Many people use glass enclosures to house their baby ball pythons. If you follow the instructions in this tutorial, you will have a very happy baby snake!! 😊
Awesome. I'll keep that in mind. It's just so hard to choose what morph though! We have a Banana pastel male and he's the sweetest. I'm excited to see how he changes with age.
Thank you so much for this!!! As a beginner i am brand new to all of this and I think a lot of veteran snake owners don’t understand they’re not dumbing it down enough. I honestly could not figure out from several videos I’ve watched how to situate the heating mat because they would never go into detail so thank you 🙏
NEVER put any form of tape inside a snake enclosure. Literally one of the first things anyone ever told me before I bought a snake. Literally common sense
I’ve been wanting a ball python for years and I’m finally going to be living somewhere I can have one! I’ve been trying to find good educational videos and this is the BEST! Thank you so much for helping us snake newbies!
Hey Jocelyn! We have lots of AMAZING ball python babies available right now if you are still looking. Hit me up! Either through Instagram @scalezreptiles or email zachpersin@hotmail.com
I was stressing so bad trying ti find a video that hit all of these points. You did an AMAZING job explaining and going into detail, it's a lot more required than many others show and you show that. So thank you for that! instant sub!!
I once had a little lobster that pushed the lid of the tank. The day after it even pushed the lid with a stack of books on it. A strong snake could definitely do it! Funny thing was; he just went for a walk around my bedroom, only to jump back in his tank after he finished his patrols. One time I woke up and he was staring at me, sitting on my alarm clock. One crazy lobster haha.
This was so helpful! I’m planning on getting a ball python for the first time after being a bearded dragon owner and there’s so much new reptile territory I’m running into! Thank you so much 🙏 🙏
We have some amazing ball pythons available right now if you are interested! Reach out on Instagram @scalezreptiles and I’m happy to help find you the perfect one 😊
DONT FOLLOW THIS GUIDE!!!!! Crazy how wrong this guy is. I’m trying my hardest not to seem like a bad person, I just care about snakes and this is just absurd
If anyone doesn’t want to buy a brand new tank I always suggest looking at second hand tanks first, sometimes people even give them away for free and I got a 75 gallon tank last year for free off Facebook market place.
I used aluminum foil and it worked hood to hold in heat! Also I added a Tupperware and put Moss in it and that was my snakes humanity box. Good she’d every time. But I like how you explain everything.
I 100% love ball pythons but since they get so big and their setup is also pretty big, i settled for getting a corn snake (will get one soon). I feel sad but I’m still gonna get a ball python as well! ❤
I've had my ball python for the past year & I'm still always watching enclosure videos to better the way I do things. I'm currently building a 5ft upgraded enclosure & have been watching alot of videos so this was definitely a help
@scalezreptiles1813 after I move my BP to the new enclosure I'm going to be in the market for a gargoyle gecko or a crocodile skink to put in the 40gal tank. Not sure which
So you’d know putting a 70 watt heat bulb in a tank that small right in the middle is absolutely ridiculously stupid and asking for a dehydrated/toasted snake
This man good advice but if u live in a very dry place like new mexico maybe get a humidity gauge not a stick one one that u can jus place somewhere in the cage it wont harm ur snake if the humidity isnt 65 plus or anything but its better for them an more comfortable another thing i wanted to point out make sure u get two of the same hides if theirs two differnt hides ur snake is going to stay in the one it feels more safe in even if its to hot
Thanks for the tips! Sometimes I worry about over-misting my snake because the vet said he had a small fungal infection that could have resulted from over-misting.
Yeah it’s a real problem! You never want to mist directly on the snake, ever. That can cause sickness. The bedding should just be somewhat damp. Nothing crazy
Thank you very much this video was very helpful. I am looking for a ball python it will be my first one As a pet. Looking forward to it . By no means I am looking to breed is not my thing.
We have some amazing choices right now! If you’d like to send me an email we can connect and see if we can find you one that fits your wants! :) zachpersin@hotmail.com
Have you tried reptile prime coco substrate by brian barczyk? I holds the most water and stay dry on touch for bp belly. I used repti-chip previously. It it relatively more difficult to do spot cleaning with repti-chip compared to reptiprime.
