As seasoned keepers on BPs which type of cage do you prefer?

[itsazoohere]

We are starting to think about housing for the Ball we plan to get in August. I have the space in my den for the cage but I'm not sure what route to go with cage wise. I know my daughter would prefer one she can see thru however I've been reading (as she has) that glass tanks are hard to keep at the ideal heat/humidity levels.

So I'm asking you all that have been doing this longer what you've found to be best. I was looking at those vision cages I think I got that name right but I didn't see any cross ventilation holes not to mention the price tag. I was also thinking about the use of Rubbermaids that is what I keep my Tort's in that are in the house still. However then I started to think how would we secure the top of a rubbermaid tightly.

Thanks for your input ... we are really starting to get into this snake research. Tonight my daughter read pages out of her BP book to us instead of us reading her a bedtime story and her little sister(4) sat listening til she passed out.

Michele

[Nate]

I think it all depends on what you're after. If you want a set up that's appealing for all to see, then go with the Vision. Aquariums are cheaper but, as you already know, harder to maintain. The price tag is high but I bet you'll like it a lot more than an aquarium.

Personally, I use a rack system because I have a growing collection. The rack system uses the tubs. If you really don't need to have the looks, then go with the tubs. very easy to maintain and very cheap.

[chris B]

I personally like the looks of a reptile basics cage. But if your planning on a baby BP, i'd start with a 15 quart tub, or 10 gallon tank. Then at about a year old or so move to a 28 quart tub, and so on. Once my BP gets a bit bigger i'll be buying one of those reptile basic's cage's for sure.

[qiksilver]

other choices are something like animal plastics, boaphile, jungle habitats, RBI plastics all make a fairly plain cage that will hold humidity and still be a decent display for your daughter to see into. really just look around and find what you like the best.

[hardball]

Well Im not the most experienced but I house mine in a 10 gallon tank. Basically what your looking at if you do the prescribed tank maintenance to maintain high humidity your looking at spraying about once a day. Im not familiar with the daily maintenance for a tub what you would be looking at, but I have found taking 5 seconds of my time after waking up in the morning to spray his cage (your supposed to change the water out every day anyways) to be pretty simple. I like to check on him and see what hes up to periodically anyways so it hasnt been a hassle for me to use a tank.

Cheapest way is to probably go to reptiletubs.com though and use those. They come with hinge locks I believe and that is probably the way I am going for my next snake, and when i have to upgrade my ball to a bigger home because it is more cost effective.

My 10 gallon tank setup for my baby BP for all the hygrometer heating pad and so forth including the tank was about $120 so it wasnt too bad. I know Im kind of going both ways but they both have their advantages. A tank isnt bad or a hassle to take care of if you make the proper setup to hold humidity and what not. For the balls lifestyle and preferences a tub is probably the best way to go though because its not really a "viewing" snake. It will be in its hide pretty much all day,where all you will be lucky to see is part of his body anyways. Once again theres nothing wrong with the tank and it does have its advantages, but a tub is probably ultimately the best way to go. Its cheaper and suits the balls lifestyle and needs a little better.

[DragonBalls]

I personally like the looks of a reptile basics cage. But if your planning on a baby BP, i'd start with a 15 quart tub, or 10 gallon tank. Then at about a year old or so move to a 28 quart tub, and so on. Once my BP gets a bit bigger i'll be buying one of those reptile basic's cage's for sure.

At a year old?? My 10 month old BP is 39" and 945g. I moved him from a 20G to a 40G last month. A 10G might be OK for the first 3 months. Mine grew fast!!

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800 I used this thread for setting up 4 different tanks to maintain humidity. My BRB is in a 29G, 70-80% humidity without misting, I put a UTH partially under the large water dish to increase humidity.

[chris B]

At a year old?? My 10 month old BP is 39" and 945g. I moved him from a 20G to a 40G last month. A 10G might be OK for the first 3 months. Mine grew fast!!

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800 I used this thread for setting up 4 different tanks to maintain humidity. My BRB is in a 29G, 70-80% humidity without misting, I put a UTH partially under the large water dish to increase humidity.

Well, I meant to put depending on size and weight, some grow faster then others etc. You dont wanna go to big because then you sacrafice having a nervous ball python that could go off feed. Just my opinion though.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When I only had one BP I first went the glass tank way then switch to tub and never went back and now 16 BP later they are all housed in a rack system.

My conclusion after using both, plastic tubs provide more security and the temps and humidity are easier to control.

Now it does not mean you cannot have those results in a glass tank however you might have to work harder at it.

Bottom line use what work best for you and your BP, and keep in mind that what matters is for you to have a healthy BP that is eating.

I was also thinking about the use of Rubbermaids that is what I keep my Tort's in that are in the house still. However then I started to think how would we secure the top of a rubbermaid tightly

Both Rubbermaid and Sterilite do Latchable clear tubs which are escape proof, and work great, this is the type I use for quarantine

[DragonBalls]

Well, I meant to put depending on size and weight, some grow faster then others etc. You dont wanna go to big because then you sacrafice having a nervous ball python that could go off feed. Just my opinion though.

Mine's not nervous, he's almost friendly, very curious. I probably did over feed him for a while, he went off feed for 3 weeks, 2 months ago. He's been great since.

[darkangel]

I just want to say I have one of those latchable tubs and they are not escape proof unless they're in a rack. The ends don't budge but my bp squeezed through the sides. So to make them escape proof put something good and heavy one top, or get some binder clips.