Even without upgrading the size of the enclosure, you gave Jack a massive upgrade. A 20 year old Ball Python with a not terribly consistent past is certainly in his twilight years. Here's hoping you can keep him healthy and content for the rest of his life.
I brought my ball python Vada, home when he was about the length of a pencil. That was in 2002! I love seeing elder reptiles get adopted! Thank you for all you do!
Hi, congratulations for your first snake! There are rules of keeping them (for example tank size). They are usually more sensitive, so give him a bit of rest and don't handle him for a few days. That is all stress, especially for a snake with less eyesight and if you "hold" him, don't swing him around. Try to be steady and follow his lead a bit (more like if you would handle birds). There are actually courses for handling snakes. Usually, you wouldn't put him in a glass tank like that, especially if it's next to a window. Try to isolate it with Cork sheets or so. Please let the next tank be an enclosure where there is no top lid. Everything that comes from above to grab them is a predator. That's all stress for them. I stop here, but you should talk to a proper snake person, especially about the temperatures (and they should have at least 2 hides). I wish you all the best and joy with your snake (Sorry if my English has a few mistakes in it, I'm still learning)
Tip: a ball python should not be on aspen. It will mold in a BP’s humidity requirement. You chose an EXCELLENT new mix of substrate, and if the humidity from that alone doesn’t help him get that stuck shed off, you can give a humid hide, Luke warm soaks, you can cover 50-75% of the screen top of the screen with foil tape to hold humidity and heat in, and you can also mist down the substrate and pour a glass of water into the corner of the enclosure (opposite corner as the heat mat if you start using one) Secondly the CHE bulb is a very good choice, you’ll just want to make sure too much heat isn’t leaking out of the screen top as that is very common with screen lid + glass tank. Lastly, ball pythons like to climb at night and he will use any space you give him! (One more thing, know that ball pythons should go around 3-4 weeks between feeds!)
@@boshi6355 Nope that is absolutely overfeeding and will lead to obesity and the death of the bp. Where did you get that information? It is dangerously false.
@@Rryan8065 idk where you get information but every big breeder's videos and care videos everyone always says they eat once a week. Idk how their is so much misinformation out there smh
Such a great snake to have😍 over head heating is definitely better for heavy bodied snakes so I wouldn't add a heat mat😊 adding some branches for him to climb is also a great option and maybe some cork rounds for him. These will make great places for him to cryptic bask! UVB is also a good thing to add in future😊 Personally I wouldn't of put the sticky background in the enclosure as it could start to peal away with the heat and humidity and possibly get stuck to your snake😱 instead, you could add something to the outside covering the back and sides so he feels more secure😊 Good luck with your new snake😍
maybe a humid hide would help with the stuck shed. You take a container with a lid, make a hole in the lid (so he can get through) put some wet sphagnum moss in and it's done. the enclosure looks great! And I think its amazing that you educate people on animal care. sometimes I feel like people get ball pythons because they look cute (which they do) not knowing how old they can get and what a commitment they are. lots of love xxx
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned from other comments is that for the primary heat source a basking bulb that produces visible light will be more beneficial than using the CHE. Non-light emitting heat sources miss out on certain wavelengths of light, such as Ir-A these are necessary as they penetrate their bodies more deeply, allowing them to warm up more thoroughly. This aids a more optimal body temperature, allowing them to digest properly. You may need to try different wattage lights to get within their temperature range. You can still use the CHE as a secondary heat source for nighttime etc. you can also provide a low level uvb light, despite the fact they’ll stay hidden in foliage or hides, they’ll still benefit from exposure to uvb lighting.
A dhp is a good second best when it comes to heat sources with appropriate ir types and amounts as well for those that dont do well with bright lights. They are mostly light free but still offers an advantage over a che
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but it is never recommended to have anything with adhesive backing inside of a snake's enclosure as it could severely harm them if they manage to get stuck to it. The shelf liner is an awesome idea, but it should definitely be put on the outside of the glass instead. Other than that, Jack's new setup looks way better than what he had before. I hope you both are doing well. :)
I am so glad to see you got a ball python! It has been my dream to get one for so long. I love your idea of mixing substrates and how you are always taking such good care of your animals. I love your videos and thank you for everything you do!