All you need is a rack system or just plain tubs with drill holes in them for air. And a thermostat. Well plus the heating Source pastil that's the easiest part. The hardest part of taking care of a snake is the setup. After that as long as you know what you are doing, your snake will have an easy life and so you will because it doesn't cost you much money after that
I just wouldn’t recommend a glass enclosure for adult or a baby but if that’s all you have it can definitely work. Otherwise, the explanation in this video works the same for adults :)
Thank you! It really depends on how often you are feeding your little one. I know some people who feed twice a week while they are growing. So in that cage it would only last about 6 months tops. In other cases where they feed 1 time per week + it could last you a year.
Thanks for the tutorial i just got a hatchling the only thing about the lamp in the middle might cook it too death what im doing is having a cold and hot side please let me know if thats good, also someone told me not too put tape in my enclosure but let me know if im right or wrong here😅
They can be as cheap as 75 bucks and the full setup can be found on Craigslist for 100 to 150 ish. I wouldn’t say too expensive when you think about some reptiles costing in the thousands. If you are ready to get one let me know! We have some great options right now and I’ll hook you up nice. Our ball pythons range from 75 to 1ks so we definitely have variety! Feel free to reach out on @scalezreptiles
I would not worry about ventilation honestly. Cover 80% of the top if you can with a towel or plywood or plexiglass is preferred. Then the remaining 20% Of the top would be covered by heat lamps. They really don’t need much other ventilation
@scalezreptiles1813 thanQ for your reply, all very clear.....I think I'm overthinking...I tend to do that when my hobby means a wee life depends on me.....cheers..🥃.I'm going to binge watch your channel later.🏴
I got a baby ball and used a 55 gal fish aquarium. I never had issues heating the tank. I named him “hebi” Japanese for snake and he is beautiful and big!! Super fun and has a great personality. Never had issues with feeding and he has never refused food. Transition from frozen mouse to frozen rat was easy as can be. No problems with shedding or anything else. Im learning everything as I go. I do have a question tho! He got out for the first time the other night and I found him I the hallway just chillen looking at me lol so I added a paint can on each side of the tank, there is a clip on either side, shoebox in the middle full of cards, 1 gal water bottle on the side as well. How can I secure the top better?
I highly recommend you use a slide top enclosure (slides left to right and click in place) not one that just pops up when the snake pushes. Those are really not made for snakes. Glad your snake is doing well!
@@scalezreptiles1813 I have been looking for one but have been unsuccessful.. I have a 55gal aquarium tank that at one point was our fish tank until I upgraded my wife to the 75 gal she has now. When I him petsmart did not have a 55gal cover so I had to buy 2 40gal (I believe it’s a 40) screens and they fit perfectly. In the middle I had to bend the edge of the screen lip to make it flat. I have 3 cage clips for the back of the tank on each screen next to the wall side, I also have another clip right in the middle of the tank on each screen. Today I went to the hardware store and got 4in wide heavy duty velcro and attached that to either side of my tank and another 4in peace on the front of tank in the middle of each screens I can now practically lift my tank by the screens, if he gets out of that I shouldn’t be a snake owner lol. If you come across the screen you are talking about for my tank size please let me know
My probe says to not get it wet, so I have attached them to where they are under the hide and just above the substrate on the side of the tank. All seems to be going well, but CAN I attach it to the bottom with it touching the damp substrate then? I also have the 10-20 gal pads for the 20 gal tanks along the back edge lengthwise because the 30-40 gal pads wouldn’t fit width wise. They spend the majority of their time on the cool side in their hides, and I have the electronic probes adjusting the heat accordingly so I know the temps are good. And yes, I’m checking with the temp gun like we talked about. So did yours fit width wise fully on the glass without any issues? Thanks Zack! Great video btw 🤗
It did actually seem to fit lengthwise. It may have stuck out less than an inch but ultimately did the trick of covering 1/3 the cage. And yes, I’d say you can put the probe under the soil on the glass. I do it all the time with those thermostats. I think it meant more so not to put water on it directly like spraying it, because it can then read the temp of the water versus the hot spot on the glass.
Wouldn’t you worry about a snake potentially moving the thermostat probe/wrapping themselves up in the foil (extremely sticky and sharp) tape if they decide to burrow?
