Ball Python Enclosure Background Part #1

Today I started the make the background for my snake's enclosure. I have seen a couple of methods for this but I decided to go with the expanding foam method.

*Please keep in mind this is just a journal of how I am doing things not a how-to*

1.  I put my 20 gallon long on its side after taking off the lid and locking clips. The face its resting on will be the back wall.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. I got my two pieces of cork bark and cut them down to sizes that would fit my tank and my design.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. I then arranged the pieces to make a background. I figured that the large round piece wouldn't fit so I decided it'd serve better as a hide.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. 
   I cleaned the glass with rubbing alcohol. I put my rubber gloves on and got to work with Great Stuff expanding foam that I got from the local hardware store.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. About 10 minutes later, I was done. I foamed all the areas around the cork bark and all the glass. I have to wait 8 hours for it to cure before I can continue.

Next steps:

• Carving the foam
• Painting the foam with silicone
• Added Zoo Med Eco Earth substrate to the silicone.

Petco Cork Flat Story

I am getting my snake in less than a month! I am almost done collecting the things I need for her enclosure.

Supplies Left

• Thermometer (temperature)
• Hydrometer (humidity)
• Food
• Bioactive kit
• Microorganisms

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Petco Cork Flat Story

All of the local pet supplies stores near me did not have any cork flats- only cork rounds. I need the cork flats for a specific project coming up soon so I decided I'd have to order them. I ordered two large flats from Petco Online. I paid extra for two day shipping so they'd be here within a few days. The next day when I tried to track them online, I saw that one was going to arrive until the original day and the other would arrive a few days later (even though I had ordered them at the same time).

To figure out why, I decided I'd call Petco. Well the number they have posted on their website doesn't work. So after jumping through some more hoops, I managed to reach Petco HQ. After being on the phone for twenty minutes, I explained my situation to a representative. Apparently, one warehouse ran out of the cork flats and it had to be shipped in from a different location. The representative was extremely nice and refunded me half of my shipping cost since one item was arriving late.

Overall it was a tedious experience but I was very happy with the representative that helped me!

Bioactive Enclosures

There are two types of terrarium enclosures I have seen: bioactive (also called a vivarium) and  nonbioactive. These can be used with reptiles other than just ball pythons.They each have their pros and cons to them.

Bioactive

This terrarium is a mini ecosystem that includes:

• Live plants
• Microorganisms
• Different types of soils and substrates mixed together

The goal of a bioactive vivarium is to have the enclosure become self cleaning and almost totally independent with the exception of low maintenance cleaning (wiping the fogged glass, replacing water, etc.) and maintaining the critter's water and food.

Pros

• Aesthetically pleasing to the eye
• Provides more naturalistic environment for the inhabitant
• Provides more enrichment
• Ecologically efficient

Cons

• Initially more expensive
• Maintenance of plants- not just the critter in it

I am choosing to make my terrarium bioactive because of its aesthetics, low maintenance cost over time, and its going to be enriching to my snake. 

I am going to be using The Bio Dude's Ball Python Snake Bioactive Kit. It'll include tropical plants, cork flats, LED, Terra Firma™ (his substrate), sphagnum moss, leaf litter, and BioShot ™ (plant nutrients). I think I'll have to buy the microorganism separately but I am not sure. It was recommended to me by a multitude of experienced reptile owners so I'll keep you updated on that.

Ball Python Setup #2

So I have my enclosure and lid. Time to get more supplies!

Next on the list are items dealing with temperature and safety!

Heat

Ball pythons are not basking animals. In the wild, you wouldn't find one out on a rock soaking up sun. To summarize all the research I've done, ball pythons prefer belly heat.

So, I went out and got a Zoo Med Reptitherm Under Tank Heater. Since my enclosure is a 20 gallon long, I initially went to go buy the U.T.H. for a 10-20 gallon tank. But when I compared the size of the mat to my tank, it just seemed too small.

I ended up buying the one for 30-40 gallon tanks at the suggestion of some people online that have more experience than I do. The 30-40 gallon one covers about 1/4 of the bottom of the tank. I also read that the 10-20 gallon U.T.H. doesn't have great heating for a 20 gallon long like I have.

***DISCLAIMER***
These U.T.H.s have a reputation for getting unreasonably hot (up to 106℉!) So always use a thermostat and a thermometer for the snake's safety and your safety too!


Thermostat

As these U.T.H.s are notorious for getting super hot, I bought Hydrofarm's Jump Start Digital Controller Thermostat. This was recommended to me because of its built in safety feature. The heat mat is plugged into this which is plugged into the wall.

You can set the temperature you want the heat mat to be, lets say 88℉ for the hot side, on the thermostat and it will slowly raise the temperature. If the heat mat starts to go higher than the set temperature, it will shut off the heat mat until it is back down to a reasonable temperature.

Ball Python Setup #1

Buying for a ball python can be cheap or expensive- depending on how much you want to spend. In all practicality, ball pythons are perfectly fine living in a rack system. But, I'd like to have mine in a tank because its more aesthetically appealing to me and more enriching for the snake.

So this blog series will be about my experience buying and setting up my ball python enclosure.

The first items I bought were an aquarium and a screen top.

Aquarium vs Reptile Enclosure

There are a few options when it comes to enclosure type that both get the job done.

Reptile Enclosure

• Front opening
• Screen Top
• Glass
• More expensive

Aquarium

• Open top
• Glass
• Cheap

I personally opted for the aquarium because it was cheaper and I like the glass look of the aquarium more than the black bars that help open the front doors of the reptile enclosures.

Size

From what I was told at the reptile expo I went to, a ball python can live its entire life in a 20 gallon long, so that's what I bought.

Screen Tops

There are a plethora of options when it comes to screen lids: mesh cover, mesh covered with a square hinge, and mesh cover half hinged are some that I found to be the most common. I chose the plain mesh cover just due to costs. Because I have an aquarium that does not have grooves for a slide in lid, this one worked best for me as it just fit over the top of the aquarium.

 

Journey Into the Reptile World

I have always been interested in reptiles. Growing up, it was my favorite part of going to the zoo and to the pet store- I grew up fascinated by these creatures. Fast forward to now, an adult in college, I figured it was time to delve into this world that I have always been on the outside looking into, longing to be apart of it.

As I am new to this, I decided that a ball python would be easy enough for me to take care of as a beginner. Sleepless nights on YouTube researching the products and care I would need to provide for my reptile started me off in the right direction, but I needed more.

My first step on this journey was to the nearest reptile expo. The Lone Star Reptile Expo had a two day showing in my hometown, so I figured it was the best option I had to talk to experienced reptile handlers.

I had a lot of neat interactions:

• Holding a baby ball python. It had been awhile since I personally have held a snake so feeling her moving around made me nervous and excited simultaneously.
• Exploring the types of hides and substrates available
• Seeing exotic animals such as
• Chameleons 
• Axolotls
• Iguanas
• Tortoises
• Boas
•  Observing different complex morphs of ball pythons.

Getting to explore this expo opened my eyes into the reptile world. I learned a lot about the care of ball python- people's opinions and experiences on substrates, hides, heat sources, food, tanks etc.

I also was just very accepted by this community and that was just very surprising to me- joining a community you know little about is either you're accepted or rejected. But these people were just so loving and accepting and they put up with my questions that were very basic and simple. I am excited to become apart of this world!