Cage wallpaper/background

[Austenh96]

Hi everyone, I'm making this thread to ask about possibly adding some desert-themed wallpaper to my ball python's cage.

So the problem is that as a result of me having to put my bp's heating lamp directly on the glass of his tank, (the back side of the tank), because I was moving some things around, some minor cracks have occured in the glass. This was very dissapointing to me, because the tank looked very natural before, and now it doesn't. The first thing I did was put duct tape over the crack-lines to help the glass from continuing to crack, which did not help the un-natural state of the tank.

I was wondering if it was possible to buy some desert-themed wallpaper/linoleum or vinyl to lay over the back-side of the glass to cover up the cracks and improve the looks of the tank?

Thank you, I am open to all input.

[JLC]

Any chance of just getting a new tank?

Is the duct tape inside or outside the enclosure? If it's inside, you need to get it out immediately. Snakes have an extraordinary talent for getting themselves stuck on tape...ANY tape that they have access to. And when they do, the results can be very, very bad. If the tape is on the outside...then that means the cracks are still exposed on the inside, which lead to a risk of him cutting his face when he pokes around and rubs on his enclosure.

Of course, the "wall paper" that you're talking about can help with that...IF you can figure out a way to affix it to the inside of the glass without using any tape. Pet stores sell such papers and they don't cost much...usually desert or underwater scenes. Maybe glue it on and make sure the glue is fully cured and not fumey before you put the snake back in.

The problem with the wall paper on the inside of the enclosure is that it might be a pain in the butt to clean and could get really nasty if the snake chooses to lose a big pile right up against it.

[Austenh96]

Any chance of just getting a new tank?

Is the duct tape inside or outside the enclosure? If it's inside, you need to get it out immediately. Snakes have an extraordinary talent for getting themselves stuck on tape...ANY tape that they have access to. And when they do, the results can be very, very bad. If the tape is on the outside...then that means the cracks are still exposed on the inside, which lead to a risk of him cutting his face when he pokes around and rubs on his enclosure.

Of course, the "wall paper" that you're talking about can help with that...IF you can figure out a way to affix it to the inside of the glass without using any tape. Pet stores sell such papers and they don't cost much...usually desert or underwater scenes. Maybe glue it on and make sure the glue is fully cured and not fumey before you put the snake back in.

The problem with the wall paper on the inside of the enclosure is that it might be a pain in the butt to clean and could get really nasty if the snake chooses to lose a big pile right up against it.

Thanks for replying.

First of all, the cracks are because of heat, so they are not very severe. The cracks also do not stick out in any way, and the inside of the glass is still completely flat, so there is no way he could cut or scrape himself on the wall of his enclosure. Secondly, the duct tape is on the outside of the tank. I used alot of duct tape in making his hide-away, but it is all sticky-side down, so there is virtually there is no way he could get stuck.

Your idea of the pet store desert wallpaper sounds great, I think I'll visit my neighborhood pet store tommorow to see if they have any.

P.S. I'm on a budget of about 50$, although I only want to spend about 10$

[JLC]

Ok....glad to hear the cracks didn't go all the way through. Sounds purely cosmetic then. Hopefully you can get it fixed up the way you like it and still have it be a safe environment.

About the hide...I can't recommend more strongly that you ditch it completely and use something else. I know you think the tape is secure...but I've heard wayyy too many horror stories from people who were just as confident that there was "no way" the snake could get to the sticky side....only to come home and find their snake completely tangled in it. And duct tape is about the worst of them all. It's really, really dangerous.

You can use all sorts of inexpensive things for hides...a hole cut into the side of a cheap plastic bowl from the dollar store will work just as well as an expensive cave from the pet store. Anything that doesn't involve tape....please!

[Austenh96]

Ok....glad to hear the cracks didn't go all the way through. Sounds purely cosmetic then. Hopefully you can get it fixed up the way you like it and still have it be a safe environment.

About the hide...I can't recommend more strongly that you ditch it completely and use something else. I know you think the tape is secure...but I've heard wayyy too many horror stories from people who were just as confident that there was "no way" the snake could get to the sticky side....only to come home and find their snake completely tangled in it. And duct tape is about the worst of them all. It's really, really dangerous.

You can use all sorts of inexpensive things for hides...a hole cut into the side of a cheap plastic bowl from the dollar store will work just as well as an expensive cave from the pet store. Anything that doesn't involve tape....please!

As much as I respect your insight, I really dont think the duct tape is a serious issue. I just took a 360 degree close examination of his hide, and I found only about 2 millimeters of open sticky-side duct tape on it which I snipped off. Even if he intentionally tried to stick himself to it and pull the duct tape off, he really couldn't. He just goes around touching things with his nose; even if I held a strip of duct tape in front of him he would probably just touch it and back off : / I really dont think he could peel the duct tape off of the box, as he has no fingers or anything of the such to do so.

