Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all I just got my first ball python. He is a baby and is farm raised, named Eight. I have him in a 20 Gal. with under tank heat source that is on all the time. Also a heat lamp from above that goes off at night and aspen bedding. Will this meet his needs. or will I need to upgrade now or somewhere along the line. Please help a complete novice such as myself the only snake I've kept befor is a corn snake. Oh I've been told I am lucky since he eats defrosed mouseicles.

congrats! Do you have a hide box? I would lose the bedding and get newspsper or astroturf. They can injest the bedding. Give your new friend 2 weeks to adjust to the invierment befor you handle him.

Good luck with your new friend

if it's small i dont see why a 20 gal. tank is bad.
Personally I like rubbermaid sweater boxes. I'f I were to set up a 20 gal. tank I would have a heat lamp with a hide spot directly under it & an undertank heat pad directly below that hidespot on one side of the tank. On the other side I would have a rubbermaid tupperware waterbowl with a hole cut in the lid big enough for the snake to get into. I personally feel that balls do enjoy a bowl big enough to soak in & the rubbermaid being semi-opaque makes it another hide spot. In the middle I would have branches spawing out in both directions to give him some climbing space incase he decides to do so. As far as bedding I prefer newspaper, it's cheap, & absorbant. I've heard that some people feel aspen is bad because of the dust from the wood irritating the snakes breathing passages. I have never used aspen but I have used coconut chips & stopped because of the dust. If you hate the newspaper idea go with whatever you feel works. Also if you don't care for the waterbowl/hidespot just put a water bowl in the middle & a hide spot on each end of the tank. The side with the lamp & heat pad should have a hot spot of 90 during the day & 85 at night. the ambient air temperature in the tank should be 85 & then 80 at night. Also since it's a screen top most likely put a towel over half the screen (i hope you're smart enough not to put it next to the heat lamp..lol) to keep in some humidity. Well that's what i'd do. Good luck

Thanks to both of you for the input. Since 2 people agree, I will toss the aspen bedding and try newspaper. I got the hide box, water bowl, and a rock on the hot side of the tank and another hide box on the cool side. My temptures check out to what you said by a few degrees. The rock is suppose to absorbe heat during the day and let it off slowly at night, also to rub against to shed. If I forgot anything or run into problems I will certainly come here for advise rather than the pet store they wanted to sell me a 75 gal enclousure saying the snake will need it by the time he is grown. They also sold me Calci-sand for my Bearded Dragon which I found out was wrong to use. Do not trust Pet Stores is my main message for today I guess they rather make immediate profit than have long time customers.

You are so right! The ppl on this board are a million times more helpful than any pet store I have walked into, regarding BPs. I use newspaper as a substrate; not the best looking thing, but it's simple to toss away when soiled. I tried astroturf-stuff but it is too annoying to me, to have to wash it when dirty, so it's newspaper for now.
-----
"One man's pet is another man's feeder."

First of all.. congrats on your new friend! The size of your tank should be fine for at least a year, but you may want to upgrade in size by then.
I started out with a 20 long but now I have a 55 gal. I just feel that when he is really big he might want to be able to stretch out.your setup sounds like it is off to a good start, but where you are using a glass aquarium you need to keep a close eye on the humidity. I t should be around 60% and glass does not hold it well at all. Two things that will help are a large water bowl(not deep but alot of surface area), and what I use for substrate is reptibark. It holds humidy extremely well but isn't so damp to create skin problems. It also looks nicer,as well as more natural than newspaper. I change the bark every 3-4 weeks, so at 10 dollars a month it is not overly expensive(I use 2 bags at once it is about 5 per bag).Here is pic of my set up.. hope I have helped!!

P.S. He also likes to bury himself in the bark to rest and to play!!LOL
my snake pics!!

-----

I am a true herper at heart
1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

soory.. forgot pic...lol

-----

I am a true herper at heart
1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

Congrats!

With regards to cage size - it'll be fine for about a year and then you'll need to get something at lest 3 feet in length (at least a 30 gallon). I started with a 50 gallon breeder.

I'd be happy to email you a caresheet I've put together of all the advice I've received from this and various forums. If interested, just email me:
tigergenesis@comcast.net

Best of luck!

-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

it is funny how much alike we think tiger...lol

-----

I am a true herper at heart
1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

LOL. I've toyed with the idea of using reptibark - but I like the convenience of feeding in the cage. But I still think about it. It looks really nice in your tank. How easy is it to spot clean? Does Maximus ever try to burrow under it or does he just stay on top?

-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

It is actually very easy to spot clean. He only burrows every once in a great while, but usualle is content on top of it.His hides to be perfect size that he feels content to just be in them and not burrow. Not everyone may like the reptibark and that is ok. I just prefer it myself. your setup looks really nice too,by the way!
-----

I am a true herper at heart
1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I tried Reptibark in a tank once, but as soon as I emptied the bag into the tank, my arms broke out in a rash all the way to the elbows!

Anyways, obviously I'm not saying this will happen to everyone, I'm sure it was just some type of allergic reaction or something. But I just thought I'd throw my own 2 cents worth in, and let you know about my experience with it.

I keep all of my snakes on aspen, and it works great. I haven't got a ball python yet (though it's on my list!), so unfortunately, I don't have experience with balls specifically.

Good luck with your new snake!
Nicki

-----
1.1.0 Uromastyx maliensis (Mali Uromastyx) - Spike and Lizzy
0.0.1 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri (Variable (Thayer’s) Kingsnake) - Kavi
0.0.1 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli (Pueblan Milksnake) - Callia
0.2.0 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Red-Sided Garter Snakes) - Spot and Fluffy

You should also have a Hydrogometer. It measures the humidity in the cage. I like to keep my around 70%. If you live in a cold dry environment, like I do, that can be difficult to maintain. I use Cyprus Mulch, and add water to the mulch every 60 hours or so, and it keeps the humidity right about where I want it.

If you are having humidity problems, not much you can do if your substrate is newspaper besides adding a larger water bowl, or getting a room humidifier to keep the cage humid.

Good luck!!

Just adding my $.02 about substrate. I've been using CareFresh for a few year with great results. It's fairly cheap, it's recycled paper and very easy to spot clean. I have noticed a small amount of dust on the very bottom of the cage when doing a complete cleaning.

Do you know what your exact temps are? Hot side, cool side, substrate, hide spots, etc.. Make sure you use a digital thermometer to take temps ($15 at Walmart) and a thermostat (or rheostat) to control the them. Humidity should be in the 50-60% range until your snake goes into shed, then up it 80%. Make sure there's a hide on each side of the enclosure so your Ball doesn't choose its hide over its comfort.