Tank suggestions!

[strikerball21]

hey guys first post new to snakes AND all that jazz herers my question
getting this badass baby pastel very yellow/black!!

looking at getting a tank wanted some suggestions..
exo terra 36x18x36 tank or a large.. 120gal fish tank..

I want it to make the tank look like a forest.. is it good bad to use living bedding like moss ect if not ill go with just the chips and fake plants when i get him ill post pics i just love the look and quality of the exo terra systems.. also good suggestions for some stuff to put in the tank.. good brand of uth ect ect.. thanks in advance

[pigfat]

Congrats on the pastel! One of my favorite morons! 120 gallon would be nearly impossible to keep at the right temps and way too big and will stress the snake out. If it's young I would start with a 20 gallon. Simone else might know if certain plants are toxic for balls but live plants are okay, but just know they will get smashed from your ball climbing on/through it, the plants won't last. As for bedding, i use the loose eco earth and love it so far. It helps keep the humidity up and it looks great IMO. I suggest you read the caresheet on the top of the husbandry page and it will give you all the basic needs, do's and dont's, I THINK it may talk about live plants.

[Exotic Ectotherms]

One of my favorite morons!

I'm pretty sure he meant morphs.....damn that auto-correct!!! LOL

[filipradcliffe]

Hey. I just got my BP last friday. I had to keep modifying till finally found right setup. I have a 20 Gal Long Tank, ECO Earth Bedding, have a small half log hide (cool side) and unfortunatly and Large half log hide (get small), small water dish, some plants, and a tree branch. I have 2 sets of analog thermometer and hygrometer. (1 therm and 1 hygro left and 1 therm, 1 hygro right). I also have of the cool side a 24/7 red light and 12/12 on/off white on warm side with heating pad. Put some foil on the top of my mesh cover to keep in humidity. Here are some pics...hope they help, im new also but so far things are great.

[Charlie And Lucy]

With all of the heat in the cage, the plants tend to die unless your humidity is at 70% or higher. I tried it once. Also, a 120 gallon is much too large. A 20 would be perfect. BP's aren't explorers, they spend most of their time snoozing in their hides. I use aspen bedding for my snakes and it's messy but works great, and it's hypoallergenic (if that matters to you). It's very inexpensive too. I have all zoo med UTH's. With a UTH, you will need a thermostat. Some of the large ones can get to over 140 degrees. Also, you'll want a digital therm/humidity sensor. The Accu-Rite at Walmart is around $13 and works like a champ.

One thing you may want to consider is a tub for your snake. It is so much easier to keep humidity consistent, and you'd have a better chance with plants. I was so against tubs at first until I finally tried it. My snakes have never been healthier or happier.

Welcome!

[pigfat]

I'm pretty sure he meant morphs.....damn that auto-correct!!! LOL

Yes!!! Stupid iPhone auto-correct Glad it got a laugh though! haha

[strikerball21]

So a 36 18 36 is to big to I would assume? There is a 36L 18w 18h at a petco near me is that still to big? Also was looking at the Exo terra rain forest kit.. and for live planets I was thinking a live moss bedding and make like a pond at one side of the cage that would keep humidity well.. maybe to well what u guys think? Thanks for all the advice so far

[Skittles1101]

So a 36 18 36 is to big to I would assume? There is a 36L 18w 18h at a petco near me is that still to big? Also was looking at the Exo terra rain forest kit.. and for live planets I was thinking a live moss bedding and make like a pond at one side of the cage that would keep humidity well.. maybe to well what u guys think? Thanks for all the advice so far

You have to keep in mind that when ball pythons go to the bathroom, they make a huge mess, usually smearing it all over everything they can in the tank. It's nice to have elaborate tanks, but they usually aren't very user friendly. I had a complex set up with my first ball python, after about 3 cleanings I changed everything out and kept it simple: two hides, 1 fake plant and a water dish. He still gets poo everywhere, but at least I'm not spending an hour cleaning the tank out anymore....

[strikerball21]

ok I have narrowed it down to exo terra 36x18x18 or a ricks reptile.. what one would be better? exo terra is 1/3 the price! i do know i need a uth 2 hides and water bowl if i did go the ricks reptile i would make it like a 2 layer put a 2nd level in it.. any suggestions on good vines fake plants ect please let me know. I want to make the take like a chunk of forest also would the exo terra fogger be a good way to raise humidity?

[AliCat37]

I have my ball python in a 2 foot by 4 foot cage... I don't believe in "too large" as many people say. I also see him out and very active at night, which is one reason why I moved him out of a tub and into the bigger cage. He uses every inch of the cage.
I bought all my fake plants for my ball python at hobby lobby, however the dollar store sells them too, they're just much smaller. Vines are easy to make out of rope, I used rot resistant rope for my lizard and it works well.