former bearded dragon owner looking to start a ball pyhton

[brock2001]

Hey i used to have a bearded dragon and i still have his full setup (40 gallon glass tank, "stone looking hut", stone water and food tray, spiral tree branch, uva/b light and basking lamp). What kind of other things would i need to buy for a ball python ie what kind of substrate, any other lights etc. The tank is also a front sliding window and i have heard that ball pyhtons are cunning escape artist's. Would the python be able to figure out how to get out through those doors? The screen on the top is glued on. Any help would be amazing I am really interested in these guys they look very cool and relatively easy to maintain for a university student.

[Otto1208]

I have just started with my ball, and things I have learned are You really don't have to the bulb's and lamps. You can have the UTH (Under Tank Heater) is plenty enough. Substrate I stay away from aspen and pine shavings. Coconut Husk ( I believe thats what they call it) or sphagnum moss any thing that will help with your humidity is great. STAY AWAY from aspen and pine. People say it depends on what you want. But my research show the aspen and pine contain chemicals that can harm the snake also eating if they swallow a piece by acc. it can lead to RI. So i just stuck with fir and sphagnum moss mix and it is working awesome.

[blackcrystal22]

A new tank. A 40 gallon is much too large for a ball of any size in my opinion. Get a 10 gallon for a baby, or a 20 for an adult.

Doesn't need a basking lamp or UVB/A lighting. Needs a UTH with a proper Thermostat.

Aspen, paper towels, newspaper substrate. Some cypress mulch or barks are also fine.

The ball python will probably be able to escape from the doors you describe. :[

Unfortunately, you really have to start over, because Beardies husbandry is a lot different than a ball pythons. You may be able to use the water bowl, but you'll need two specific hides that fit the ball pythons size perfectly.

Good luck!

[blackcrystal22]

I have just started with my ball, and things I have learned are You really don't have to the bulb's and lamps. You can have the UTH (Under Tank Heater) is plenty enough. Substrate I stay away from aspen and pine shavings. Coconut Husk ( I believe thats what they call it) or sphagnum moss any thing that will help with your humidity is great. STAY AWAY from aspen and pine. People say it depends on what you want. But my research show the aspen and pine contain chemicals that can harm the snake also eating if they swallow a piece by acc. it can lead to RI. So i just stuck with fir and sphagnum moss mix and it is working awesome.

Aspen is generally safe and doesn't have any chemicals. I've also never heard of swallowing leading to an RI? That doesn't make very much sense. It could lead to impaction but it is extremely rare and only if he eats a large amount, which shouldn't happen anyway.
Are you thinking of pine and cedar? Because cedar is extremely toxic to animals and should never be used as a bedding.

[JKExotics]

Stay away from Aspen? Aspen is the best substract next to good ol' newspaper. Pure Aspen is 100% safe non-toxic and easy to clean up after. You cannot swallow substract and get a RI, RIs are usually acquired by incorrect temps and poor husbandry. Stay as far away from Pine and Cedar as possible, they produce natural oils which are toxic. UTH are enough... yes and no any heat source that isn't properly controlled by a thermostat or rheostat is not "enough", make sure you have a way to control any heat source you hook up to any type of enclosure. Be careful the advice you give to some could cost them alot.

[Otto1208]

yes it is pine and cedar sorry about that. I was reading an article about aspen eariler and it was in my head... LMAO. And yes it does need to be controlled by a thermostat SORRY for not mentioning that bit of info... I have been up for a while and was reluctant to put that. THANKS for the catch...

[Otto1208]

Avoid using sand, corncob bedding, cedar, or pine products. Sand can become an irritant to a snake’s belly scales and can cause intestinal impaction if ingested, and the resins in cedar and poor-quality pine shavings can cause respiratory distress in your python.
http://quamut.com/quamut/ball_python...ll_python.html

This came off of a website about substrates. pine and cedar Chemicals can result in RI

[llovelace]

Since you already hae a 40gal set up just add more plants and stuff, and you'll want to put a larger water dish in so that your ball can soak if inclined to do so

[Beardedragon]

Even though you have the intentions of changing things, never relate one animals husbandry to another, a bps housing is nothing similar to a bearded dragons. A 40 gallon would be very overwhelming to a normal sized ball python. There is also the spreading of diseases, somethings that may not hurt a beardie can kill a ball and vice verse

Get a 20 gallon tank, a heating pad, two hides, paper towels, a thermostat, water dish,and food and you will be set. This site has a wonderful care sheet so feel free to take a look at it!!

[Nate]

You don't necessarily NEED to get rid of the 40 gal.

Too big for a baby? yeah, I would agree with that. However, you can simply section off 1/3 of it and set up his habitat in that.

Better yet, seeing as how people often get hooked after one, section it off into thirds and you'll have room for two more