Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'am going to be purchasing 2 ball pythons more than likey at least one if anything but i was wondering what size cage(measurements) i would need to house them both together if i get them both and what all i need in the cage with them.

Also can you tell me the same info for houseing one seprate by its self

First of all i would recommend not housing them together. Especially new snakes. The stress from moving into a new enclosure is already more than enough for the snake and the constant stress of having a "roommate" will most likely cause a detriment to your snakes health. I keep my adult "pet" python (non breeder) in a 50 gallon breeder tank. Which is 18 inches deep X 18 high X 48 long (estimate. This is more than enough room for him throughout his life. For my breeder snakes we keep adults in rubbermaids that are about 9 inches high X 18 deep X 36 long. For a terrarium type setup i would recommend that you get a basking light, an undertank heater, at least 2 hides, a water dish, and a hygrometer. I also personally use a 40 house bulb during the day as well for added heat and better visibility. A nocturnal light is optional. For bedding i would use an aspen mulch type substrate or pine chips although some recommend against that (i havent seen any negatives yet), astro turf is also a decent choice. Just do not use ceder bedding as it causes resperitory infections in most reptiles. Well thats about it.
Good Luck
Joe

Ooops! I forgot to put 2 thermometers as a must have for your cage. You might actually be able to pick up a digital hygrometer/ thermometer for cheap at a greenhouse and i think zoomed makes one too.

It is SO much better to house them seperately! I woulden't house them together. A good rule of thumb when determining the size of a BP enclosure is depending on the age of your ball. If you have an adult ball I suggest at least 2/3 the length of the snake and thew tank should be about 1/2 as wide as long. If it is a baby I suggest a enclosure JUST as long as the snake (not 2/3 the lenght, this allows for growing room), but too big of an enclosure will make them insecure, and too small of one will stress them out. MAKE SURE you have the temperatures and humidity right, at least 2 hide boxes small enough to JUST fit there whole body in, a water bowl that is somewhat shallow and big enough to fit in to soak. Spot clean the cage whenever you see something that needs to be cleaned (feces, water spills, ect...) and clean the WHOLE cage every once in a while. Substrate (bedding) should NOT be the following: sand of any sort, dirt, ceder, or pine. Reptile carpet is (in my opinion) not a good idea as SOME can irritate their skin, but some people use it sucessfully. Some people use cypress mulch or other (Remember NOT pine or ceder) wood chips, but news paper or paper towl is easy to clean and see when it is dirty, yet not really visualy the best LOL. A good thing to ask yourself when the cage is done and before the snakes are in it (If I was a snake and suicidal, could I hurt myself in this cage? and if the answer is yes... FIX IT, because chances are the snake WILL find a way to hurt itself. Hope this helps. Read some more care sheets and "The Ball Python Manual" if you can.
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"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not."

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~~ Krystal - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! ~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~

I have never looked into housing 2 BPs together so I cant answere that but here is the info I have foud out about housing one BP. I use a 10 gallon tank for my baby BP, but when she gets older I will use a 50 gallon.( too big of an enclosure can stress your BP0 to heat the tank you need a uth and a heat lamp they should both be on the same side of the tank.this side of the tank should be around 90 degrees, and the cold side should be around 80-85, but at night the temps can drop about 10 degrees.you will need a hide for a feeling of security if you BP gets scared.(I have one in each end of mY tank.) A water dish is needed it should be big enough for you BP to soak in. It should be more on the cold side of the tank, but when the BP goes in shed you should move it closer to the warm side. The humidity should be around 60%.Some people spray everyday to keep the humidity up, but some people dont need to.The humidity should be raised when your BP is in shed. This will help your BP have a nice clean shed Then you will need bedding for the tank. Cypress and aspen are good and so is newspaper. (thats what I use) One of the things some people dislike about newspaper is that it is not as attractive. It can be shredded so your BP can burrow. STAY AWAY FROM PINE!!Just incase,the safest and easiest type of mouse 2 feed your BP is probably FT.That is just my opinion, but live can attack your BP and I would find it hard 2 kill a mouse. If you watch your BP and make sure your BP is safe around live mice and rats that is OK but Rats and mice can and maby will fight and there are snakes that have seriouse damage from Supper One of the ways 2 thaw a mouse and the way I do it is put ot in a ziplock bag and put the bag (with the mouse in it) in hot water, and the way thhat you tell if it is thawed is you bend it if it is thawed you simply bend it if it is very flexible it is thawed but if it is not or is cold 2 the touch than guess what? it is not thawed.Normaly you kill a mouse by either wacking its head a gainst a tably or putting it in a plastic bag a wack ing it against the wall once or twice. I reccomend not feeding it in its housing eclosure but some where else if you are feding live than maby in a smaller enclosure because snakes have bad eyesight and in general so that they do not snap at your hand. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

HOPE THIS HELPS