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Would like some ball "experts" to help w/ cage question

toshamc Nov 23, 2004 03:34 PM

I had a ball for 20+ year that died a year ago (old age) so I thought I knew just about everything about balls, but so much has changed and become available in the last 20 years, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I just picked up two babies for my son for his birthday (regulars but both are super pastel siblings, very pretty). Anyway, the cage question... I've cleaned the old cage up, for them and they seem to be happy with it, but I'm having a real hard time keeping the temperature (and humidity) up in it. It gets pretty cold in our house and the cage is glass 54 x 18 x 24 (L,H,W) so it's pretty big. I've got 2 UTH and a 250 Watt basking lamp, I spritz the tank 3-4 times a day (it's one chore my son dosen't mind doing) to try to keep the humidity up. But it just doesn't seem to be enough. The snakes stay in their little log hide and feel warm to the touch when they are in there, but after they've been out cruising they get very cold. I was thinking about getting that fake rock wall stuff to insulate a couple of the sides but didn't really know if that stuff was good for snakes or if it would work, I also was planning on getting more climbing structures (I remember they love to climb when they're little). Anyway, any thoughts or recommendations would really be great. Oh yeah, these are really just pets, I don't plan on breeding them or anything.
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Replies (4)

neilgolli Nov 23, 2004 03:47 PM

You did not mention if they were eating yet or not, but a few things to consider are they don't really like being keep together all that well. Also, they prefer smaller enclosures especialy when they are small, 12 quart rubbermaid or sterile shoebox containers work great. If they are not eating, these two things will help out tremendously. If you decide to keep them together in that large tank, atleast take one out and feed them apart and to solve some of your heat lose and humidity problems, get a peice of glass to cover the top as I assume it is a screen lid.

toshamc Nov 23, 2004 04:04 PM

They've both eaten and they've started their shed (eyes are cloudy)so I didn't feed them this weekend. And I was thinking that if I put up the fake wall stuff, then that would enclose them a bit more. I also wanted to add more hides and plants and climbing stuff to enclose them, make them feel safer. 3/4 of the top of the cage is plexiglass and the other side (with the lamp) is screen, at night I drape a comforter over the side w/out the light to help keep the heat in. Thanks for your suggestions.

tigerlilie2 Nov 23, 2004 04:58 PM

I have an aquarium with the same diminsions as you, with two female balls in it. They don't have any trouble with one another at all, and I feed them seperated (in the sink or box). Just make sure you've sexed your balls.
To keep the temp and humidity up first, I used that foil tape you can purchase at any hardware store and taped all open screened areas. This helped alot. My screen top is one thats a bit different than yours though from what I can see. Mine opens longways - basically its henged from left to right longways. I have long tubular regular lights on the back half and also a ceramic heater on one end. Though I've read ALOT of people don't like to use them (they tend to dry the tank out -thus defeating the purpose of raising humidity). But, this seems to work great for me. During winter I drape a towel over the lights to hold in humidity and heat, even though my place seems to stay at 75-80 degrees (the effect of being a herp lover i suppose ). Anyways I don't want to get off topic, I also have an UTH (under tank heater) also, on the warm side. The balls are always nice and warm! Just spritz the aquarium once a day or when snakes go in shed, this should work. I'm not a professional or anything I'm just saying what seems to work for my animals.

extensive Nov 23, 2004 04:53 PM

i use a few aquariums and my house gets quite cold in the winter, like 65. i put 1/2" foam board insulation on the outside attached with velcro. it works great.
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Extensive Snakes

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