30 gallon too big?

[snakevet121]

no!!! i have a 30 gallon will my baby bp get stressed in it because its so big and do i need to just worry about my ground temps or air temps too?

[Adam_Wysocki]

30 gallon tanks are very hard to heat because they are tall ... not the best design for a non-arboreal snake.

You need to worry about the temps inside of the enclosure.

Baby ball pythons can be easily stressed in a lot of cages if you don't provide the correct forms of security for them.

-adam

[tigerlily]

It can be done, but I would not advise it. Like Adam said, they are VERY hard to heat. I know, I had my first set up in one. I had the hardest time keeping temps up. In order to keep temps up, I had to use a space heater. I am now a plastic convert. I love my racks!! They kick major butt.

[elevatethis]

I came up with a decent analogy for glass tanks just now...

Picture yourself inside your car during the winter. Your heat is on, and its warm inside the car. But your feet are still cold, and the glass windows are freezing cold to the touch.

An extreme example, but similar to what your BP could experience inside a glass tank that large.

Like adam said, be more worried about the temps inside a glass enclosure that large. If you wanted a snake for a vivarium, a ball python wasn't the right choice of animal to go with. Ball pythons love plastic.

[Sputnik]

Balls do very well in plastic housing and you can't beat Adam's advice!

[snakevet121]

k but my 30 gallon is only 12 inches high

[elevatethis]

k but my 30 gallon is only 12 inches high

Do you have a "30 gallon breeder" sized tank?

Although it doesn't make much difference, you'll have more floorspace than with a standard 30 gallon, and probably a bigger thermal gradient due to the increased floorspace.

IMHO, leave the aquariums for fish...

[new2BP]

u may figure that sense u have a aquirium, why not use it instead of let it take up dust, but rubbermaids are the way to go for sure. i have messed around with glass tanks. and it can be done, but for 10$ for a rubbermaid, u just cant go wrong.

[elevatethis]

I filled my glass tanks up with water

[SatanicIntention]

I also fill VE-175 tubs with water for my goldfish Makes a nice little outdoor pond if I say so myself.


As I said in another post in another one of your threads, a 30gallon is much too big for a baby and you will end up with a stressed out, non-eating, most likely sick Ball Python. Big tanks are hard to heat properly without the necessary insulation. You can't just get a heating pad and a water bowl and be done with it. Even people that set up glass tanks properly with thermostats, insulation, plexiglas, digital thermometers, flexwatt, STILL have issues with them. Yes, you may be able to see your snake clearly, but what good is it when it is at the cost of your snake's health and well-being?\

A nice little 15qt tub would be great for your new baby, as would flexwatt and an appropriate thermostat. That whole set up would cost:
$65.00 for a JC thermostat
<$2.00 for the 15qt tub
$4.40 for 2 one foot sections of 3" flexwatt
$8.99 for a Lutron Credenza dimmer to control cool side temps
$10.00 for two flexwatt power cord connections or $6.40 + $0.88x2(2 6ft extension cords) if you want to do it yourself.
$3.00 for aspen bedding or Free newspaper, papertowels
$11.88 for an Acu-Rite Digital thermometer, measures humidity too.
$1.00 for a water bowl from dollar store
$1.00 for two hides from WalMart(plastic saucers that are put under planter pots to catch water)
$1.50 for a box of black binder clips used to hold the lid on
$4.00 for a soldering iron to melt holes in tub

And there ya go! That's about minimum what you would need to set the snake up properly. You would spend a bunch more if you bought the stuff at pet stores as they mark their prices WAY up. If you need help finding these things, just ask. I know where each item can be purchased, whether store or website.

Tubs all the way!