General Snake Advice

[Nasubi77]

I'm looking for suggestions for a snake that can live in a 29 gal its whole life. (It's got the same footprint as a 20gal but is taller - 24 x 12 x 18 I think)

I really like balls (I realize they can't stay in a tank that small. . .). So I'd like something similar in body and feel. I want something that can be handled, is docile by nature, but also gregarious...not too shy like I know balls can be. I just read where someone had suggested a Kenyan Sand Boa as something that can be in a small tank...don't know a thing about these but I'm off to do some research.

Corns kind of appeal to me, but I don't know if they can live in that tank.

Any other suggestions appreciated!

 

[PastorAaron]

Kenyans are awesome, but can be picky eaters like balls. We've got one and she's been a joy thus far. All in all, I'd say weigh out the good and the bad on a Kenyan and if it falls in the favor of good...go get one!
God Bless,
Aaron

 

[DaveDragon]

We had a Kenyan and never saw it, except for it's nose poking out of the substrate.

A Children's Python might be good in that tank. We just sold ours.

It might be better to break down and buy a bigger tank that will hold a great variety of snakes. A 40G is fine for a male BP. A 75G will a male Dumeril Boa or a female BP.

 

[Gloryhound]

We had a Kenyan and never saw it, except for it's nose poking out of the substrate.

A Children's Python might be good in that tank. We just sold ours.

It might be better to break down and buy a bigger tank that will hold a great variety of snakes. A 40G is fine for a male BP. A 75G will a male Dumeril Boa or a female BP.

Our Kenyans become most active at night. That is when you would be most likely to see one.

I don't have any experience with a Children's Python, but I have heard they can be a little, not totally, just a little aggressive.

As a ball python keeper and breeder I really do not recommend using a glass aquarium. You tend to have trouble getting humidity up high enough for them as the humidity should be around 55% in their tank year round. Also they can be tricky to develop the proper heat gradient. I'm not saying you can't, just saying you will have to put a lot more work into keeping them with that type of set up. A male ball python would probably do well for a couple years in nothing bigger than a 20 long. Ball pythons like small confining spaces. A 40 gallon breeder would be about as large as any ball python, male or Female, will ever need. A better direction to go for keeping a ball python would be a display type enclosure, but make sure you get the shortest version as it will be easier to maintain heat and humidity. The best way to keep them is in a tub with belly heat, but most people want to be able to view their animal, which I can understand, which is why I recommend the next best thing being the display. Also Ball pythons to not need UV light or any other light source for that matter. They live most of their life in underground borrows of other animals and thus rarely see the sunlight even in nature. Not to mention they go hunting at night and sleep during the day. Ball pythons can stress owners out due to not feeding, but skipping a meal or two here and there is really not an issue. Only when they go for months without food does it really become an issue. During breeding and when the mother self incubates her eggs she may go off food for 9 months or more. Well I could write a book on ball pythons, but I think I already went further than most will read anyway. I like ball pythons becouse of all the morphs and morph combos available. You can definately get a ball python that has wow factor in its looks.

Don't know much about Dumeril Boas either!

 

[herpfreak]

If you want a ball, go with a ball. I am a strong believer in choosing a snake based on personal preference rather than a cage you have available. Getting a snake because you have a cage for it often results in a snake you won't want in ten years. Go with something you'd really like.

Balls are my favorite snakes by far. The normals are so beautiful. There are lots of sweet morphs. They get to be a decent size; impressive enough while not unmanagable. Temperament is awesome. I can only truly appreciate their temperament now that I have another snake species to compare it to. I clean the house with Cu around my neck; I watch movies with Cu in my lap; they're so fun to hold. But with my new Borneo STP, Sangre, I would never ever take my eyes off of him. He's not as aggressive as some STPs (I think I got lucky) but is still extremely difficult to handle. STPs are definitely not snakes for those without experiance in "reading" snake behavior.

Yes, balls can be jumpy, but are rarely aggressive. Many also have horrible feeding responses (mine included :roll: ), which can be a major headache (trust me!).

But, all in all, I'd choose a BP over a KSB any day.

As for an enclosure, an adult BP can be kept in a 40-50qt (personally I'd go with a 50-60; while babies get stressed in large enclosures, I find that adults appreciate some extra space) plastic tub with holes drilled in it, which would be about $8 at Target or Walmart.

Anyways, good luck! Keep us posted about new ideas/finds.

 

[frog]

Corns can live in a 20 gallon minimum, so it should be okay. And I think they like to climb (mine was always in the highest places possible) so make use of the height in your cage

Sara

 

[Gloryhound]

Corns can live in a 20 gallon minimum, so it should be okay. And I think they like to climb (mine was always in the highest places possible) so make use of the height in your cage

Sara

As far as the tank goes for ball pythons, I've already made my recommendation above.

As far as the climbing goes, ball pythons are clumbsy climbers. If they fall and hit the edge of the water dish or a hide it can cause significant damage. If you want to give a ball python something to climb on keep it only a couple inches off the bottom of the cage and keep the area under it clear of anything with odd angles the ball python could fall on. Ball Pythons are terrestial animals and in the wild will actually live in the burrows of other animals 60% to 80% of their lives. The remaining time is normally when they go looking for food, a new burrow with a better food supply around, or they go looking for a mate.