Ball pythons have been regarded as “pet rocks” by many in the reptile industry. While they may be low-maintenance and less active than other snakes, they still crave some excitement in their enclosures and will utilize enrichment opportunities! Who wants to stare at the same four walls (or hides) all day? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to spice up your snakes life. Here are some tips to create an enrichment plentiful oasis for your snake:
Owning a ball python can be an incredibly rewarding experience. These docile, beautiful snakes make great pets. However, ensuring your ball python stays happy and healthy requires providing them with a high-quality enclosure. With so many options for enclosures and decorations, it can be tricky to figure out the best setup. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to 20 creative ball python enclosure ideas for any budget.
A Few Key Things to Keep in Mind
Before we dive into the enclosure ideas there are a few key things to keep in mind when setting up a ball python habitat
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Size – An adult ball python needs an enclosure at least 36” x 18” x 18” Bigger is usually better as long as they have plenty of hides and clutter,
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Substrate – Substrates like coconut fiber or orchid bark hold humidity well. Aspen shavings are also popular. Avoid pine or cedar.
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Heating & Lighting – Ball pythons need a basking spot of 88-92°F and a cool side around 75-80°F. Provide overhead heating and limit lighting to 12 hours max per day.
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Humidity – Maintain 40-60% humidity. This is crucial for healthy sheds. Provide a humidity hide box.
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Hides & Clutter – Ball pythons are shy! Offer at least 2 snug, enclosed hides and plenty of fake vines, plants, branches, etc for security.
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Water Dish – Provide a water dish big enough for soaking. Change water daily.
Now let’s look at 20 awesome enclosure ideas for your ball python pal!
1. Naturalistic Vivarium
Bioactive, naturalistic vivariums with live plants and cleanup crews are a gorgeous option. They help maintain ideal humidity levels and give your snake enrichment. Popular bioactive substrates include soils mixed with moss or coconut fiber. You can even add springtails and isopods to help break down waste. Just be sure to use snake-safe plants.
2. Rocky Oasis
Use large rocks, slate, sand, and sturdy branches to create a rugged rocky oasis. This is a great option for displaying your python’s iridescent scales against neutral colors. Be sure to seal porous rocks to prevent mold growth.
3. Zen Habitat
A zen habitat with bamboo, sticks, and minimal foliage provides a peaceful, naturalistic look. Use a substrate like orchid bark to allow drainage. Add choya wood branches for climbing enrichment.
4. Jungle Canopy
Turn your enclosure into a lush jungle canopy with leafy plastic plants, vines, branches, and hides. Use green or natural substrates and add plenty of climbing opportunities. Mist regularly to maintain humidity. Just be sure your snake can’t get stuck.
5. Desert Oasis
While ball pythons prefer humidity, creating a desert scene can work with modifications. Use sand substrates, hides, clay pots, and artificial succulents. Provide a large humid hide box. Limit ventilation.
6. Under the Canopy
Recreate a forest floor with substrates like humus, cypress mulch, or coconut fiber topped with leaves. Add sturdy branches and partial seclusion using tall plants or vines. Include buried and elevated hides. Mist often for humidity.
7. Hidden Temple
Design a hidden temple with stacked hides, climbing surfaces, and tropical plants. Use substrates like reptile carpet or bark. Spray foam covered in grout or sealant works for sculpting stone walls and idols.
8. Climbing Challenge
Add ropes, ladders, branches, and hammocks to turn your enclosure into a climbing gym. Ensure everything is securely fastened and safe. This is great enrichment for active, arboreal ball pythons.
9. Custom Cabinet
For a custom look, convert an old cabinet into an enclosure. Cut out the back panel for ventilation and add glass viewing windows. Use the cabinet shelves for optimal space. Just be sure to seal any exposed wood.
10. Urban Habitat
Get creative with hides like plant pots, boxes, and tubes to build your snake a mini urban landscape. Line with substrates like paper towel, reptile carpet, or aspen. Add opportunities to climb and enrich with new “props” regularly.
11. Haunted Hollow
Create a spooky scene with glow in the dark paint, artificial webs and vines, creepy plants, and haunted house props. Use secure hides and non-abrasive substrates. This is perfect for displaying your ball python on Halloween!
12. Bog Oasis
Use layered substrates including spagnum moss and coconut fiber to establish a tropical bog landscape with driftwood, vines, and tropical plants. Mist frequently and provide ample drainage to prevent mold.
13. Living Wall
Turn one wall into a living plant wall for visual interest and humidity. Use strong wall anchors to install a steel mesh backing panel. Add ventilated planter boxes with drainage and snake-safe plants like pothos, philodendrons, or bromeliads.
14. Dig Box
Provide opportunities for natural digging behaviors with a dig box. Fill with substrates like reptile sand, sphagnum moss, or loose coconut fiber. Bury hides, branches, and leaves. Just be sure to supervise use to prevent ingestion. Rotate materials regularly.
15. Naturalistic Pond
Give your snake someplace to soak with a naturalistic pond using materials like natural stones, marbles, pebbles, preserved moss, and dried branches. Use a heavy, sturdy bowl and frequently replace water to prevent mold.
16. Egyptian Crypt
Design an ancient Egyptian tomb with faux hieroglyphs, clay pots, buried hides, climbing obelisks, sand substrates, and tropical plants. Use materials safe for high humidity like aquatic sand and sealed foam.