They make a spray that’s safe to spray directly onto the reptile and in its enclosure to help with shedding. You can get it at either petco or petsmart and it’s fairly affordable. Also make sure you’re doing warm (not too warm) soaks to help as well. This can be done in either your bath tub, a large plastic storage tote, a large paint bucket with a lid. Just be sure not to add any soaps and don’t clean the surfaces with any chemicals. Vinegar and water mixture is the ideal cleaning solution for anything the scaley baby will have contact with. Good luck on your journey and he looks really happy!
The only thing I have is I would take the paper off the back glass and clean it really really good. I would get something without adhesive and tape it on the outside. The adhesive plus the heat can cause fumes I would assume to be toxic. I have a bearded dragon but am actually getting a tank set up now for a ball python. But other than that he looks happy and fairly healthy and I love your excitement! I am so excited to be getting mine.
glad you giving him a better home n just a few hints don't keep tank by window.front opening enclosure better they don't like when u reach from top 2 hides of coarse.leaf litter cork bark .aww he's been thru alot hopethis his forver home now.he I'd pretty n I love ball pythons ..😘
Nice! Glad to see people so excited to get a new ball python! Definitely on the right path to making Jack's life even better than before! Coco husk and tighter hides will do a lot for his wellbeing. I can tell you've done tons of research and probably heard this already - on these top opening tanks, sealing up most of any screen top will help keep humidity as much as you can. Tanks like this are notoriously hard with humidity. If you do end up upgrading soon I'd recommend something under 2ft tall (absolute max) that opens on the front, or a sliding tub type. I don't know if he's eating live or f/t but if you're gonna try to switch him to f/t and he's a picky one I can give some tips/tricks too. If you've ever got questions or issues let me know. It's fun to find creative solutions to problems with people from time to time. I'm just starting on RU-vid but I've been raising many ball pythons in the last 6 years or so. Cheers!
2’ should be the minimum enclosure height for an adult ball python. This accommodates for a deep substrate layer, climbing enrichment, and overhead heating/lighting.
I actually started out keeping ball pythons with a similar opinion as Gale and set up my enclosures like they suggest. But experience, experimentations, and observation over the years has made me realize that the experienced keepers I thought were being cheap and unethical were actually right. Ball pythons are very slow animals that are in extreme danger from predators when not hidden beneath something solid in the wild. So they have a very strong innate fear of open space above them. In my experience with many ball pythons over the years kept in a variety of enclosure sizes, in the taller enclosures they did move around a lot more but it was out of anxiety to find more suitable shelter. They prod the vents, edges, and doors a lot. Even ones with tons of clutter. Even ball pythons I kept in taller enclosures for years. Switching them to shorter enclosures has always immediately ended the prodding behavior while they comfortably move about the enclosure to hide and thermoregulate. Most importantly the reduced stress levels gives them a way better feeding response. If you want a larger enclosure I highly suggest going larger in footprint but keeping overhead height low. I do like the idea of deeper substrate, and something like a network of tunnels to "climb" underground would be nice enrichment vs airy structures above.
@@crypticoils this is the first time I’ve seen anyone with this view. It’s possible you could be misinterpreting their behaviour, or, if they truly are distressed, it may be due to other husbandry issues, and not ‘too much height’. There are countless examples of ball pythons thriving in enclosures with 2’ of height or more, and showing no signs of stress. Hell, the Norwich Reptile Shed has a ball python that’s thriving in a 6’ tall enclosure, you can find the video on RU-vid. There doesn’t have to be lots of open space above them, that’s why it’s important to fully utilize the height and fill the space higher up in the enclosure. As I mentioned, having 2’ of height or more is important for multiple reasons. It allows there to be enough space between the heat lamp/UVB bulb and basking spot (ball pythons benefit from both heat lamps and UVB). Climbing height/enrichment is also important. Wild ball pythons are pretty well documented climbing trees (enough to be considered semi-arboreal), and they will clearly utilize climbing enrichment in captivity. It’s difficult to accommodate these two things (along with a deep substrate layer) with less than 2’ of height.
Do however you like that is working for you and your animals. Ball pythons can survive in a huge range of enclosure options. I'm not here to argue. My point isn't to say someone is bad for having an enclosure taller than 2' if the snake is eating enough and free of illnesses. Just for anyone noticing their ball python frequently skipping feedings, especially coupled with highly active searching behavior, difficulty switching prey e.g. mice to rats or live to f/t. I encourage you to give an enclosure change a try and see any results or lackthereof for yourself. My experience, and I'm certainly not alone in this, is much more calm and hungry ball pythons in shorter enclosures.
