sealing hand made hides etc. Suggestions on safe products.

[tracy0416]

Hey all: Thought some may find it interesting to assist in figuring out how to deal with these issues.

I'm moving my BPs to a new large acrylic enclosure, 6' x 2' x 2'. It's huge, 1/2" thick acrylic and quite attractive. Has a lid and I believe will hold the temps and humidity well. I'm going to try to house the male and female together.

I am going to furnish it with multiple hides and "rock-like" surfaces which I am in the process of making out of PAPIER MACHE covered wire forms. I'll post pics of the hides, etc. when I am done and show folks how to make them. They are much cheaper than store bought and can be made in large numbers all in one day.

Anyhoo, after I paper mached the forms, I let them dry and then painted them. The surfaces, while great shapes, don't look or feel as "rock-like" as I want them to so I need some suggestions on snake-safe ways to plaster and seal these new hides.

I was thinking drywall compound over the papier mache would make a nice rock-like surface. But, I need to be able to wash these things as they will get pooped on and need to be washed for general hygiene purposes. Acylic paint, while plastic, bubbles if wet for extended periods so I need to seal it after the painting is done.

1. Is sealing with a water based polyurethane okay if allowed to cure for a couple of weeks?.

2. what suggestions do folks have on creating rock-like surfaces on styrofoam or paper mache forms?

3. I was also thinking of tile grout but was worried that it would chip off or be a bit too rough of a surface when it covered a large area like the entire hide. What do you all think?

4. And, how does one seal tile grout to make it wash-able?

I want to make multiple hides and levels of surfaces as both my BP's like to roam at night and I'd like to enhance their experiences and options while doing so. I'll include some greenery, rocks, wood, etc, but wanted to created caves and hills to explore.

I welcome ideas and input. Thanks

[python.princess]

about 90% of the people on this site will tell you that putting 2 snakes together is not a good idea. i'll leave it to someone else to explain. as far as the hides are concerned, it sounds like a great idea! sorry, but i don't have any advice on how to go about it though! but definitely post pictures of them once they're done!

[tracy0416]

about 90% of the people on this site will tell you that putting 2 snakes together is not a good idea. i'll leave it to someone else to explain. as far as the hides are concerned, it sounds like a great idea! sorry, but i don't have any advice on how to go about it though! but definitely post pictures of them once they're done!

I know whatcha mean. I'm torn on this issue myself. Have read of people doing it both successfully and not so.

We can start another thread or you can perhaps direct me to the thread here which discusses these issues. I am open to reading more and have not made my mind up to house 2 bp's together.

One is going to get a palace for sure though!
Thanks for the post : )

[python.princess]

okay, i was going to leave it to someone else but.... i'll list all the reasons that i remember at the moment! but i always leave something out sooo.... here goes!


1~ snakes are solitary animals by nature. when you look in and see them 'cuddling' with eachther, the one on top is actually dominating the other!

2~ if one get sick, both get sick! that means double the vet bills!

3~ if you feed both in the enclosure, this will obviously cause problems

4~ there is always the off chance of cannibalism. it's not very common but it does happen! i wouldn't want to take that chance!

5~ balls are very picky eaters. especially if they're stressed out, which sharing an enclosure will most likely do

i used to house my babies together (before i became a regular here) and these guys clued me in! and i must say, i noticed a change in both their behaviors almost immediately! they also both started growing noticeably faster! hope this helps!

[sweety314]

Great P.P! Your post covered the biggees.


Tracy, search snakes per cage. There are ooooooodles of threads discussing it. I don't remember the specific thread, but one of them has a link to the member's pic. She posted it after her Snake A ATE Snake B (when they were housed together) and Snake A died too.

Have U searched a craft/paper mache site for information or a craft forum site? Someone there might be able to make suggestions.

[python.princess]

ooo.... i must've missed that thread!

[Kennyxemerson]

also, that enclosure is WAY too big for a ball.

[tracy0416]

Thanks all for your comments on not keeping the snakes together. I have found arguements both for and against presented on various forums and in books. I can see that I should research and consider further, keeping my male and female ball pythons separate.

also, that enclosure is WAY too big for a ball.

I feel your statement that this enclosure is too large is inaccurate and premature.

- Philippe de Vosjoli makes an excellent, researched arguement for larger enclosures in his book, "The Art of Keeping Snakes." It's in the first chapter.

- I am not comfortable with not giving a snake the option to choose to fully stretch out it's own body, under the cover of darkness or foliage.

- my plans for furnishing the enclosure, "filling" the space, and refining it based on close observation, are quite elaborate.

- I am basing my choice to do so on the research Philippe de Vosjoli presents in that book. Basically he says that when furnished correctly, with caves, foliage, and environmental conditions met, larger enclosures greatly enhance the snakes captive experience and our opportunity to observe a wider range of behaviours.

- I am not knocking those with tubs and tanks that meet the "2/3 rule minimum" requirements. I have my corns in such enclosures. I simply have the time, and space for more.

[tracy0416]

Great P.P! Your post covered the biggees.


Tracy, search snakes per cage. There are ooooooodles of threads discussing it. I don't remember the specific thread, but one of them has a link to the member's pic. She posted it after her Snake A ATE Snake B (when they were housed together) and Snake A died too.

Yikes! Were they fed properly? Did she feed in the tank they lived in? I'll search for that thread. Thanks!

[tracy0416]

okay, i was going to leave it to someone else but.... i'll list all the reasons that i remember at the moment! but i always leave something out sooo.... here goes!


1~ snakes are solitary animals by nature. when you look in and see them 'cuddling' with eachther, the one on top is actually dominating the other!

2~ if one get sick, both get sick! that means double the vet bills!

3~ if you feed both in the enclosure, this will obviously cause problems

4~ there is always the off chance of cannibalism. it's not very common but it does happen! i wouldn't want to take that chance!

5~ balls are very picky eaters. especially if they're stressed out, which sharing an enclosure will most likely do

i used to house my babies together (before i became a regular here) and these guys clued me in! and i must say, i noticed a change in both their behaviors almost immediately! they also both started growing noticeably faster! hope this helps!

It does help. These are really sound arguements. I saw 2 BPs housed together at a reptile zoo and thought they'd know but the things you've said are enough to convince me otherwise. I won't do it. Thanks!