My current set-up for Monty!

[M.C.757]

Hi all! Iv been on here for a couple months and it’s been very helpful, now I just want to show off my enclosure for my ball and get some feedback!

He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium.

Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable.

This is my first snake ever and he’s doing so well for me. He’s very calm, eats once a week, I’m very happy with the progress I’m making to make him a very happy animal.

Any feedback to upgrade or make his home better will be very beneficial to me and more importantly, my snake. Thanks in advance!

Also, inquires on water purification and feeding inside/outside the enclosure is very appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Caali]

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

[Zincubus]

As above really ...

Looks good already..love the substrate as well

Hopefully as mentioned your heat source is regulated by a thermostat .

Any digital thermometers you get should have a wired probe not one of those stand alone ones or plastic stick on ones ..

Good point made about the rope-vine in the viv as they're better when wrapped around a couple of branches ( from local park ) then you have a nice little climbing structure for him in the evenings..




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Sunnieskys]

Omg the chair is cracking me up! Lol. Please take out the sticky thermometer/hygrometer. Nothing sticky ever goes into a cage. Raise the hot side and cold side to 90/80. Looking good! Again...love the chair!

[Zincubus]

It may be a suction thermostat/hygrometer..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[M.C.757]

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

In what way are logs bad for them? Also I’ll keep the temperature thing in mind.. I can get more powerful bulbs to keep him warm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M.C.757]

Omg the chair is cracking me up! Lol. Please take out the sticky thermometer/hygrometer. Nothing sticky ever goes into a cage. Raise the hot side and cold side to 90/80. Looking good! Again...love the chair!

I actually need to take that out now that I have hydrometer probes.. thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M.C.757]

I have a few things I'd like to say to your enclosure:

1. "He just ate so I don’t wanna mess with him, but Monty seems to be happy in this rather large terrarium."
--> It's a great sign that he ate. A happy snake is an eating snake. By the way some snakes just prefer larger enclosures. Mine does too. They all have their very own character. I also really like the name Monty.

2. "Hot side is 85-80, cold side is 79-73, heat mat under volcano (hot side) so he’s very comfortable."
--> The hot side should be between 89 and 92 and the cold side should be between 77 and 80. It might be a little too cold in there. Do you use a thermostat?

3. I wouldn't use a log as a hiding spot. They are known to be quite bad for ball pythons. In my opinion it's best to choose two identical hides so that the snake doesn't choose security over thermoregulating.

4. I would also use a digital hygrometer and thermometer. They're more precise.

5. Is the rope really secure? Ball pythons love to climb but that doesn't mean they're the best at it. I feel like a rope is just asking for an accident. Maybe choose a big branch that doesn't wobble as much as the rope. It'll keep your snake safe.


Otherwise the enclosure looks fine to me
By the way, you're one of the few people I've seen that didn't start of using Aspen.

I don’t use a thermostat for the heat mat because it’s not in direct contact with the glass, it’s weird.. but it works!

Also, I did start with aspen, but it didn’t hold humidity well so it was efficient for him. Iv been thinking about switching to coconut shaving or whatever it’s called. The cypress mulch is good but I know coconut is better. Thoughts?

He’s one a once a week feeding schedule so he’s getting big! Iv been trying to find better hides/log things for him. Any suggestions beside a local pet store? Thanks in advance.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sunnieskys]

Wait what? No thermostat? How is you uth not touching the glass? I'm confused.

[Caali]

In what way are logs bad for them? Also I’ll keep the temperature thing in mind.. I can get more powerful bulbs to keep him warm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ball pythons like tight, dark and secure places to hide. Not only are these logs not as smooth as they seem (they often have splinters) but they can't give the snake a feeling of security. It's best to get a hide with only once entrance/exit and not two openings. You also don't want your snake to get a splinter stuck in their skin.
I personally use cypress mulch as well and I'm really happy with it. If you're not, you can definitely use coco chips but I don't have any experience with them.
Also I would definitely use a thermostat. Heat mats (no matter where they lay) can have dangerous heat spikes that can hurt your snake even if the heat mat is not directly under the glass.