Please don’t go back to aspen. Repti chip is what I found holds the most humidity. We use about 4-6 inches and our water in the corners once a week or so. We use halogen during the day and DHP at night for our primary heat sources. We never have a problem with temperature, and eating and shedding have been immaculate with these methods. I’m certainly not a professional when it comes to snakes- but these things I’ve learned from others have made an environment our ball pythons thrive in. Also TONS of vines, foliage, hides on the hot and cold side, extra hiding places… Thank you for being there for him
Wow! Congrats! I got Medusa, my Ball, from my younger brother who was not prepared for what it took to care for her. She was six months old when I got her. She is now three years old and around five feet in length. Do you know what morph your baby is? Mine is a Mojave Ball Python. Your snake looks a bit like mine. Tip: If Jack goes off his feed, don't worry. Ball Pythons are finicky and do that from time to time. Just offer him his rat like normal until he takes it. Medusa just came off a five month "fast" toward the end of last month. My question is this: Do you live feed or frozen/thaw feed? The Net is full of how-to videos on caring for Ball Pythons. Ball Pythons can live for up to thirty years. With proper care, Jack will live for another ten years, maybe longer with forty being a record. All I can now say is research, research, research. Learn as much as you can. Happy Herping.
I love my ball phyton, Monkey!! I rescued her from someone who was not caring for her properly. Not even heating lamps 😢 She’s my baby and they are awesome!!!! So happy for you!!!
I used to have a ball pythons and every, couple of weeks i would almost groom them just help them shed and also give them baths it’s so cute when you bath them just DONT leave him unattended
Omg! So cute! I recently lost my beloved ball python, Mango. I’m going to get a milk snake for comfort! I’m so glad these snakes are getting amazing lives
If you have a screen top on his Enclosure, you can cover 3/4 of the top to lock in humidity and keep the heat from escaping. That contact paper may work, or you can duck tape a cutting mat to the screen.
U can downsize his water bowl so you can have two adequately sized hides , some people will tell you that ball pythons likes to soak, but they only soak if something’s wrong like bad humidity, a heat pad is a must and get a really nice thermometer with a hydrometer as well , the little plastic ones with the arrow don’t do the trick they’re very very wrong usually and yoh need super specific temps usually between 85-92 f for the hot side and 70-80 for the cook side !
Heat pads are not a must, they’re one of the worst heat sources. Overhead heating is much better for them, a halogen bulb being the most natural and beneficial primary heat source. A ceramic heat emitter is good for nighttime heat. They should have a water dish large enough to soak in if they choose.
I have been thinking of getting one but my parents won’t let me so ima save enough money for one and for all the food and everything it will need and then they can’t say no because I will be paying for it and I’m very experience with animals for example I have two rats and have two turtle and my female just had an egg which is so exciting ❤
Nice! Hope you get one, I’m getting a leopard gecko and I’m also paying for it myself I’ve had tons of pets but never a gecko. I’m excited! Also good luck with your turtle!
Hi! I am a new subscriber to your channel and I absolutely love your video! You have such an amazing personality and a contagious smile! Keep up the awesome work! Can't wait to watch all your other videos!
personally (wont be the same for everyone ofc lol) i use an under tank heat mat connected to a thermostat and have basking temp range from 88-92. Her humidity i try to keep in the high to mid 60s but an occasional drop the the higher 50s is fine. I check her digital thermometer/hydrometer every night and spot clean then too. shes on paper towel currently just because thats what works for her and the set temps (humidity) in my room ,but she has a half log, two hides, three sticks to climb at night. shes loved to climb since she was a baby. and she has so many plants, for extra texture and enrichment i added half of those paper/cardboard(?) egg boxes and she loves them and they look pretty cool too. she occasionally has some difficulty getting one scale on the very top of her head off during shed, i let that stay tbh until next shed and it comes off fine. but for jack id recommend a very shallow warm “soak” with a damp towel in a bin yk?🤔 when i first got my ball python, i had her in a 40 gal too! and a year later (she grew so quick) i upgraded her to a 5x2x2 pvc enclosure. she only goes off feed in the winter for like three months and during that time, i add an extra heat mat above her enclosure to keep her ambient temperature warm. shes about five feet now and eats large rats from rodent pro every month. she’ll be three pretty soon 👍 (i also let her explore out her enclosure sometimes since its on the floor)
Just letting you know: heat mats are not a good primary heat source, overhead heating is much better for them. A halogen flood bulb is the most natural and beneficial primary heat source, Arcadia’s deep heat projector is the second best option. They produce infrared A and B like the sun, heat that penetrates deep into the skin tissue and heats them far more effectively. Also, humidity between 70-80% is ideal for ball pythons, so it’d be a good idea to bump that up. Switching to a humidity retaining substrate would be a good idea :)
@@nightinggale6470 ofc! thats why i have two heat mats now one above and one under. so far everything im doing is working for me so I’ll probably stick to it, but thank you sm for your advice, ill look into a better second heat source for sure
@@liiamzeroseven heat mats still only produce infrared C unfortunately. There’s plenty of both scientific evidence and anecdotal evidence that supports providing near infrared (infrared A) with a heat lamp, they thrive better with access to it. I’ve got plenty of reputable sources but unfortunately RU-vid won’t let me link them.
