Keeping a ball python healthy is mandatory and for that, you need a proper place to keep it in. when you are keeping a ball python it needs a suitable enclosure. So the terrarium that you offer the ball python should be 3 ft. of height and minimum of 6 square ft. of space.
The enclosure should have proper lighting and heating arrangement. The temperature should be proper and it will not be more or less than the necessary limit of the python. The thermal gradient is necessary and at the night, the temperature should be at a moderate range.
The humidity level should not be too much or too less for the ball python to stay healthy. It should be around 50 to 60% and there should not be too much or too less for the python to live healthily.
Contents
What is the tank size for the ball python?
For the mature ball python which is a large one, a 40-gallon terrarium is required.
The tank should be wide enough to keep the hot and cold area segregated. Here are some of the best unique ideas for setup and It would have two separate temperature zone with temperature gradients. For an adult ball python, 30-40 gallon tank is necessary.
Top 6 Ball Python Enclosure
After providing all the details, we will now offer you suggestions regarding the best ball python enclosures available in the market.
1. Exo Terra Glass Terrarium Kit
This transparent glass made terrarium will be much help when you need to keep a full-grown ball python comfortably. The window ventilation process is patented by this reputed pet supply manufacturer company, so you will get this authentic ventilated tank for the pet yours. The bottom frame is raised and thus the substrate heater, if you use any, will be well fitted at the ground. The bottom is also waterproof, which ensures you will not get the leakage dampening the ground.
The dual door of this terrarium is escape-proof so there will be no chance of escape for your python. The inlets can also be closed with wires. Also, you can manage it with tubing management, which is much helpful when it comes to keeping the safety intact. The front opening door of the cage allows easy access when you need to pet the python, clean the terrarium or put food inside it. Maintenance and feeding become easy with this flexible opening system. With the wires attached to the wall, you can fix various decorative items like heatwave rock, sensors or a nice artificial waterfall.
The stainless steel mesh cover makes it easy for air circulation. The screen cover lock can be easily twisted. The doors can be separately opened which makes feeding and cleaning easy. This will be the ideal habitat for your ball python. It has been designed by European herpetologists so the scientific top open design allows the UVB rays to enter the cage and make it a nice warm place for the python to live in. the Styrofoam background makes the cage looks pretty and ideal in look.
Pros:
- Easy to close
- Safety of pet ensured
- Proper air circulation
- Mounted bottom
Cons:
- High priced
2. Repti Zoo 34 gallon large reptile glass terrarium
The huge sized gallon comes with a nice background and it makes a wonderful place for the ball python of yours. The black-coloured frame of the terrarium makes it look stylish and the clear walls made of glass gives ample opportunity to see the pet from all sides. The background is foam so it does not get torn or deteriorated sooner. The double hinge door offered with this terrarium makes sure that the snake does not get any chance to escape from the terrarium.
The screen top of this terrarium is tough yet it offers a proper scope of ventilation. Even UVB and infrared rays can penetrate through the top which is necessary for the health of ball python. The raised bottom in the bottom of the cage allows putting the substrate heater to the cage. The bottom is waterproof and there will be no chance of leakage on the floor. The front door of the cage can be opened separately and this is a much helpful feature of this cage. This is the opening through which you can keep the food inside the cage.
The foam background of this terrarium is quite high density and it offers a natural look which is perfectly suitable for the ball python. The naturalistic look of the cage makes it a good place for the python to live within. There are window ventilation at the right and at the left side of the cage. So the light and air will always keep the cages fresh and free from any bacterial growth. The top and the right of the enclosure come with closable lids which come with wires and tubings. This part is perfect for fixing some decorative pieces inside the terrarium. The cage comes with installation notes which make the installation a 5-minute easy task.
Pros:
- Nice rectangular shape
- Top ventilation
- Waterproof bottom
Cons:
- Net not much fine
3. Carolina custom cages terrarium
This extra tall and large terrarium will be suitable accommodation for your ball python. The brand Carolina is a moderately new one and yet it is being popular for its range of comfortable and good quality terrariums for reptiles and other various pets. This is a bio-deep modelled terrarium and it comes with a 12-inch waterproof base. This base never gets wet and that ensures that your ball python will never suffer from cold or humidity. The depth of the terrarium makes it a good place for the ball python to move inside the terrarium. The space is ample and that makes it a healthy area for the pets.
The hinged door of the terrarium is easy to close and open. The hinge also makes the doors quite long-lasting. You can put the food of the python through the door or else keep the water bowl or clean the terrarium through this hinged door. The cardboard used in this terrarium is tough and that makes it a sturdy product. There is extra Styrofoam in the double boxed packaging so you can get the terrarium in undamaged condition. The steel frame mesh on the top makes it a nice product for the python as it will offer ample light and air to be passed inside the terrarium.
Some users complain that the glass this brand offers to wall the cage is not sturdy enough. The enclosure seal is flimsy for some pet owners. But if you find a faulty piece, you can always contact the customer support to get a replacement. The price of this product is good and you will get a good product at a moderate price. While installing, however, you need the help of other people as it is a heavy product and cannot be fitted single-handedly.
Pros:
- Strong and heavy
- Pocket-friendly price
- Good quality Styrofoam
Cons:
- Need manpower to install
4. Aqueon aquarium 20 gallons long
The brand Aqueon offers high-quality glass made tank which is apt for keeping a potentially large and huge creature like ball python. This is not too wide to keep the matured ones as the criterion suggests that the tank is only 20 gallon. But you can make it work with the baby one when you just bring it home. The silicone edges of the tank are clean and covered with a black frame.
