New member, need some general info from OWNERS

[Derteufel]

This article has a LOT of excellent information about BP's....from how big you can expect them to get, to most of your different options in caring for them:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

There are many methods to choose from...it'll be up to you to figure out what will work best in your particular situation. I'll offer this bit of advice though....if your home gets really chilly in the winter and you don't want to go with a plastic tub as a home....I'd spring for a professionally built enclosure designed specifically for snakes with the heating elements and t-stats already installed. It's an expensive way to go, but you get an attractive enclosure that you can be reasonably sure will keep the snake's environment at the appropriate levels. (Glass tanks would be VERY hard to use given the conditions you described)

Ill read that also, and thanks. Ya I wanted to get advice from owners based on my situation. Plastic not glass? It does get around 50 at lowest in the winter inside, it is SoCal so there arent extreme variations at least not for humans. It never gets above 75 - high 70's inside and thats on a hot day. Its the cold Im worried about.

[Derteufel]

Bruce, since you seem to be very familiar and are in a loft (or anyoen else) if I get the suggested 36x18x12 enclosure for a baby BP, that wil eventually become an adult will that be ok? Do they tend to prefer smaller areas when they are smaller? Im kind of worried that glass might get cold well be hard to keep warm? Ill get what you recommended if you think that it right for my place as Ive described it.


Oh ya, also where do you all suggest I get the snake from?

[ThyTempest]

I was very against tubs when I first started, which was only a couple months ago, but as I cleaned and sanitized and tried to keep temps and humidity in order, I am glad I stuck with the plastic and not glass. In addition to this, once your bp gets a little older, it will almost always be in a hide, so the visibility aspect of having glass is almost nullified. Hope this helps, and if you want some more personal experience tips just shoot me a pm.

[JASBALLS]

I was very against tubs when I first started, which was only a couple months ago, but as I cleaned and sanitized and tried to keep temps and humidity in order, I am glad I stuck with the plastic and not glass. In addition to this, once your bp gets a little older, it will almost always be in a hide, so the visibility aspect of having glass is almost nullified. Hope this helps, and if you want some more personal experience tips just shoot me a pm.

Hey, I dont feel like pming. I need some tips though! Why dont any of my 500+ bp's need or use a hide?

[Argentra]

Bruce, since you seem to be very familiar and are in a loft (or anyoen else) if I get the suggested 36x18x12 enclosure for a baby BP, that wil eventually become an adult will that be ok? Do they tend to prefer smaller areas when they are smaller? Im kind of worried that glass might get cold well be hard to keep warm? Ill get what you recommended if you think that it right for my place as Ive described it.


Oh ya, also where do you all suggest I get the snake from?

The best source for a Ball python would be a reputable breeder or good reptile show. If you're in SoCal, there's a whopper of a show coming up in SanDiego you could check out.

As for the mentioned enclosure, if you got one that 'large' and ended up with a baby snake you would have to add lots of hides and fake plants or crumpled newspaper to reduce the open space and make it feel more secure. These snakes don't like wide open spaces and can get stressed out if in a really big open cage.
Every snake handles things differently, but I think if you made sure to add lots of (safe) decor to fill the space and make sure you can get the proper temperature gradients, then the display cage should be alright.

[Derteufel]

seems there is no right answer glass or plastic... given my place I think I could make either work. Plastic is just... sooo plastic. hahaha. Like im going to sleep in some plastic then huff paint. Iono just doesnt seem lik eit would be comfortable but this is strictly my opinion and probabyl has nothing to do with snakes.

[Indigo]

Plastic tubs are easy to maintain heat and humidity in. There are even some with very clear sides for the visibility aspect, Just picked up a couple Sterilite brand ones for the two I'm expecting. If you want to use glass aquariums, though, I'd recommend insulating the sides with foam or something, and keeping the top mostly covered with maybe a damp towel to help the humidity.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Bruce, since you seem to be very familiar and are in a loft (or anyoen else) if I get the suggested 36x18x12 enclosure for a baby BP, that wil eventually become an adult will that be ok? Do they tend to prefer smaller areas when they are smaller? Im kind of worried that glass might get cold well be hard to keep warm? Ill get what you recommended if you think that it right for my place as Ive described it.


Oh ya, also where do you all suggest I get the snake from?

I personally would not put a baby bp in an enclosure that size. I keep my babies in plastic shoeboxes... see the pic.



And that shoebox is sitting in this rack... where I keep most of the snakes.



This is the quarantine rack in my office... opposite end of the loft from the rest of the snakes.



I keep all the snakes in tubs. I would never use a tank with a bp. Tanks have too many open sides, especailly if you are in a large open space, the snake is not in a separate room and will be exposed to every stressor, vibration, noise, and activity in your apt.

They are impossible to maintain proper humidity in... I had one with my first BP and I would never do it again. The only things I keep in tanks are my bearded dragon and my African Soft-Furred Rats.

Also they lose heat on all 4 sides... so it makes your heating pad run at a higher rate and at all times (means you'll be replacing it more often). Plastic tubs do not cool as fast, or transfer as much heat to the surrounding environment. Probably not a real big deal in the summer... but come winter, if you space gets really cold, even with a UTH running full blast, you could risk the snake getting too cold. (Or the temp spiking and worse... ending up with a burned snake).

I never let my temps drop below 80 degrees.

I cannot remember the member that suggested a plastic display viv... but I would say that that, or something similar would be your best bet. Only has an open window on one spot and will not transfer our heat and/or humidity.

Your snake does not care if it is in a plastic or glass viv... what it cares about is having proper temps, humidity, and feeling secure.

Meeting those are critical if you want a snake that is eating, shedding, and defecating with consistency.

My suggestion... would be to start with a tub... and once you have a really good grasp of husbandry, and if your snake is thriving... then if you are comfortable and feel you can manage to meet its needs (and know what its needs are). Then try and move it into a tank.

Too many people start with tanks before they understand what they need to give the snake, then get invested in them and they seem to be a really hard thing to give up.

He does not need a big enclosure as a babe. So get him started in an appropriate tub, cheap and easy to change as he gets bigger. And then once you decide on a final size for him, then invest in a larger enclosure.

Another huge mistake people make... thinking they can set a baby up in the size that it will need as an adult. A one-stop setup and shopping idea.

It simply does not work with BPs. They will not thrive in that sort of environment.

Hope that helps,
Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

Addendum:

Since that snake will be in an open space... yes, it needs the appropriate sized hides. One on each end of its thermal gradient (hot - cool side).

Not using hides can be done, but as a new owner, and an owner that will not have his snake in a rack, or in a separate room... hides are imperative.

Jas is talking about advanced husbandry, something that you do not need to worry about right now. Your priority is to have an appropriate space set up so that when you bring your snake home he can settle in and be a snake.

It will give you a both a positive start and benefits snake and keeper.

B

[ChicaPiton519]

Hey, I dont feel like pming. I need some tips though! Why dont any of my 500+ bp's need or use a hide?

im guessing JAS kept his 500+ balls in tubs,if a ball are kept in glass it would prolly need a hide, so it wouldnt matter if you could see it through glass or not through plastic...



any way, D,
i was, and still am kinda against temps, but they have seemed to be the easiest things to keep balls it, my other constrictors are in display type cages, but the balls stick to the plastic.
personally, i like having hides in my tubs for the balls, because for their personal security, i believe they like it better.
you dont have to use a hide, but mine eat for me consistantly when they have hides, this may not be true for you, or for others... but thats my personal experience, and i have had BPs for about 3 years...