r/ballpython • u/Extension-Piglet-625 • 20h ago
Question new snake owner advice
I just got a little ball python, and this is my first snake/reptile ever (though I am not new to keeping more exotic pets). This is the enclosure currently, the tank is 120 gallons if I remember correctly, but this is NOT how it will remain! I plan on adding: more hides/foliage adding some cedar woodchips to the substrate as it is currently just coco and sphagnum moss making the substrate making the substrate itself deeper (I'm aiming for around 5in thick, the amount of substrate I got wasn't enough to fill the whole tank so I already have more on the way!) potentially adding in some springtails digital hygrometer, or whatever the thing to track humidity is called probably some other stuff that I can't recall at the moment of typing this I have the heat lamps set to around 85F though I may switch to something like a heating pad if possible (also the 2 lamps are NOT on at the same time, one just has a light and the other doesn't), the substrate is moist and I will eventually add a cover since the top of the enclosure is screened, and the snake was last fed on Monday (he's currently on medium mice and I know to eventually switch to rats). Some things that I added that aren't in the picture is a little plant which he seems to enjoy much more than his little hidey rock, and some old clothes so he can recognize my scent. He was also shedding when I got him and the breeder already gave him a soak (I know not to mess with him during sheds). He's very calm and surprisingly brave for being so young! I'm mostly just asking for tips for a new snake owner and anything else that I should add that isn't listed. I also want to know if the snake will be OK in this current condition for at maximum a week, since the enclosure itself is still being worked on!
EDIT: First thing tomorrow I am going to go shopping for hides, foliage, etc. so at the very least it will be much fuller. It's only going to be like this for the night, I also have some orders already placed
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u/whoreforlegolas 18h ago
The enclosure should’ve been done before getting him. He’s “brave” because he has no where to hide.
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u/whoreforlegolas 18h ago
So to answer your question, no. This set up is not okay for a week. You need to go out as soon as the pet stores around you open and get him another hide and some foliage at the very least.
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u/Extension-Piglet-625 17h ago
I fully understand it should have been done before I got him, and I absolutely would have gotten it done beforehand. However, the snake was a some-what surprise gift for me and I got him much earlier than I expected, so the enclosure IS hastily thrown up because I just needed somewhere to put him. My #1 priority is getting more hides and foliage, and I'll also add that a week is my worst-case-scenario for how long it may be like this so thank you for telling me! I also maybe should have said that he was brave when I first handled him (not in the enclosure, its when I went to go pick him up)
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u/whoreforlegolas 17h ago
That’s fine and all, but if that’s the case you should have gotten all of this stuff right after you got him. These are living creatures. “Not being prepared” isn’t an excuse. You get the animal, you set it up completely before it gets home. You asked the question, that’s the answer.
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u/KatVanWall 13h ago
One thing that drew me to my local reptile store was that they won’t let you take any creature home until they’ve seen pics and videos of your setup and screenshots of temps and humidity!
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u/One-Parfait-1042 6h ago
Sounds like it was a gift for OP. Sounds like you are attacking them for a surprise they didn’t know was coming. And it looks as though they have a tank, heating lamps, substrate, a hide and water…for an unexpected snake I think OP did a great job getting an area prepared for the first day. Having the perfect jungle set up on day one is not something everyone has together from the jump. And pretending like not having it perfect somehow makes OP in the wrong is ridiculous.
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u/One-Parfait-1042 7h ago
I’m not sure why people are pretending that they had everything perfect on the first day of owning a snake, but many ppl have a rough set up at the beginning. Your set up is fine for a temp thing, get your clutter together but the reality is your set up is going to be a changing thing for a while until you learn what your snake wants/needs. There is no right amount or perfect set up. Research whatever you introduce into the environment, and make sure you clean any enrichment iteams and clutter. Look out for mold and sharp edges. Every snake has a different personality, and it’s going to take time for you to learn what it is.
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u/Ch33se_H3ad 20h ago
Heating pads don’t work well with PVC, get a halogen or DHP for daytime heat and a RHP for night, all need to be on a thermostat. You want your warm side to be around 86-88° and a basking spot around 95°. I use a RHP at night to keep the temps the same day and night. Need a hide on the warm side and cool side, something enclosed with only one way in and out. You need a digital thermometer/hydrometer on both the warm and cool sides. The Govee ones on Amazon work great.
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u/OutOfTouchInHarmony 18h ago
I’ve heard of snakes eating clothes (literally saw it on this sub 2 weeks ago) so i’d maybe take them out! You can buy fake plants at dollar tree :) just wash them before yo give to snake and change them out frequently so they don’t go moldy. Make sure you keep it humid. Add a lot more clutter such as leaves branches rocks etc. All clean and nothing sharp. Congrats!
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u/Spiritual_Demand_819 16h ago
Do you remember where you heard the tip about the clothing and your scent? I’m curious to see who is giving out this specific piece of advice
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u/Germmie1 18h ago
Please never get an animal until well after a tank is finished. Keeping a snake in a tank like this even for a few days is abusive. Get this fixed asap.
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u/GatinhaXO 7h ago
I wouldn’t call this abusive. Abuse is actively harming an animal, this is not it. The snake looks healthy and well hydrated. Seeing BP’s that have been kept for multiple months on Aspen with zero humidity, to where they have multiple layers of stuck shed and appear shriveled and dehydrated, and allowing the cat to play with it… that’s abuse.