It’s more about the temps reading in the enclosure. Not necessarily on the thermostat. For ball pythons the hot spot should be 91ish +\- and cold side around 78 to 80
There's one thing I don't get, why a Heat mat and a CHE bulb? I ask because people in fb groups are saying to ditch the heat mat and to just use a CHE bulb instead. They have these big wooden vivs with just a CHE for heat. I'm so confused? Love the video, so detailed, thank you.
I'm beginning to think a lot of these groups are overcomplicating things for the sake of "perfection" but it's only creating more confusion. I've been pretty confused myself but I'm starting to gather that there's realistically no one way to do it. If you want to run a heat mat, do it. If you want a CHE, use a CHE. But I'm also seeing UVB, DHP, etc being recommended as well. It's tough for me to pick because I bought just a regular heat lamp from zoo med and one of their bulbs. I'm probably gonna use it and monitor temps to make sure it stays consistent. If it doesn't work out, I'll probably go with a CHE.
@@M45T3R_B8ER you nailed it!! Exactly, too much info and looking for perfection. My comment was a moth ago. Since then I'm just using a 100w CHE bulb in a wooden vivarium. That's it. Humidity and heat is perfect.
@@M45T3R_B8ER Seriously. I'm so frustrated I've literally considered giving this adorable ball python back to the neighbors that didn't want it anymore. I know I've vastly improved his living situation, but those forums (Reddit and FB) have made me absolutely crazy with second guessing, buying stuff, sending stuff back, wasting money and time trying to achieve BP Nirvana. He came to me with a heat mat and a 150 watt Zilla day white bulb on no thermostat, in the middle of the tank with no decor. I'm now running a DHP on a thermostat, heat mat on a thermostat, and a Forest Dweller UVB bulb. Being told I ALSO need a halogen spot, also on a thermostat, ditch the UTH, and I MUST have wifi enabled hygrometers/thermometers to remotely monitor conditions. Sheeeeeeesh.
Did you just recommend that new owners _not_ track the temperature and humidity with gauges? There's nothing wrong with newbies keeping track of such things. Especially given that quite a few will not follow your instructions perfectly. Also, different regions have different relative humidity, so that can make a difference in the tank - as well as the temperature people keep their houses. The gauges can let people know when something is wrong _before_ it screws up a shed, causes an URI, or makes them go off feed.
Thanks for your comment Charles. I definitely recommend people track the temperatures using gauges. It’s the humidity gauges that I do not believe are necessary and most of the time I believe people rely on them too much and in turn cause RIs because it’s reading 50% humidity (when in reality it’s 90%) so they keep getting it more and more wet. I understand people live in different regions and relative air humidity is different. But if you follow my general rules of thumb you will be completely fine for ball pythons. Covering the top of the enclosure is key. And keeping the substrate lightly damp by spraying a couple times a week is all that’s needed
@@scalezreptiles1813 That’s not correct. We have evolved our knowledge in the reptile community and now know that a shade dwelling uvb light is beneficial for ball pythons. I recommend Arcadia Shade Dweller Pro for light/uvb cycle. 12hr on, 12hr off.
hey how's it going? greetings from Brazil. Could you explain the measurements to me? Because around here we don't say "10 or 20 gallons", so I don't understand kkkkk, thanks.
Geez this is a lot I didn’t think it was all this to keep a reptile 🐍 I might as well buy a dog! I have known other owners who just had a heat rock and a towel and their snake lives still to this day
I def dont agree with you 100%, but as others have said u def went over alot, and i dont see anything outrageously bad. Just things i would do differently, as in the substrate. 40-50 watt Che's arent powerful enough, u really need 60-75 watt as u said to get the ambient good. Also many thermostats aren't designed to work with Che's, so make sure the one u get will if thats its intended purpose. Also put the che on the hot side to get a better temperature gradient... especially in a 20 gallon. Way easier to mix ur substate before u put everything in the tank 😊
I don’t at the moment but you can basically use everything I said in this video just on a larger scale. So I’d say at least 40 gallon tank or larger. Preferably pvc or something non glass. If you have to use glass it’s Okay just cover the top to keep in heat and humidity
@@scalezreptiles1813 thank you for the reply. I just put my new ball python in it's enclosure. I'm just having a hard time keeping the basking side at a steady 90 95 degrees. Im also using a circulating fan in the room to keep the humidity down
@@scalezreptiles1813 I was using the fan because the humidity in that room gets to around 80 percent and I heard that is to high. What do you recommend?