You need to use a drip loop when you have to put some aquarium appliances plugged inside. It should be kept at a good height, so use a table of medium height to keep it on. But make sure that the table or stool is strong enough to hold the weight of the tank as well as the baby python inside.
The price of the tank can seem high depending upon the fact that it is only a 20-gallon tank. But this is a good quality product and will not be damaged anytime soon. It has ample space inside it to keep the baby python and also that creature will be able to move freely inside this place. The long rectangle shape of this tank makes it a perfect habitat for the baby python.
Some users got a defective product that is broken, scratched or glue pasted sloppily at the corners or from the frame. But these are few exceptions as most the pet owners are pretty happy with this product. This one is available in quite a few online stores so you can check the price at different websites and get yours at a budget price.
Pros:
- Nice tank at a budget price
- Clean and neat look
- Good space for movement
Cons:
- For baby pythons only
This product is quite new in the market but it is made of premium branded white glass and the size that it offers is grand. This one seems a bit unfit for apartment life, so if you live in a house, it will be more suited. The large-sized tank can be useful if you are putting two pythons together. If there is a single python then you have enough space to keep many decorations, fountains and other knick-knacks to keep the place well decorated and lively.
The tank, though huge in size, is really easy to install. A screwdriver is all you need to fix a few hinges and it will be ready to hold your python. There are sliding doors and two covers which are easily removed when you need to clean and maintain the interior of the terrarium. Also feeding is possible through the closeable inlets at the side. At the top, there is another inlet which is flexible. There is window ventilation at the left and right side of the terrarium to allow the air and light to pass through the inner space. UV rays also can come through this space.
The bottom is watertight and arose so it will not allow any kind of leakage or dampening of the interior. Substrate heater is allowed in the bottom as there is space to fix it in. the plastic frame is sturdy enough to hold the heavy creatures inside. Also, the glass and edges are protected by the means of the frame strength. The clip-on mesh lid makes it a secure habitat for the snake. There is also a security lock which prevents the pet from escaping. The package in which it comes is a flat one and it is much easy to fix.
Pros:
- Closable lid
- Waterproof base
- Secure cage
Cons:
- Needs a large space to keep
6. Repti zoo large reptile terrarium 85 gallons
This is a good quality glass terrarium to keep the ball pythons. This cage is waterproof and each product is tested for the leak, so you can expect a nice product at a pocket-friendly price. This one works simply and the pet owners who are having the ball python for the first time can try this cage. Top window ventilation is provided in this terrarium so you can insert the food or other necessary objects from that space. There is a safety lock to prevent the ball python to escape from the terrarium.
Screen top ventilation is good for the pets to keep healthy as it will let the air and sunlight as well as UV light to come inside the cage. There is a front sliding door which can be separately opened and it also makes the feeding easy. The python will not be disturbed when the food will be kept inside. The waterproof base makes this a safe place for the python as it will stay healthy in the dry base. There is a single door which will allow all-round viewing, so you can check on the pet when you have free time. Also, it helps the owner to check if there is anything wrong with the pet anytime.
This tank provides just the perfect kind of ambience of the ecological rainforest. The box comes in a well-packaged state which ensures that you will not receive any damaged item. Tough cardboard and thickened foam are used when the material is transported to some faraway city. This is a nice and compact enclosure which will be ideal for the ball python.
Pros:
- The nice wide area inside
- Good quality glass
- Secured lock
- Easy assembly
Cons:
- Pretty heavy.
FAQs
Can a fish tank be used for the ball python?
There is a simple difference between the movement and requirement of fish and ball python. When a fish usually moves around the vertical length of the tank, a ball python moves around lengthwise into its space. So the fish tank needs to be high whereas the terrarium for ball python should have the front to backspace. So the regular-sized tank for fish is not suitable for the matured ball python but the breeder tank, which is much wider in space, will be helpful for the snakes.
Can a ball python be kept in 20-gallon tank?
The mature python needs a large space but when you bring home a baby ball python, you can use the 20-gallon tank for keeping it safe. However, with age and maturity, you have to change the terrarium to a bigger place. You may read here about how big the tank should be.
What should be the substrate of the ball python enclosure?
For ball pythons, there can be several types of the substrate which can keep the pythons healthy and comfortable. Coconut fibre is always a good choice for the substrate as it keeps the python warm in its terrarium. Also, aspen shavings can be a good option for terrariums. Dampened sphagnum moss is also capable of keeping the humidity level at a fix in the terrarium.
What should be the adequate temperature of the ball python terrarium?
Ball pythons prefer temperature gradient, so the terrarium should have 98 degrees Fahrenheit at the warm end of the terrarium and it should be 78 degrees at the cool end. This temperature variation is necessary for the ball pythons as they need to be in warmth for some time and then also seek to stay in medium heat when they will go to the cold part of the terrarium.
The heat and the light should be kept on for 12 hours. The heat source can be switched on even at the night if the weather is not warm. In warm and hot zones, the heat sourced can be switched off for 5 to 6 hours depending upon the need and age of the ball python.
Conclusion
Ball pythons are quite docile in nature and they do not get aggressive. So they make nice pets when you think of one which will be less on maintenance and easy to be kept.
You need a proper place where you will be keeping this pet, as they need a moderately large sized terrarium or glass box with some benefits like natural air and light pass through, good quality bedding which is a waterproof and good amount of humidity. Also, the heat source should be there to provide ample heat all the time. By enabling all these features, you can enjoy the company of your ball python for a long time.
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