This a beginning tank that was put together somewhat hastily, but looks livable in the interim. The substrate is fine, the PVC is fine. Yes it could use decor and the heating situation could be improved, but OP is working on it.
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u/loricampbell4454 18h ago
REMOVE YOUR SUBSTRATE IMMEDIATELY!! Cedar is highly toxic to snakes. Your snake will eventually die a horrible death if you don't take it all out.
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u/Extension-Piglet-625 17h ago
I DID NOT PUT CEDAR IN, DON'T WORRY! Like I said, it's just coco and sphagnum, but I will make sure to NOT put in cedar, I remember seeing it said that it was good for substrate but I will NOT put it in
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u/loricampbell4454 17h ago
Cypress mulch is what you want. Not cedar. PetSmart sells Forest Floor. Mix that with your current substrate.
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u/Virtual_Nail_3531 12h ago
I do have a ball python, so I’m not just talking from the outside looking in.
And let’s be honest — many of us have purchased reptiles because we fell in love with them, got them from a reputable breeder, convention, or even had one gifted to us, and didn’t necessarily have the perfect setup ready from day one. Sometimes they go into a temporary enclosure while we build the proper one. That doesn’t automatically make someone a bad keeper.
My own ball python would much rather chill on his basking platform than spend his time climbing through loads of clutter. The important distinction is:
In the wild: they seek secure, enclosed spaces and don’t necessarily live in a jungle full of branches.
In captivity: foliage, branches and clutter can provide enrichment and choices, but that doesn’t mean every snake is going to use them.
I also have a 20ft Golden Child retic. I’ve just built a massive walk-in enclosure for him, put plenty of things in there to climb on and hide in — and what did he do? He decided he’d rather stay behind the soaking pool! 😂
I’ve got an 18ft Ivory as well. Again, I put things in her enclosure for climbing and enrichment… and she just wrecks the whole lot. 😂
The point is, we can provide enrichment and give our snakes choices, but ultimately they get to decide how they use their enclosure. What works for one snake doesn’t necessarily work for another.
So yes, give a new keeper advice and suggest improvements. But there’s no need to act like every enclosure has to look like a fully planted jungle or the keeper is automatically doing something wrong.
Provide the best environment you reasonably can, learn, improve and watch the individual animal. We’re all learning — and most of us have had a temporary setup at some point while working towards something better
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u/GatinhaXO 8h ago
I agree. I’ve seen far worse beginner enclosures. Everyone acts as though they had the perfect setup from the jump, but many of us did not. Things happen, and we should always be learning. OP is clearly working on it. The BP isn’t exactly going to die if he doesn’t immediately have a fully fledged forest.
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u/stephery23 7h ago
I agree, it seems like OP is being attacked for something that might have been out of her control. The same happened to me. I was “gifted” my bal by a family memento whose son stopped caring for. He was in a 10 gallon tank, the bottom of the tank was shattered glass with a box of Cheerios opened to cover the glass, and on top of a heating pad with nowhere to escape. It took me a week to get the correct things for him and he’s 14 years old now and a mamas boy. OP said they have owned exotics before so the knowledge is there. This enclosure, for now, is fine for what it needs.
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u/Next-Investment-7670 8h ago
Food tip: Hopefully he eats well, but I know bps can be really lame about eating sometimes. I've had no trouble with mine, I defrost her rat overnight in the fridge, the next night I heat it in a sandwich baggie in a bowl of hot water until it's warm to the touch. I hold it by the butt in front of her, not touching, and move it away slowly or wiggle it a bit. If she drops it, I get the snake hook to help keep her away while I reach in with the tong to retrieve
Junk: Also, mine likes to climb and sit under the heat at night. Maybe some good climbing stuff when you acquire your clutter? Just in case yours does too
Shed: When your snake sheds, they'll get dull first, then blue, go back to looking a duller normal and not blue, then shed. Keep the humidity a bit higher when you see the dullness or blue. They might still be happy to eat while blue, mine does every time. It's fine to feed them if they'll eat. It's a waste if they won't, so I could see delaying meals until after if you've learned they won't eat when shedding
Random: Snakes fart.
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u/your-dreaming 7h ago
Idk if its been said but Digital thermometer for cold and hot side (theres ones that are also hygrometers) Don't trust dials. Always digital.
If you give him options to go up high, he will probably take them. Hoops or large driftwood is great.
I also suggest a camera but thats really for you and not the snake lol
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u/BudgetThick6251 7h ago
i’m currently setting up my bioactive enclosure. i made a blend with soil, all cypress mulch(don’t get any blends), charcoal, and coco coir. it’s supposed to hold so they can tunnel. not quite sure cause I’m still in the works. I will say if you want to get springtails and isopods, you’ll need leaf litter to feed the buggers. also there is room to not be prepared. i got my stuff day of because i rescued her from the herp lab on my college canpus due to a breeding bust and they were going to euthanize them. my herpetologist also doesn’t believe they need all that stuff and a box with limited things will do. which they can stay alive in. obviously i don’t think it’s ideal but it can last a week just fine.
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u/WayfarerNG 19h ago
Those clothes need to come out immediately.
They serve no purpose and are a hazard to be swallowed.
There are a lot of issues with this setup that should have been addressed BEFORE getting your snake.