Two ball pythons in same tank, how should I feed them ?

[Chuck]

I don't know the sexes of the pythons yet, I have to get them probed.

Do you guys think that this tank is too big for only one of them ? Maybe if I fill it with some more trees, plants and hides he'll feel more secure ?

Here look at it like this they may keep eating and will be fine in that enclosure. However if they are not ok you have multiple reasons why they might have gone off feeding, is the cage to big or is it because they are stressed due to being housed togeather or a combination of the two. You can throw illness into the mix and if one of them gets sick you can pretty much count on them both getting it because they are housed togeather. My point is if any of this happens your solution is to separate them and move them into smaller inclosure's and go from there. So weather you wait for it to happen or you are proactive and do it so it will not happen the outcome will end up being the same.

I can't even tell you how much money I have waisted keeping my snakes trying something and finding out it sucks or beginner mistakes. The point is I learned you don't have to make it fancy to keep them correctly a thermostat, two steralite tubs and small UTH and you are set. Look giving up one to your brother isn't going to fix your problems here you need to get your husbandry right and we will help you do that but that tank is too big and you should house them in diffrent enclosures.

Chuck

[Funky#2]

Do you guys think that this tank is too big for only one of them ? Maybe if I fill it with some more trees, plants and hides he'll feel more secure ?

Exactly...A 55 gallon tank is not too big, a 180 gallon tank isn't too big either, as long as you clutter it up and have the appropriate hides.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Exactly...A 55 gallon tank is not too big, a 180 gallon tank isn't too big either, as long as you clutter it up and have the appropriate hides.

Really than why

I recently moved my bp into a smaller tank. He is now in a 30 gallon one.

I am curious how do you provide proper gradient temps in a 180 gallons tank

[karma279]

Divide the tank into at least 2; maybe three. Cut plexi glass to size and slide it into place as a divider. Then use clear silicone to seal it up. You will have 2 or 3 tanks made out of 1. When ever you want to make it a 55g again; the stuff will scrape off with a razor and wipe clean with denatured alcohol.

Here's one I made into 2 tanks


Good luck!

[SnakieMom]

Good luck!

With a setup like this, I'm curious... would you heat the middle with a large UTH? or would you heat the ends, using two?

I have a 55 gal that I'm thinking about separating.

[Argentra]

There's one big factor that hasn't been mentioned about large tanks: They're too TALL. I had a 55gal for my beardie, and I would never get one again...even for a big lizard. 55's and anything above them, unless custom made, are usually way too tall for ground dwelling snakes like BPs. The extra height makes it twice as hard to keep temperatures where they should be, so most people use lights to boost the temps which drains humidity dry. They're just too much trouble...at least for a Ball Python.

Now, a divided large tank for corns or other climbing low-humidity snakes is another thing entirely...

[DamienF]

With a setup like this, I'm curious... would you heat the middle with a large UTH? or would you heat the ends, using two?

I have a 55 gal that I'm thinking about separating.

This is quite a good idea. What would you do for the heating ?

I'm thinking about using a large one at the middle, it may be easier to control temperature as there is only one source of heating.

Maybe I'll go wth this idea.

There's one big factor that hasn't been mentioned about large tanks: They're too TALL. I had a 55gal for my beardie, and I would never get one again...even for a big lizard. 55's and anything above them, unless custom made, are usually way too tall for ground dwelling snakes like BPs. The extra height makes it twice as hard to keep temperatures where they should be, so most people use lights to boost the temps which drains humidity dry. They're just too much trouble...at least for a Ball Python.

Now, a divided large tank for corns or other climbing low-humidity snakes is another thing entirely...

Does a tall tank has an effect on the snake's behavior, stress, or wellbeing ? Or is it only a matter of keeping temps at a good level ? Because my 55 gal is 50cm (1.6 foot) high, and I have no problem keeping temps at a good level.

[Funky#2]

Really than why

I am curious how do you provide proper gradient temps in a 180 gallons tank

We moved our BP into a 30 gallon tank because we bought a Bearded Dragon, and the extra room is more important to the Bearded Dragon than it is to our Ball Python.

And you would provide "proper gradient temps" in a 180 gallon tank as you would any other tank. I'm not suggesting that a 55 gallon tank in NEEDED for a BP, I'm just saying you can use one so long as its cluttered up. To often people throw around the term "stressed" they say the BP is stressed cause its in too big of a tank...So they must be REALLY stressed when they are slithering around Africa, good thing we come along to toss them in a tupperware container and save them from themselves huh?

[DamienF]

Does anyone has some advice on what material (plexiglass, polystyrene, etc) should I use for separating my tank ?
Should the pythons see each other or not ?

Is a 26gal tank ok for one small BP ?

Thanks

[Mindibun]

We moved our BP into a 30 gallon tank because we bought a Bearded Dragon, and the extra room is more important to the Bearded Dragon than it is to our Ball Python.

And you would provide "proper gradient temps" in a 180 gallon tank as you would any other tank. I'm not suggesting that a 55 gallon tank in NEEDED for a BP, I'm just saying you can use one so long as its cluttered up. To often people throw around the term "stressed" they say the BP is stressed cause its in too big of a tank...So they must be REALLY stressed when they are slithering around Africa, good thing we come along to toss them in a tupperware container and save them from themselves huh?

Two things.

Firstly, they probably ARE stressed when they're in Africa. They spend all day in dark holes in the ground where they feel safe, and when they have to come out to hunt (assuming nothing food-worthy has wandered into their hole first) they are probably very cautious. I would imagine that they stick to dense underbrush and covered areas. Only rarely would they ever actually make it into the wide open Savannah. So they keep themselves covered.

Second, these snakes that we're keeping in our homes have (at least most of them) never even seen Africa. So it is up to us to provide them with an environment as secure and comfortable as is humanly possible. We don't give them the option of choosing their own habitat, so we have to provide what we think they would choose FOR THEM.

That is why we keep them in tubs and densely decorated tanks.