I'd recommend the ball python subreddit, they have a great care sheet and a ton of super experienced keepers. my main tips are a 4x2x2ft enclosure with as much plant and branch clutter as you can get and a good substrate depth, the 4x2x2 is a the minimum size enclosure recommended for a adult BP, the clutter will make the snake feel more hidden throughout the enclosure and you'll be more likely to see it out of its hides, and the substrate depth really helps keep humidity higher.
Hi I just adopted a ball python and already have a corn snake but I’m not sure on how to display both of their tanks. What is the name of the metal stand you have both of your tanks on?
Assuming that background has adhesive I'd remove it from the inside and put it on the outside, it's not really designed for high humidity and if even the smallest part peels that could be an issue, any adhesive or glue can cause a huge amount of damage to reptiles, i've seen some horror stories online D;
sometimes it's just been such a long time that interest or effort gets lost, and the animal would get more attention elsewhere! it's not an easy decision to make...but you have to keep the animal's health and happiness as the #1 priority :)
hey turtle girl ik this is off topic, but today sadly one of my turtles Zues passed away when he was completely fine yesterday (you can see him on my yt channel) i was wondering if you could give me a rough idea on how he might have died. thanks Westside Herps
How can you get over a fear of snakes? I'm not afraid If I know where they are. For instance, to was walking in Florida and one was crawling the grass. Thank You
Guys i need help, i cant get my turtle to eat in a separate container (as most turtle keepers do), he just won’t eat. He will look at the food and then get right back to trying to escape, he won’t eat in there at all. I had a large container and got an even bigger one and that didn’t work. He used to eat in the container as a hatchling but won’t now. He will only eat in the tank which dirties it up very badly And is messing up my live plants. It just makes such a mess. And even in the tank he is barely interested in the food,Im scared, should i take him to the vet? What do i do?
Heat mats are not a good primary heat source for ball pythons, or any reptile for that matter. The importance of “belly heat” is a myth, they just need heat in general. Overheat heating is far more natural and beneficial. A halogen flood bulb is ideal for the primary daytime heat source since they produce infrared A and B like the sun, heat that penetrates deep into the skin tissue and heats them far more effectively. Whereas heat mats only produce infrared C, which only heats the surface of their skin. A ceramic heat emitter or deep heat projector can be used for nighttime heat.
Hello, i would like to have suggestions from you about my Gecko. She is more than 1 year old and right mow having falling teeth. For that reason she doesn’t it since a while and got really skinny even the tail. Already tried forced feeding and didn’t work. I’m so worried about her and don’t know how to feed her if there is any liquid food that i can prepare or buy. Please someone who is acknowledge can help me. Thank you so much already
ok! unfortunately it's not possibly right now to get something that large, but as I said in the video, doing the best I can with what he has and hopefully in the future hoping to give him more space!
hi how is it going in 2023 and u want to say that u got amazing smiles I hope u have a great day and night and I like ur snake to🙂 🐍 and are you planing to breeding your snake
I find it unusual that people don’t hand dogs around 🤔 I’m not judging this family in particular 10 years is a long time and it’s none of my business. But people say snakes have no love so they are sold etc. but there again we only love to be loved and we only give gifts to receive them back 🤷🏻♂️ anyway great snake he’s a sweetheart like all ball “royal” pythons 🐍 😊
