10 gallon to 40 for a 7-8mth old

[StellaStarr]

Currently we have our ball python around 7-8 months of age, in a 10 gallon and need to move him to a bigger home. I feel like we need to move up to a 20 gallon and he should be able to live in there for a good 8-12 months, before we would need to move him into something bigger, no? However, my boyfriend is convinced that we need to go ahead and put him in a 40 gallon. I feel like the 40 is going to be too big for him right now, but he won't listen to reason. Can any of you offer some feedback either way? Thanks.

[989josh]

I think your two option are to move him into the 20 or to move him into the 40 if you do move him into a 40 then you would need extra hides and just make it kinda filled with stuff. As long as the snake not stressed you are fine


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[MrLang]

A 40 can work but you'll need to do a lot of work to keep the conditions right. I think a 20L is a good size for an adult BP.

[bcr229]

Since your snake needs an upgrade anyway, get a reptile enclosure rather than a tank. It will be easier to maintain.

[kylearmbar]

I recently got some husbandry advice after a former great eater stopped eating once I got her. Many of my snakes once they were getting to about 4-500 grams I was putting them into 41 gt tubs. I told him I had put her in there when asked about her enclosure. He said she was still in a hatchling tub before he shipped her. So I did some research and I do keep them in rather large tubs for their size. And will be moving most of my sub adults into smaller 16gt tub which some recommend for up to 700-1000 grams, then adults 32-41 qt.. So looking at that a 16 qt is closer to a 10 gallon. I'd think he/ she is probably fine unless at those markers.

[Mr. Misha]

Since your snake needs an upgrade anyway, get a reptile enclosure rather than a tank. It will be easier to maintain.

I second this. Instead of wasting money and getting a 40 gallon, look into buying an Animal Plastic T8 enclosure and just get a RHP (radient heat panel) to heat it. You're going to have a much easier time keeping up heat and humidity. You can also split the T8 and get another snake

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[StellaStarr]

This is a genuine question. How will the T8 enclosure help with heat and humidity? the lower height of it? The material?


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[PitOnTheProwl]

This is a genuine question. How will the T8 enclosure help with heat and humidity? the lower height of it? The material?

They are build reptile specific. Tanks are for fish and only when filled with water will you not have humidity problems.
If you are planning on getting a couple more snakes then a rack might even be a better choice.

[Pyrate81]

This is a genuine question. How will the T8 enclosure help with heat and humidity? the lower height of it? The material?


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A little more clarification on Pit's answer:

Tanks typically have screen tops which allow heat and moisture to rise out of the enclosure thus causing heat/humidity to be lower than standard. Modifications can be made to keep heat/moisture from escaping but can take some time to get it right. There are ways of modifying a glass tank to become more effiicent with heat/humidity maintenance(there is a post somewhere which I don't feel like looking up right now).


PVC enclosures are more efficient at holding heat and humidity for your snakes needs. Some proof:

-When I used glass tanks, my humidity was roughly around 40-45% and I would need to spray the enclosure to get even semi-decent sheds from one of my BPs. Now humidity statys in the 60-65% range and he's had 2 perfect sheds since moving to his new enclosure. Some of my enclosures reached 80-99% humidity and I had to make adjustments to bring that down.


-Cool side temps were a little above room temp(around 72 degrees) in a glass tank, which is ok for some of my colubrids but needed another heating unit to raise ambient and cool side temps for my BP. With my PVC cages, I've had to lower my thermostat to get a nice 78-82 degree cool side with 88-92 degree warm side.


It's worth the money to lessen frustration and so far has reduced my electric bill as well. Though, I switched 7 snakes from glass to PVC at one time so I probably noticed more than some people.