17. Terrarium Backgrounds
Vibrant terrarium backgrounds can bring your habitat to life. Choose digital images that complement your enclosure landscape like jungles, oceans, forests or abstract designs. Stick to non-porous vinyl, acrylic or poly paper materials.
18. DIY Caves
Get crafty making caves from materials like clay plant pots, wood, plastic boxes, aquarium décor, or bendable vines. Seal any porous surfaces and ensure stability. Fitting caves with sphagnum moss helps hold humidity.
19. Modular Furniture
Utilize modular furniture like cubes, stools, and wall panels to design a contemporary, minimalist enclosure. Line with easy-clean substrates like reptile carpet. Focus on clean lines and neutral tones.
20. Natural Diorama
Compose a stunning miniature landscape encased in the enclosure using real branches, preserved moss, stones, and mini pinecones. Finish it off with an artificial backdrop mural and natural substrate. Ensure all materials are non-toxic and securely fastened.
Ready to Build Your Ball Python’s New Home?
As you can see, there are tons of unique ways to set up your ball python’s home that fit any budget or skill level. Just be sure to focus on your snake’s needs first before aesthetics. Provide plenty of snug hides and clutter, maintain proper heating and humidity, and use secure, non-toxic materials. With the right habitat, your ball python will thrive for years to come! Let your creativity run wild.
The Great Enclosure Shuffle:
Every few weeks, rearrange the decor (hides, branches, etc.) in your enclosure. This creates a whole new world for your ball python to explore, keeping them curious about their surroundings and engaged.
If you notice your snake having trouble eating or exploring less after rearranging, take renovations a few steps back and try leaving hides in their familiar spots but moving a branch, or adding/swapping an item to keep things familiar but still creating a novel experience for your snake.
Become a Jungle Gym Architect:
Ball pythons are surprisingly good climbers! Male ball pythons are especially agile and are even found in trees hunting birds in the wild! Adding sturdy branches, cork rounds, or even PVC tubes at different heights in the enclosure allows your snake to utilize all of the height their enclosure has to offer. Just make sure everything is secure and allows for safe climbing!
Ball Python Setup for Beginners
FAQ
What should a ball python enclosure have?
- Size: A minimum of 40 gallons for adults, with larger enclosures being preferable.
- Material: PVC enclosures are recommended for their ability to retain humidity, but glass aquariums with secure lids can also be used.
- Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation to prevent the buildup of harmful gasses.
- Security: A secure, screened lid is crucial to prevent escapes.
- Front-opening: Consider a front-opening enclosure for easier access and less stress for the snake.
What do ball pythons like in their tank?
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Temperature Gradient:Ball pythons need a warm side (around 88-92°F) and a cooler side (around 76-80°F).
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Natural substrates like cypress mulch, coconut fiber, or repti-bark help maintain humidity and provide enrichment.
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Multiple hides are crucial for a ball python’s security and well-being, including a humidity hide with sphagnum moss.
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Water Bowl:Provide a large water bowl that allows the snake to soak.
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Climbing Decor:Sturdy branches or other climbing structures can provide enrichment, especially for male pythons.
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Enrichment:Add plants (real or fake), rocks, and other natural-looking items to create a more stimulating and natural-looking environment.
Is a 40 gallon terrarium good for a ball python?
Size Recommendations: A typical recommendation for a ball python is a minimum of a 40-gallon tank for adults, with larger sizes (like a 4x2x2 foot enclosure) being ideal. However, anything excessively larger may not be beneficial.
What do ball pythons like in their habitat?
Ball Pythons prefer savanna, sparsely wooded plains, and dry bushland habitats. They are mainly terrestrial snakes and spend the majority of their time on the ground, but may occasionally be found in water or in low stumps and foliage. Ball pythons are a smaller, heavy bodied snake with a small head and short tail.
What is ideal ball python enclosure size?
The ideal enclosure size for a ball python is as follows: under 10 gallons for hatchlings, 10 gallons for up to 4 months old, 20-30 gallons for 4-30 months, and 40+ gallons for 30 months and over.
How can I make my ball python feel secure?
To make your ball python feel secure, add lots of decor and hides to its enclosure. An ideal enclosure should allow your ball python to move freely, access cool and hot spots, and stretch out without needing side support.
How to choose a Python enclosure?
With plenty of small but interconnected living elements, a bioactive setup is a choice for a nature-inspired python enclosure. Living elements should also make the habitat a bit more pleasant for your python pet. 5. Halloween Enclosure Themed Ball Python enclosures are just starting to become a thing. A Halloween one is certainly different.
How hot should a ball python enclosure be?
The best ball python enclosure heating covers NO MORE than one-third of the glass. A snake requires a temperature gradient so that it can go to the part of the tank that’s most comfortable. The temperature on the warm side of the habitat should be in the 88-92°F range. The cool side should be in the 76-80°F temperature range.
Can ball pythons live in one enclosure?
Also, we do not recommend keeping multiple ball pythons in one enclosure as they’re solitary creatures and can get stressed or fight. For ball pythons in captivity, the sweet spot for humidity is 50%-60%. If it gets too humid, it can lead to skin or respiratory issues.
Where do ball pythons hide?
Hiding spots – Ball pythons should have at least two hiding places in their enclosure, one at the warm side and another on the cool side. It’s best to fill these hides with damp peat moss to help them better shed their skin. Commercial animal hides, natural wood, or even cardboard can be used for this purpose.