This is absolutely ridiculous? A 70watt heat lamp right in the middle? Absolutely no escape from the warmth. Both sides are going to be atleast 27c dunno what that is in F. genuinely shocked by this video, so wrong it’s unbelievable
I have a lamp like that but its on one side so theres a hot side and a cold side thats what pet co recommend to make it so idk if im right or wrong here please let me know
@@JuniorJohnson-jo7evdon’t stress, as long as the enclosure is around as long as the snake, a bit of humidity, and like you said a hot and cold side, I have 2 thermometers one on each side of the tank because imma helicopter snake parent, but they’re tough, a small issue won’t permanently harm your snake, maybe mild discomfort on both of you, but you’re good 💪🐍
Putting the probe inside is not a great idea. All you do is put it in between the heat mat and the bottom of the tank. Yes, it will read hotter than the actual area inside the tank, but that’s why you set it a few degrees higher than the temp you want, and make sure the temp inside is correct with a temp gun.
Coconut fiber is cheap and can hold humidity well but also holds bacteria as well and as the tendency to get stuck in a ball python’s heat pits and if consume can cause impaction Your better off going with mixture of 40% topsoil 40% zoo med repti soil and 20% playsand substrate should be about 4 in deep Ball pythons are shy creatures so covering up three sides of the enclosure will help your snake feel more secure comfortable and confident in it's enclosure
@@doit4chicago25 I find this whole comment to be misinformation. Why mislead the entire reptile community because of pride?? Do you have any links to back up your claims?? Coconut husk and fiber is by far the best substrate for ball pythons, and it’s agreed upon by most of us in the community after many years of raising snakes.
@@nigelsreptarachnids5931 the only misinformation is the one you're spreading and misleading the reptile community Tell were in Africa can you find coconut fiber or coconut husk substrate
Tape inside the aquarium is not a great idea. The snake will eventually get the tape loose and get stuck in it. If you want to run the thermostat line inside the tank, you should use a non-toxic silicone caulking to secure it and make sure it dries completely before putting anything in. If the snake manages to break that loose, then you don't have to worry about it getting stuck and injured by the tape.
Everything was great but you lost me with taping the thermostat inside the actual enclosure. That probe should be taped sandwiched between the glass and the heat mat outside the enclosure. There should be no tape inside the tank.
Yeah I agree with you. However sooo many people don’t purchase temp Guns and then don’t actually have the temps right because the probe is outside the cage. So the temps run too low and people don’t adjust for that difference in temps. But I do agree, if you adjust for that, it’s better to put the probe outside the cage
This setup is actually really bad. Don’t use fine substrate. Don’t put the probe on the base. Don’t put tape in the enclosure. The second hide is not even a hide. 40gal is minimum size. You need the thermometers and hydrometers. Put the CHE above warm side. Please don’t follow this!
Yep, I would agree! The problem is a huge percentage of new snake owners purchase glass enclosures from petco or petsmart and then struggle to get the environment right. Typically wooden or pvc enclosures can be a bit more expensive so some people can’t afford it. So this video is just to help out in the case someone got a glass enclosure is all! :)
I was going to bash this guy for shooting a video with ADMITTEDLY incorrect props (wrong type of screen top, unrecommended kind of thermostat, wrong kind of tape). If you’re going to shoot a video, make sure you have the correct props BEFORE you shoot. I know he’s just trying to educate noobs, so I’ll let all that slide. Something I can’t let slide, you never, ever, EVER, EVER use tape, of any kind, inside of a snake enclosure. It’s a recipe for disaster. Place the probe between the UTH and the glass, outside of the enclosure. Tape inside the enclosure, NEVER EVER!
nature doesn’t have heat mats, and temperatures underground tend to be *cooler* than temperatures on the surface, not warmer. So I don't whats the point in the adding a heat mat when you already have a overhead heat source
@@4hounds2humans1van5 my sentiments exactly. This guy is going around these comment sections acting like he knows what he’s talking about but probably just got his first snake a couple years ago. 😆 His pride is too strong for him to actually learn something from those of us that have been doing it for probably as long as he’s been alive.
