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Cages for ball python? Help

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emericanz

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Ok so im very new to ball pythons. Very little exp with them.
But me and my gf are planning on getting a pastel at a expo soon
And ive been reading non stop about caging set ups
And all i seem to find is using racks or stackables

I see myself using a stackable do to enclosed walls and lid
So i can see the snake and eventually have more.
Personally id like a rack so its more natural to how they live
in termite mounds for less stress.

But anyways what do i put in the tank for the snake?!
Just cypress mulch two hides one with a hot spot. Do i use a water dish?
I just cant find any info on what s the best way to provide the best enviroment for the snake! Just wanna know what you guys/girls use.
Please help

I know i have to keep humidity for them. All my exp is with bearded dragons lol moving away from that
 
Hahaha Luke awesome answer.

Honestly a rack would be your best bet.

For my hatchlings and juveniles, I keep them in 6 qt shoebox containers with the water bowl on the cool side and a small hide on the warm side. Humidity stays perfect for me and temps are all controlled by a Herpstat so they are consistent.

Easy as that.

Now, if you are using something else, you might consider another hide. I would strongly suggest if you are buying a baby that you keep them in something small...like a 6qt shoebox. People have made other methods work but most of the "Why won't my ball python eat" (amongst others) threads I see are people who have their tiny ball python in a 10g fishtank with under the tank heaters hooked up to no thermostat. :(

If you are taking the plunge and getting a snake, go ahead and help yourself by giving it everything it needs. A small enclosure at first, a proper heat source hooked up to a proper thermostat.

Good luck,
 
What racks do u suggest? And how old will it be when i have to change the rack size?
Also what sub should i put in the rack? Newspaper,cypress mulch etc?
 
What kind of rack will really depend on your budget. I'd suggest building your own since you are only buying one ball as of now. You could use melamine (I don't personally like it because it's SO heavy, but I have a big 50 slot melamine hatchling rack that I use. I dont necessarily like melamine racks, but I still have one.)
Melamine is readily available, easy to work with and you could build any size you want. Maybe you just build a small 9-12 slot rack. Probably cost you $50-$60 for material. (Just a ball park guess) maybe even less.

Substrate you can use whatever is safe for balls.
Cypress, newspaper, pre cut liners, etc.
I use newspaper.

You'll need to switch the ball to a bigger tub when it reaches 500+ grams. I like to wait until 600-650 but it really depends on the individual snake. I've switched some around 500 and waited until 700 for others. How long this will take also depends on the individual ball. Some balls eat great and grow like weeds, and some are stubborn from the start and take a while to put on size.

I usually have my hatchlings in their 6qt racks for a little under a year. My great feeders have been out within 7-8 months and my stubborn babies can stay longer than a year.
 
...you can also build racks out of other materials. Melamine is pretty common. PVC would be a good option if you can find the correct materials for a good price.

Lot's of options, I personally hate wood racks, but again, they are an option.

Look around, find pictures and other discussions on the issue, use your imagination, be creative and see what you can come up with.:thumbsup:
 
If i was to build my own rack, what adhesive do i use that is snake friendly? And should i use heat strips or a bulb?
 
You can start with a nice tub, (a 15qt WITH a hide is good for a young snake, smaller if you don't have a hide), heat pad that covers around 25%-30% of the bottom and a GOOD T-stat. That is perfect for your 1st snake.

See how it goes... most do get more than one snake, but you can grow into it easily from just the things above.

Get used to keeping the proper conditions & as you are getting that down, use a key-word search on this forum & look at other folk's rack set-ups. ;)
 
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Honestly looks like i may just go with my 20gl tank and cover up the sides to provide security for the snake. I had humitidy problems with my frilled dragon but tweaked it till it was perfect so i dont see it being much of an issue.

But im planning on getting vision cages asap what sizes do u guys recomend or age/weight?
 
Ok so i think im going with the vision cage v111 for starting with a baby ball. Its pretty cheap and look likes my best bet.

Can anyone tell me what kind of heating i should run on the cage. I realize its not tank so i cant put any light or anything on it. Please help
 
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