Will They Miss Their Space?

[CABALM]

I am moving my 2 BPs from tanks to tubs. I want to know if the downsize will effect them and will they miss the height that the tanks have they both like to climb at night and the height its getting cut in half. My 450g normal is moving from a 20L to a "31q" Rubbermaid and my 130g pastel from a 10gallon to a "12q" Rubbermaid. They are both doing well in their tanks but after reading about the ease of tubs I cant help but want to switch(I have never used tubs but I know tanks are a PAIN)

[elevatethis]

The opposite will probably happen...they'll feel much safer and secure in the tubs.

[JoshJP7]

Whether or not theyll "miss" it is impossible to know... buuuut... If you still want to provide the height and the [I]option[I] for them to move around, get 66qt tubs... they have the same floor space as the others and also give em some height... Its what I use for my 3 07 babies and theyre out climbing everynight... Heres a pic of my 66qt set up... all 3 are the same...



Damn pic is small... check out my gallery theres more bigger pics there.

[littleindiangirl]

On that note, ball pythons are terrestrial, bulky and slow, and are rarely found at heights. They are particularly clumsy climbers. I know when I had a tall setup, my BP tried to climb everynight, and he fell several times. They can get injured, I worried about it all the time until I moved him into a tub.

[Purrrfect9]

I have all 3 of my BP's in tubs ( two late '06 and a july '07) in 32 qt tubs right now, and all three are eating me out of the house! I used to house my first BP in a 20gal long tank, but I was having too many problems with keeping the humidity up, and I needed to get a rack to be able to house all of my bps, so tubs were really the most economical choice for me. If I had to do it all over again, I would have started out with a tub. If you're worried about your BP's not getting any 'exercise' just take them out for 10 minutes a night (except for the 48hrs after being fed). That will give them all of the exercise that they need.

[JoshJP7]

Each of my snakes gets free roam time twice a week for about an hour(in the summer its longer but my rooms kinda cold in the winter)... Its not uncommon at all where I let them loose and then find them climbing on dressers... bedposts... theyve even been known to climb above my windows and on the curtain rod... Connies right the younger ones tend to fall alot but i dont see how it can be too dangerous... its like a foot- foot 1/2 fall and their young... Ive had some babies dive bomb off my bed to the floor and thats like a 2-3ft drop and their fine... All 10 of my snakes have something to climb on and all 10 use em everynight

[juddb]

Keep in mind that bp's prefer small warm dark spaces to live in so the swtich from tank to tub will make them love you %100 more

[littleindiangirl]

Josh are you offering the advice that they can fall without getting hurt? You need to make it very clear what you mean. These animals aren't arboreal, or even semi-arboreal. Yes they can climb, but to say they are always fine when they take a 3 FOOT FALL is amazing.

They aren't talented climbers, and to let them fall when they are under your supervision is reckless.

[CABALM]

My friends and family (don’t have snakes or know much about them) think is mean to keep them in such a "tiny" tub. I hate that people think they need tons of space like 55g tanks. Glad to hear my snakes wont HATE me for the downsize though.

[littleindiangirl]

My friends and family (don’t have snakes or know much about them) think is mean to keep them in such a "tiny" tub. I hate that people think they need tons of space like 55g tanks. Glad to hear my snakes wont HATE me for the downsize though.

Many people push our human emotions onto animals. It's good for sake of treating animals humanly, but when it comes to "feelings" I can't say I believe snakes can "feel" something for their surroundings or keepers. I think they can feel safe and secure, or fear and unsafe. With these animals, it's well documented that they sleep all day in small burrows, and come out at dawn and dusk primarily to feed. I think most people will agree with the idea that these snakes do very well in the tub or rack.