Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and am in need of some advice. My ball python, Kahotep, needs a bigger enclosure. Right now he's in a 10 gallon, and he'd like to upgrade. So here's my question: What should I get him? I'm looking into a 30 gallon home, but I'd like another option before buying a plain ol' aquarium. The Reptariums look cool, but I doubt they'd hold the heat/humidity levels that Kahotep would enjoy. They also can be arranged skyward as to encourage climbing. Kahotep loves to climb! I've a fake tree in my living room, and he'll stay up there all day long. The Vision cages seem shallow with no room for climbing branches. So...what do you suggest?

Thanks In Advance,
Chris & Kahotep =)

I would avoid screen reptariums, because they are too "open" to make good cages for Bps; air that comes and goes in and out from the rest of the room is going to be either too warm or cool, and it'll mess up the temperatures in the cage. Glass aquariums are OK to use, but they are not good insulators and are really only good if the room around the cage is heated and free of drafts and excess sunlight.
I have a few Bps housed in glass aquariums, and the temperature gradient is not hard to keep because the house is always heated to the proper temperature. But if I were to do it all again, I would probably go with rubbermaid /sterilite cntainers. they are LOADS cheaper than glass tanks. And if you do get a tank, even a 30-g tank will not really be ig enough for an adult Bp; in fact, I do not even think that a 55g long tank is big enough, because the width (front wall to back wall) is pretty narrow.
All being said and done, I would recommend rubbermaids.
What heating elements are you using now?
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2.1 Ball pythons: Goblin, Nothing, and Bela
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator: Apache
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog: Bene
1.0 Tiger salamander: Slasher
1.0 black kittycat, Inky
A bunch of Oscar cichlids, one giant pleco, huge breeding lot of "fancy" (read: deformed) goldfish, and me an' the boyfriend.

I use a 75watt reptile light. The salesperson recomended a red one, so I switched to that. I like it. It adds romantic ambiance. I also have a heat rock, but I'm not currently using that.

Chris

heat rocks tend to get too hot for snakes and will burn their tummies. a heat pad is much better as it does not come in direct contact with the snake. and you can choose a pad that will give off the desired amount of heat.

just wondering, how cold is your house? and what are you measuring your temps with? what are your temps?

I would definately use a rubbermaid, they make some that are tall enough for climbing. Also, it might not climb because it likes to it might climb because it is not secur on the ground. What are you using for hides?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

My image Gallery

My house? Around 70 degrees. Give or take. I have one of those stick-on thermometer strips on the aquarium. It's reading about 84-85 degrees right now. Is that okay?

But aren't rubbermaid containers...umm...non-transluscent? I'd like to watch little Kahotep. He's cute and fun to watch.

He spends a lot of time in what looks like a hollowed log. I bought it at PetSmart for him to curl up inside.

Chris

"My house? Around 70 degrees. Give or take. I have one of those stick-on thermometer strips on the aquarium. It's reading about 84-85 degrees right now. Is that okay?"
Use a digital thermometer with probe. Place the base unit on the cool side and the probe inside the warm side hide. The thermometers strips don't work for aquariums OR animals cages. Get rid of it.

"But aren't rubbermaid containers...umm...non-transluscent? I'd like to watch little Kahotep. He's cute and fun to watch."
Most rubbermaid containers ARE translucent (you can see okay, but not perfectly). Most of them are fine for viewing, some models are transparant and are excellent for viewing. If you want to use bulbs for heat i suggest an Exo-terra Blue bulb as it provides excellent heat and light.

"He spends a lot of time in what looks like a hollowed log. I bought it at PetSmart for him to curl up inside."
Use real hides. Hides that you buy at pet stores are usually a piece of crap. Get some clay flower pot BASES and chip a hole in the bottom with a hammer.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

My image Gallery

I found this while browsing the internet. It looks big enough. It's kinda clear. It's kinda tall so Kahotep can climb a bit. What do you think?

The only problem I can find with it is that it's plastic. Where on Earth will I put the heat lamp? I could cut a round hole in the lid, cover that with wire mesh, then set the light on top. But then the light would be more centered and not off to one side. And the light may still get too hot for the plastic lid.

How do you "rubbermaid folks" do it?

Chris =/
Max Latch Storage Container

you can either use a heat pad or just cut a hole in the lid and cover with wire mesh.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

My image Gallery

"And if you do get a tank, even a 30-g tank will not really be ig enough for an adult Bp; in fact, I do not even think that a 55g long tank is big enough, because the width (front wall to back wall) is pretty narrow. All being said and done, I would recommend rubbermaids."

Interesting. I've noticed in photos that Rubbermaid containers often used are very shallow. Kahotep loves to explore upwards in a long s-t-r-e-t-c-h. Why don't people (breeders) use deeper containers? I know you can fit more of the shallow containers on a shelf system, but isn't the mere six inches of depth a bit constrictive? (Sorry...bad pun.)

Clueless & Wondering,
Chris

Ball Pythons are not aboreal snakes. In my opinion, what you see as him "loving" to climb is actually his instinct to escape. My adult female balls are in enclosures that measure
16" x 24" x 6".

Thats only the largest of the females. All my males and medium sized females are in 8" x 16" x 6".

This is what works for me now and has in the past. All my balls are healthy and I have no problem eaters. In my experience, most of my bp's are healthier (less stressed, eat like hogs) in the smaller, tighter, more secure enclosures.

Then I guess in order to compensate for such tiny quarters, they need to spend a considerable time out of their cage. How many hours per day would you recommend?

Chris

I will tell you honestly...they don't get handled everyday. Personally, I think they shouldn't be handled everyday, it may stress them out. BUT, it all depends on your animal. I do have a few that wouldn't get stressed if they were constantly being handled and these are the ones I take to schools or programs. They all get checked on more than once a day, but not handled every day.

Again, this is just how we do things. There are many different opinions on the matter. For us, it seemed to work better (feeding, stress wise) to keep them in the smaller enclosures. We started out in the same place as everyone...but mostly learned from our own experiences. All you can really do, is see what works for you and your own animal. I know of successful stories with the animal being in a larger enclosure, but I'm just throwing our findings out there.

Thanks for letting me ramble...
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www.NEWReptiles.com

I'm sorry, I realized I put the wrong sizes down...

Our biggest enclosures are 34" x 16" x 6"
then the males and medium females are in 24" x 16" x 6"
Again, I'm sorry for the mix up
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www.NEWReptiles.com