Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all! *reposting this from BP Forum*

Continuing in my quest of preparing my ball python enclosure...

I think I've decided to go with the Vision model #322 as opposed to a glass aquarium. Just a few questions about that.

First of all, is there any certain brand of untertank heater that you would recommend for use with the Vision cages? I'm assuming there's a slot for the UTH inside the back of the Vision systems?

Secondly, do I have to worry about a young (hatchling) BP crawling out the space between the two sliding glass panels? I've heard there is a lock available for the cages. Does this prevent escapes and/or entry by children, etc?

Finally, I found this substrate available and was wondering if you could give me any advice regarding it. I'm aware of the advantages of using newspaper as a substrate, but this will be a display setup.

Thanks so much for any guidance you could give me as I continue my research!!

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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

This is the substrate I found:

http://www.justherps.com/products/MS1.htm

Thanks again!

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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

Hi Nekomi. Good to here from you again. I'm not sure about the cage, but the substrate looks good. I have been using repti-bark, and that has been working out pretty good. I just have to be careful that they don't ingest it.

Good luck!

Todd

Jungle moss? I’m guessing that’s the same stuff I used to have growing on my north-facing “lawn” instead of grass. Just aesthetically speaking, I like moss. It reminds me of lovely, temperate forests. But as a substrate for a ball python? No. Because you can’t clean it. If you were willing constantly to cut out soiled sections and replace with clean moss, then I guess it would make for a really pretty display cage substrate. But the only alternative to that would be to scrape off visible chunks of feces and urates and leave the bacteria behind. Not so sanitary. But then, I’m a plain paper devotee.

Also, the Cage and Habitat Forum is always a good alternative for these sorts of questions when you don’t get much response on the specific animal forum. Actually, it’s just good anyway - usually less posturing and sarcasm.

-Joan

I think I've decided to go with the Vision model #322 as opposed to a glass aquarium.”

I’m assuming you’ve ruled out Rubbermaid-type containers which have their own benefits/drawbacks. I think just about any reptile cage is better than a glass aquarium for a ball python. I use 24”, 36”, 48” and 54” Visions for housing single and multiple ball pythons. I prefer the Model 332 over the 322 for the extra depth.

“First of all, is there any certain brand of untertank heater that you would recommend for use with the Vision cages? I'm assuming there's a slot for the UTH inside the back of the Vision systems?”

I use Ultratherm brand UTH’s as well as Pro Products overhead heat panels to heat my Vision cages. I’m still not sure which heat source I prefer for ball pythons. This is only my second year using heat panels; I’ve been using various under-cage heaters for many years. I really like the Ultratherms (available through the Bean Farm) because they’re very sturdy and I didn’t want to mess with Flexwatt connectors. You can lay the cage on top of the Ultratherm or tape it to the back or sides of the cage. Make sure you get some sort of heat controller. Big Apple and Helix market respected proportional thermostats, but there are cheaper (but not as effective) solutions like lamp dimmers

“do I have to worry about a young (hatchling) BP crawling out the space between the two sliding glass panels? I've heard there is a lock available for the cages. Does this prevent escapes and/or entry by children, etc?”

No, a hatchling ball python cannot fit between the space between the two glass doors, BUT some most definitely can figure out how to slide one of the doors open (I don’t know about their capacity for reasoning, but I look at it like the monkey, the typewriter and the plays of Shakespeare). And once they DO accomplish this task, it’s like they never forget where to keep probing to make that door open again. Cutting a wooden dowel to fit in each of the two tracks will stop the break-outs; a cage door lock will have the added benefit of preventing break-ins.

-Joan

I would be careful about both escape situations..... I had a corn snake that could both pry open the doors from the side (so the lock or dowel add on is absolutly nesc) and even worse... this 28" corn did creep between the two glass panes, I caught her in the middle of the escape and couldnt believe it. I did some research about this and read that others wedged paper between the two glass panes and that solved things, but within a week, she pushed it out and made her escape once again.... the cage is now retired * about a week later we caught the snake downstairs from her room strolling down our hallway.......
I also agree, once they learn a way to escape, they never forget it......