. Don't they wander around Africa? That is not small by any means so how could it stress the animal if it had more room to go in between hides?

[bsash]

The best way to transfer them into a larger tank is to get as many trees, bushes and hides as you can into there. In the wild they are mostly in the over grown grassy areas of Africa, so they do like to be hidden most of the time.

[I<3Dreamsicles]

Transfer when ever you want... I started my snake as a baby in a 38g tank... Just have hides and I use a fake plant to clutter up the cage and give her something to hide under... never had any problems.