Creative items for ball python terrarium?

[Treeman]

My ball python loves climbing at night, I always give him something to climb. However, addressing the climbing issue, they do like to climb to explore, but no, many of them aren't too great at it. Their heavy bodies are susceptible to injury should they fall. They are ground dwelling snakes that enjoy the occasional climb, but are far from being even semi-arboreal. Due to the risk of injury, I limit the height of climbing branches to about 6-8", and always assure that the branch won't break, shift, or fall under the weight of the snake.

[MarkL1561]

There are some fish tank decorations that work really well. Just make sure to seal all holes so your snake doesn’t get stuck.



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[Bogertophis]

There are some fish tank decorations that work really well. Just make sure to seal all holes so your snake doesn’t get stuck.



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And make sure there's no sharp projections inside, where your snake might snug up against & get cut. I've seen "castles" & such made for tropical fish...swimming thru
they don't get hurt, but a snake might very well.

I like driftwood, if I can find just the right shape & size. Also, if you use 2 or 3 parallel branches, it's much easier for heavy-bodied beeps to climb them. Leave a space
between them big enough so your snake won't get stuck, but so he can wrap around & thru both for stability. If you can't find branches, you can also buy bamboo poles
& cut them to fit (& secure them); some people make them into low climbing ladders also...they work & look good too, & are very stable if sized so they fit angled in cage.

Another thing I've used for snakes are some terra cotta pottery, like those large "strawberry pots" with little balconies for separate plants. Just make
sure all openings are more than big enough so your snake won't get stuck, & take it out of the cage when they start getting too big. They're very easy
for snakes to climb in & thru...they seem to have "fun" with them? You also need to make SURE anything you use cannot be pushed over by your snake-
they can get hurt if it falls on them: what I did in the past was secure such things to a wood base for stability. (these can also crack a glass aquarium if they
fall over...I've used glass tanks "forever" & never broke one, nor did my snakes...just a little planning will keep them safe)

[Treeman]

Bogertophis brought up a good idea by using a base. When I was big into aquariums, some decorative wood was sold with slate bases attached to help it stand up in the tank. I did that once in an enclosure with a really cool piece of wood I had. It was a chunk off a tree's root system, so it provided sort of a half log, with a large, solid piece of root extending off one side. My BP who loves climbing would venture out on the root and would cause the whole thing to pivot downward. I solved this with a thoroughly scrubbed piece of slate. I just siliconed the slate to the wood and it became extremely stable, and then the slate is buried in the substrate. You never see it.

Used this method on my girlfriend's pesky guinea pig's food bowl she kept tipping over too

[Bogertophis]

Thanks Treeman...I still have some driftwood mounted on a slate base (it's super heavy, the base I mean). I've also glued otherwise questionable rocks to
a heavy tile or heavy terra cotta shallow plant saucer (inverted to serve as a base). Many things can be used creatively to make safe "snake furniture"...

[Alex Lehner]

My tank is a bit taller, but I have a hollow log zip tied to some branches that he loves to hide in. He can crawl completely inside of it and poke his head out. I also have some "shelves" made out of cork bark for him to climb and rest on. All of the climbing materials are safely secured. He comes out almost every night and climbs, and during the say comes back down to his hot hide.

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[Bogertophis]

My tank is a bit taller, but I have a hollow log zip tied to some branches that he loves to hide in. He can crawl completely inside of it and poke his head out. I also have some "shelves" made out of cork bark for him to climb and rest on. All of the climbing materials are safely secured. He comes out almost every night and climbs, and during the say comes back down to his hot hide.

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I don't currently keep any BPs but I do something similar for my rat snakes: they have branches that are secured diagonally & criss-crossing each other in the center
of the cage, & I use pieces of coated wire (not sharp & easy to bend) to secure a rounded basket up on the branches. My snakes love them & even sleep in them during
the day or night, but still use their regular hides too. Sounds very similar to what you do...nice to know that BPs appreciate similar things. Rat snakes don't hide as
much as most BPs do...I think it means that yours is very "comfortable" (feels safe with you).

[FollowTheSun]

Mine climbs, too. I guess it depends on personality.
Mine is curious so one thing I do is change things around slightly every so often. I leave the hides in place and the water dish, but I move branches, fake leaves and will stick a basket or something in there to check out and explore.

Mine enjoys his live potted plant. It's a hardier plant and it raises the humidity nicely too.

I bought some fake vine plants and I have those spread all around like underbrush, so he can crawl around under them and explore.

[Alex Lehner]

I don't currently keep any BPs but I do something similar for my rat snakes: they have branches that are secured diagonally & criss-crossing each other in the center
of the cage, & I use pieces of coated wire (not sharp & easy to bend) to secure a rounded basket up on the branches. My snakes love them & even sleep in them during
the day or night, but still use their regular hides too. Sounds very similar to what you do...nice to know that BPs appreciate similar things. Rat snakes don't hide as
much as most BPs do...I think it means that yours is very "comfortable" (feels safe with you).

Thanks! I sure hope so. It's not something I would have really thought to do until he started climbing so much so I figured I would offer him the chance and he seems to enjoy exploring. I love the basket idea, that sounds so cute! Just had a a little heart attack when I couldn't find him in the tank, only to realize he was between the foam backdrop and the glass, so I'll have to secure that backdrop tomorrow.

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