Those who have a love for reptiles will swear by ball pythons. These pets are awesome when it comes to maintenance, as they can be maintained pretty easily without being a spendthrift. They are also easy to handle and can be kept in large apartments.
They are pretty attractive in terms of look and grace. They have a bright colour combination and if you keep them in the best environment, they will look and be more glorious for years.
So to keep them in a better position, you need to set the tank with the best decorations for a ball python. Here we will be helping you with the ideas.
Contents
What should you put in the tank of the ball python?
For the matured ball python you need a 40-gallon tank, inside where the snake can comfortably lie and move. For the substrate, there are several options, but the most common is aspen shavings. Ball pythons do not try to swallow the shavings so this is a safe option of substrate for them.
Also, wet sphagnum moss can be used, which is great in keeping the humidity. Humidity is a great factor for snakes to stay healthy and fit.
You need to put some hiding place in the terrarium which provides the much-needed privacy to the ball python. Like other reptile pets, ball pythons also seek a hiding place where they can stay for some minutes or hours depending upon their need.
Can you use a paper towel in ball python’s tank?
Paper towel can be an option for substrate in the ball python’s cage. Also, you can use butcher block paper. This substrate is much easy to clean and also this is a pocket-friendly option for the tank of your pet.
How to set the tank for ball python?
There are varieties of decoration equipment is available for the ball python tank. You can add some fake foliage, a nice rock hiding or some hammock that will attract it and also entertains it when it is living within the terrarium. The main motto should be imitating the original habitat of the snake, so it does not feel alienated in the tank.
Landscaping
One of the vital parts of decorating the python’s tank is adding some landscape. This means you need to add some differences in the monotony of the terrarium interior. Two hides are necessary to be put to the tank of the ball python.
This reason for keeping the hides are, ball pythons are terrestrial and they need to stay under some hide when the sun is up. Also, they need to be protected from the attack of predators. They are venom less and thus they cannot fight back much against their enemies. They prefer to stay in a cramped dark place and this atmosphere makes them stress-free.
Also, they love to stay in burrows. When they do not find a proper hiding place, they make a hole in the ground and stay inside it. So providing a low and wide hiding place is a good idea to keep the ball pythons happy. Also, you can add some cork rounds or cork flats where they will be taking shelter when they chose.
Adding natural-looking branches, rocks and logs
It can be natural or it can be artificial, but adding branches and logs to the terrarium of ball python does not have any alternative. This is required as ball pythons prefer to climb the branches of the trees when they are in their natural habitat. The urge to climbing the tree should never be ignored, as that will make them stressed. When they will find the branches and logs in their terrarium they will playfully climb up and down, as that is one of their favourite exercises. Also, it keeps them active and fit.
There is a misconception about ball python that they do not love climbing high branches. This is not true and they absolutely love to climb up on anything high. So like branches you can also offer high rocks inside the terrarium if it is high and spacious enough. The rocks and braches also offer a high position which is perfect for their basking time. They get more heat when they are closer to the source of heat.
Lighting set up
12 hours of light is enough to keep the ball python healthy and settled in its terrarium. They need 12 hours of darkness though they do not sleep all through this time.
This is basically to keep them relaxed. But you can increase the daylight lighting for 14 hours and the night-light timing should be decreased substantially. This is the natural lighting process and within the terrarium, this should be followed.
Heating set up
For the ball pythons, you need to keep the temperature from 77 to 85 degree Fahrenheit within the tank. But this is for the rest of the tank and the basking area should be hotter. There the temperature should be around 90 degrees. The most common heat source used in the tank of a ball python is an infrared heat lamp which does not emit light. This way it is better than the lighted ones, as you can keep them on in the nights of winter, without disturbing the sleeping pattern of the python.
Humidity set up
A humidity level of the terrarium should be ideal to keep the ball python healthy. Without proper humidity, they will find it difficult to shed and another severe skin disease can affect them. The relative humidity in the tank should be 50 to 60 per cent. The air should be moist and damp. To keep the air inside humid you need to mist inside the tank often. Using a humidifier is also advised if you are living in a cold and dry region.
Food bowl and water dish
A proper sized and adequate heightened food bowl is necessary as you can offer the food inside it, and not on the substrate. Also, you should keep a low and wide water dish that will enable the python to drink from. Though they are not much in favour of drinking from the bowl, offering one inside the tank may initiate the drinking process, which is necessary for their hydration.
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