Plus, even if he somehow managed to rip some of the duct tape off, the sticky side wouldn't be sticky anymore because it would rip off the carboard if it was removed.

P.S. My snakes hide is an inverted top ramen box with a hole cut in one side + other cardboard taped onto the sides. ( I've been changing his hide alot to try to keep as most light as possible out. )

[dr del]

Hi,

As much as I respect your insight, I really dont think the duct tape is a serious issue. I just took a 360 degree close examination of his hide, and I found only about 2 millimeters of open sticky-side duct tape on it which I snipped off. Even if he intentionally tried to stick himself to it and pull the duct tape off, he really couldn't. He just goes around touching things with his nose; even if I held a strip of duct tape in front of him he would probably just touch it and back off : / I really dont think he could peel the duct tape off of the box, as he has no fingers or anything of the such to do so.

Plus, even if he somehow managed to rip some of the duct tape off, the sticky side wouldn't be sticky anymore because it would rip off the carboard if it was removed.

P.S. My snakes hide is an inverted top ramen box with a hole cut in one side + other cardboard taped onto the sides. ( I've been changing his hide alot to try to keep as most light as possible out. )

To be blunt - you are completely wrong.

It always amazes and irritates me that people seem to imagine we pull these warnings out of our asses.

For your edification here is the post with all the links before I get the usual "I've been doing it for years with no problem" replies.

If you were about to make one - you got lucky now go fix it before the luck runs out.

A little duct tape never hurt anyone!!!! Never had any issues using duct tape.

I beg to differ;

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dr del

I haven't bothered updating the list in a while but feel free to do your own updated search on it if you still don't believe it is a problem.


dr del

[Austenh96]

Hi,



To be blunt - you are completely wrong.

It always amazes and irritates me that people seem to imagine we pull these warnings out of our asses.

For your edification here is the post with all the links before I get the usual "I've been doing it for years with no problem" replies.

If you were about to make one - you got lucky now go fix it before the luck runs out.



I haven't bothered updating the list in a while but feel free to do your own updated search on it if you still don't believe it is a problem.


dr del

Since you two obviously know alot more about ball pythons than I do, and I never would want to do anything that could be potentially dangerous to my snake, I suppose I will get a new hide for him.

Although I still dont see any way he could peel the duct tape off. It's all firmly attached to the box where it is, and I don't believe there is a way, (him being a snake and all ) for him to somehow pick or peel the tape off..

Anyhoo I will get a new hide for him anyways as you two have strongly suggested.

I greatly appreciate both of your advice

[dr del]

Hi,

What usually happens is the heat and humidity inside the enclosure gradually cause the tape to become unstuck until the fatefull day there is enough looseness for the snake to get enough stuck to him he cannot easily pull free.

At which point his strugling lifts more of it that sticks even tighter or he actually tears his own skin trying to get free.

It's one of those things that gets more likely with time and, habitually, gets checked for less often with time as well. After all it has been fine the last 50 times it was checked.

Then comes the panic laden search for olive oil and cotton buds to try and loosen it and then the realisation you have to get the olive oil off as well.

Like gaurds round lightbulbs and un thermostated heat sources it is one of those things better avoided than treated after the fact.

If you need alternatives for fixing things inside the cage a hot glue gun works well and silicone sealant will also work but takes a lot longer to cure before the snake can be put back in.

The hot glue gun is set and cured in minutes so tends to get my vote.

For hides I can recommend terracotta or plastic plant pot drip trays with holes cut in the sides - cheap as chips, dark and low for great security and easily washed when they poop and pee on them.


dr del

[Austenh96]

Hi,

What usually happens is the heat and humidity inside the enclosure gradually cause the tape to become unstuck until the fatefull day there is enough looseness for the snake to get enough stuck to him he cannot easily pull free.

At which point his strugling lifts more of it that sticks even tighter or he actually tears his own skin trying to get free.

It's one of those things that gets more likely with time and, habitually, gets checked for less often with time as well. After all it has been fine the last 50 times it was checked.

Then comes the panic laden search for olive oil and cotton buds to try and loosen it and then the realisation you have to get the olive oil off as well.

Like gaurds round lightbulbs and un thermostated heat sources it is one of those things better avoided than treated after the fact.

If you need alternatives for fixing things inside the cage a hot glue gun works well and silicone sealant will also work but takes a lot longer to cure before the snake can be put back in.

The hot glue gun is set and cured in minutes so tends to get my vote.

For hides I can recommend terracotta or plastic plant pot drip trays with holes cut in the sides - cheap as chips, dark and low for great security and easily washed when they poop and pee on them.


dr del

That would make more sense that it would be easier for the snake to get himself stuck if the duct tape had become morphed by a heat lamp. Now that I think about it, the heat lamp is right over his hide that has duct tape on it. I could see something like this happening to me and my snake now.

Thank you very much, you have been very helpful and informative. I will start building his new hide as soon as possible, I think I have a hot glue gun and some paint trays to start with.

Thanks again,
Austen