housing questions.

[sweety314]

Depends on how big your trio is. Balls like tight, enclosed places. In the wild, they're found in burrows and termite mounds.


One snake, one cage whether it be tub, or tank. Less spread of disease, easier to maintain, less likely chance of cannibalism, and DEFINITELY less stress for the snakes. No dominance issues to have to deal with or feeding problems of one "bully" or bigger snake picking on the little guy.

To start, hatchlings can fit in shoebox sized tubs, or 10g tanks. Mine, up to about 600+ grams lived in a 10g w/two hides and a water bowl, w/o any problems.

Adults do fine in 30-40g breeders. I have one sub-adult in a 30g long, one adult in a 40g breeder tank and the 3rd adult male is in a 30qt tub in a rack.

2 yearlings, and two 8/06's are each in 12 qt Rubbermaid boxes in another rack. All have hides and water bowls.

You don't have to move the snake to a different box for feeding. For really shy snakes (which balls sometimes tend to be) moving back and forth causes stress and discourages them from eating. Also, moving right after feeding can increase the chances of regurging, which is never good for a snake.

UTHs are best, but both can be used. Depends on HOW U need to get the right temps. Just remember that CHEs and heat lamps are killers for the tank humidity and you'll either have to mist OFTEN, use the bed-a-beast (coconut husk bedding) or some other means of keeping the humidity up. It doesn't matter HOW U do it, as long as the cool (ambient) temp is 82-84* and the hot side is 92-94* STEADILY. No need for night temp drops.

In T-stats, cheap isn't better.....esp. since if your T-stat dies, you could cook or freeze your pets.

I have rheostats on a couple of tubs, and the temps are VERY steady in my temp-controlled room now. The rest are on the Johnson Controls thermostats. J's aren't top-of-the-line, but were within my budget and they're working VERY well for me. Alot of the breeders here will swear by the Helix, but Icouldn't afford that brand.

OOooooooodles of threads of pros/cons of various t-stats, heating sources, and also live vs. FT when you get the chance to read.

But hope this helps!!!

Welcome Aboard!


RuLyn