Posted by:
sapphire_snake
at Sat Jan 31 08:08:44 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by sapphire_snake ]
A 20 long for a ball python would work for about a year, depending on how fast it grows.
There is no way a bp would fit in a 20 long all it's life! I have a 4ft ball python. I wouldn't even attempt to shove him in there with a proper sized water bowl PLUS hides!
I have both my BP's (a 4ft and a 2.5ft) in (SEPERATE) 4ft long rubbermaid like containers (yes they work wonders, especially when holding in the humidity)
With a tank you might have to mist it daily, depending on the humidity of where you live. You can always take a towel, dampen one side, put the damp side over HALF of the screen and put something like alummunim foil or plastic wrap over the top of the towel to hold in humidity.
You will need a water bowl large enough for it to soak in if it wants to. and atleast 1 climbing branch, they are not very graceful, but they will probably use it.
for bedding you will want to use newspaper or paper towel at first to spot any mites, and have a fecal done when s/he "Goes".
after that you can use aspen shavings (I use it, great for quick clean up), cypress mulch, and a variety of other things.
DO NOT use pine or cedar, it has phenols in it which can cause respirtory problems in the snake (its the stuff that makes it smell real woodsy)
and do not use sand, it is very bad for the snake.
If you use a particle substrate (such as aspen) either put down newspaper underneath it before it eats, or feed it in a seperate container.
when you get it do not handle(or attempt to feed) for atleast 10-14 days. Then attempt to feed (try to get it on rats ASAP, they are more nutritional, a rat of about 2 weeks is the same size as an adult mouse, which is the size a baby bp will probably be eating) if it eats, then feed it 3 more times (one time a week) after it has fed successfully for 4 feedings then handle it more often (than cleaning and such).
Ball pythons stress VERY easily. I don't even reccomend them for a first snake.
But if you are going to get one be prepared. They can and WILL go off feed for unknown reasons. And stay off feed for up to 1 year!
Don't be worried about this unless you suspect illness or if they rapidly loose weight.
Use a UTH to reach the proper temps, but UTH's usually get way over 100 degrees so getting a lamp dimmer and "dimming" the heat to the proper temp will be needed.
Like I said a 20 long will work for about a year.
Hot Side: 90-95
cool side: 80-85
Night drop: about 7-10 degrees (don't really need one though)
Humidity: when NOT in shed- about 40%-60%
When IN shed 60%-80%
sorry I babbled on.......good luck with your snake!
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose
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RE: some help on BP's - sapphire_snake, Sat Jan 31 08:08:44 2004