making a tank background

[jackh]

id like to get myself a pastel ball in a couple months, it will be my first snake ever. ive done tons of research on ball pythons and it seems a glass tank would be the easiest route for me to go with in terms of housing the snake. i was thinking a 30l, maybe a 40 breeder. but id like the tank to look as natural and pleasing to the eye as possible. however, i dont want a ton of decor in there to clean all the time lol. i was thinking of making a fake background on the back and two sides of the tank out of styrofoam and concrete mix, shown in the link.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article...background.php

i was thinking this would make the whole setup a lot more natural looking, as well as maybe providing climbing surfaces, small basking shelfs, hide caves, rough spots to help shedding etc etc. i figured that if this process will not leach anything into the water to harm fish living in the tank, it could be done in a ball python tank. i have seen huge enclosures with fake rock walls like this before housing very large snakes, but im not sure if this process was used. anyways, even though i cant get the snake for a while, i know this process will take a very long time to complete and sterilize, so i was hoping to start on it soon. what are yalls thoughts on this idea? oh an comments/suggestions/links/pics are all very welcome please

thanks

[Texas Dan]

Why don't you go with a smaller tank. You'll have less clutter, but it will look like a whole lot more. Easier to clean, and you can make it look just as nice.

That's a pretty cool idea though, wouldn't mind making a more "forrest" like habitat for vinny and jules.

[jackh]

do you mean do this to a smaller tank or go with a smaller tank and not do this?

ill be purchasing a hatchling snake i think, i know it will be young but not sure if it will be hatchling or not. i know it might feel overwhelmed in a 30l, but i thought if i made it a lot more natural with plants etc in there, there would be lots of cover and hed be ok. i dont want to have to do this to more than one aquarium as the snake grows is what im saying.

i was thinking of making one or two small nooks/shelves that i could place small potted plants in. id like to use ivy kinds that would hang down and stuff. i could also incorporate some shelves for the snake to crawl up on as well as some driftwood built in to the background and sticking up. i think it could turn out awesome if i planned it out and took my time making it. another reason id like to start sooner rather than later lol

[Texas Dan]

do you mean do this to a smaller tank or go with a smaller tank and not do this?

ill be purchasing a hatchling snake i think, i know it will be young but not sure if it will be hatchling or not. i know it might feel overwhelmed in a 30l, but i thought if i made it a lot more natural with plants etc in there, there would be lots of cover and hed be ok. i dont want to have to do this to more than one aquarium as the snake grows is what im saying.

i was thinking of making one or two small nooks/shelves that i could place small potted plants in. id like to use ivy kinds that would hang down and stuff. i could also incorporate some shelves for the snake to crawl up on as well as some driftwood built in to the background and sticking up. i think it could turn out awesome if i planned it out and took my time making it. another reason id like to start sooner rather than later lol

I meant do it with a smaller tank. But if you're thinking about going all out, i'm not sure. I just know that they like to hide and feel safe. That's harder to do in a big tank. Also keeping humidty up is harder to do.

It does sound like it would be awesome. And i'm not a snake expert by any means, just know what works well for me. My tanks are pretty crowded looking, without putting too much into it.
I've also heard that a male BP can live in a 20g all it's life.

[jackh]

could you post any pics of your tanks?

[jackh]

i know glass tanks dont hold heat and humidity that well but id prefer one over a tub since it is easier on the eye. i was thinking with one of these fake backgrounds, the added insulation might help the tank hold heat and humidity better. what do yall think? is it the glass walls that dont hold it well or is it the screen tops that people usually use?

however, i do live in houston so humidity will not be a big concern, it is humid year around here.

[Texas Dan]

i know glass tanks dont hold heat and humidity that well but id prefer one over a tub since it is easier on the eye. i was thinking with one of these fake backgrounds, the added insulation might help the tank hold heat and humidity better. what do yall think? is it the glass walls that dont hold it well or is it the screen tops that people usually use?

however, i do live in houston so humidity will not be a big concern, it is humid year around here.

Lol, being from Dallas, I know what you mean about the humidity, except you have it 10 times worse! It's the screen tops that don't allow the moisture to stay in. The pictures of my tanks are somewhat outdated, but I'll show them to you. Pretty much the same, just added some more bushes and stuff and a bigger hide for vincent.

Tank size is 20L. (20 gallon long)
www.schoolofdan.com/images/snake

Vincent's Tank - How it looks now
http://www.schoolofdan.com/images/sn...008/img003.jpg

Here's one of Jule's where you can see the posterboard on the sides
http://www.schoolofdan.com/images/sn...julestank1.jpg


Since I took some of those photos, I've switched the towels for foil that I have over the whole tank with holes poked in it, then a hole cut out for the light.

[jackh]

ya i guess you do know what i mean about the humidity here in texas. do you have to worry about partial sheds where you are? if you never have that problem i guess i wont have to worry about humidity at all lol

in my mind i just picture a really natural looking tank with a really pretty ball in it crawling around. but these snakes hide so much and it seems the best way to house them is in tubs which is kinda an eye sore. i guess i want more of a display snake. i was lookin into a carpet but you just cant beat the nature of a ball.