My first Ball Python coming soon!!

[Jared2608]

Hi guys,

I'm going to be getting my first Ball Python this year. It will actually be my first snake, but I have been involved with my friends keeping theres for years, so I'm not a total noob, plus I've always loved reptiles, I've read countless books and watched countless programs about them.

I have a few questions about setting things up for my snake though. The next clutches of babies will be available over here in about November/December, the breeder I'll be getting it from only lets them go at 2 months, so at least you can be sure they are eating and so on.

I'm going to build the cage myself, because the ones from the Pet stores are horrendously priced, and even getting it shipped from an on line seller is more expensive than I can make it myself!!

First I wanted to find out, should I build a small one for the baby, and upgrade it later, or build a big one, and put extra hides in for the baby snake. I thought it would be nice to build a cage that will be fine for her as an adult, but just put extra hides in so that the big cage doesn't scare her??

The dimensions I was planning on are 1200mmX500mmX500mm(LXBXH). I want to build it out of chipboard(very cheap), and then coat it in Polyurethane, since that dries like plastic and should help keep the wood safe. I could give it two coats of Marine Varnish and the the Polyurethane, that should be pretty good for sealing it.

Another thing that concerns me is heating. I know you need a heating pad that covers about a 1/3 of the tank, that's easy enough to get. I was just wondering weather it goes inside the wood tank, or underneath it. There seem to be two views here. I thought I could maybe build a frame on the floor of the tank, that the pad fits inside, then put the pad in, and silicone a ceramic tile over the frame. That way, the snake can't get to the pad, but the pad can still breath because the tile is not sitting directly on the pad. Then it could stay inside the tank, and I could be sure that the heat is getting into the wood enclosure???

Hides and things I will buy the right size for the snake, and just upgrade to bigger ones as she needs it. I want to start assembling the cage soon, so that I can have it up and running for a while before I get her, that way I can make sure my temp's are correct, and that the tank is working nicely, before I bring the snake home!

What do you guys think, will this set up work, or is there something I should change??

By the way, I'll be getting a normal female!!!

Thanks Guys
Jared

[darkbloodwyvern]

I would recommend starting with a small cage. Can you buy tupperware bins? I make all my own cages from clear tupperware and just melt holes in them for air flow, something a bit like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/...2eb42de962.jpg

I have a soldering iron i use for that and it makes for the cheapest, easiest cages around. This way, you can build an adult sized cage if you want a nice display when she is older, but not break the bank on it. Just be sure to get a tub that is secure and she's can't push up and out of!

good luck!

[ogdentrece]

First off, welcome to the community! A smaller cage would be better, its easier for both you and the snake. You could get a larger one and add more hides but most would be unused, maybe only one or two would be used. But all have to cleaned the same. So if you can do that I guess it would be fine..

I guess your set up for the heating pad sounds alright, except for its lack of a thermostat (not sure if you missed it or you were not considering having it) but you definitely need one. Just as long as there is no way it can be reached and most of all get wet.

The rest sounds alright I guess of course there are many more considerations which would come up as you go along, if things dont fall into place like you hoped like temperature and humidity etc. But for now yes. Good luck!

[Jared2608]

Thanks for the replies! I am still considering the plastic tub scenario, but a good one is also pretty expensive for what they are. Not as expensive as a cage obviously, but not really value for money either, lol.

I know the heating pad needs a thermostat, I think I might of forgotten it off my list of stuff that I mentioned. I doubt the heating pad could get wet if I silicone the tile and wood down. Should the water ball be on the hot side of the enclosure, or sort of in the middle of the hot and cool side??

Also, do you need the digital thermostat, or are the analogue ones fine?? I figure if I do all my research and prep now, then I should be ready for the snake when I get it!!!

[Jared2608]

Well after the replies here, and an email to Ralph Davis, who was kind enough to reply to me even though I can't buy a snake from him, I've altered my plan a little.

I've decided to go for a smaller cage, only 600mm long. Its also wood but I can get it at a good price, then just treat the wood myself. As far as hides go, the site I can get them from has different sizes, small, medium, and large. I suppose the small ones are for corns and the like, do you guys think I should start her with a small one or a medium one, I know they want a smug fit, but I guess they don't want it to be too small.

As far as substrates go, I'm torn between the ultra cheap unprinted newspaper, and something a bit nicer like coconut mulch or they have Kenaf on the website, but I don't know anything about it!!