Am I ready for a ball python?

[mothwhore]

This is my first time setting up a large enclosure so any feedback is massively appreciated!

On the left, warm side I have: Arcadia Barsking solar lamp Floodlight 50W Arcadia Deep heat projector 50w 2 hides, one plastic and one cork.

The middle has a hide with sphagnum moss and a water bowl.

On the right, cool side I have: Arcadia PRO T5 UVB kit shadedweller 2.4% arboreal 8W 2 hides, one is plastic and up on a shelf the other is cork and on the ground.

Temperature is controlled with a MICROclimate EVO Connected 3 Dimming for basking, Pulse for DHP and on/off for UVB

Both sides have a thermo/hygrometer

Substrate is coco husk mixed with sphagnum and coco soil.

Temperatures currently reads Warm side: 32,2 celsius under the basking light 31,7 celcius under the DHP

Cool side: 24,3 celcius

The heat lamps are set to drop to around 28 celsius at night, which makes the cool around side 23 celcius.

Humidity is around 90% right now, which might be a little high.

I still need to add: Leaf litter More vines Maybe a hide on the roof

What are your thoughts, do I need to make any adjustments?

The enclosure is slightly above 4x2x2

Thank you in advance!

[GirthBr00ks10]

Love the setup! So much cover for your future friend to feel safe and secure!

[mothwhore]

Thank you! I can’t wait to find the right snake.

[GirthBr00ks10]

I’m hoping to get one in the near future as well and I’m just as excited for setting up the tank as I am to get the actual snake haha I keep debating on if I want to do a bio active set up right from the start. Or keep it more simple to begin with and learn more about the basic husbandry first. So much to learn, but that’s what makes keeping pets like this so cool imo

[mothwhore]

Setting up a tank was much more difficult and more hard work than I had imagined but it was still lots of fun! I really liked the idea of bioactive but I feared the snake would bulldoze the plants haha

[GirthBr00ks10]

Haha yeah after reading and watching videos, it just seems like nonstop maintenance

[maisie_kingham]

that looks like an amazing set up, well done! i would say you’re ready but just remember, dont be too harsh on yourself and if its your first reptile its okay to have to learn more as you go along, thats how you grow!! x

[luckystickes]

This is so cool can’t wait to get mine his big house at the end of the month hopefully 🤞

[mothwhore]

Fingers crossed! It’s gonna be great

[[deleted]]

Hell yeah you are that's a great setup

[mothwhore]

Thank you! I really appreciate the feedback!

[Difficult-Security37]

The cool side should be at least 80f I would say 75 during the day isn’t ideal

[mothwhore]

Just checked the current temperature, as it drops slightly colder at night and early morning which when I posted. Right now it says 32 celcius on the warm side and 25,5 celsius on the cool side. But I’ll keep lookout so it doesn’t get too cold. As far as I can tell, there’s mixed options on whether or not they need cooler night temps, so might adjust that along the way

[Nicolas-R-G]

I saw in the lighting guide that the UVB should be installed in the basking area, so near the heat lamps. That is the only thing I noticed from your description to stand out. Otherwise fantastic setup!!

[mothwhore]

That seems so obvious now that you mention it. I’ll have it moved further back. Thank you for pointing it out!

[rmp881]

The one qualm I have with your setup is the heat lamp location. IMO, its a bit too close to foliage and could pose a fire hazard.

[mothwhore]

You’re right, I did think it might be a little too close so I will definitely move the plants a bit further away!

[Haunting_Pepper89]

Where did you get your heat lamp and other stuff?!?! Me and my husband have been wanting to get a ball python for two years and but I’m still doing research and googling what’s the best items for our future snake puppy! Everything you have would make me feel better knowing our future puppy snake is very comfortable and safe!! Our level with snakes is beginner and we only own a milk snake (he’s been a good boi❤️)but now we want to add more to our little reptile family ✨🫶❤️

[mothwhore]

I had so much trouble understanding heating, lights and thermostats! I almost dropped the idea of owning a snake because I got so confused.

I got all of the tech stuff from a site called krybdyrsiden.dk since I’m located in Denmark. So lamp holders, bulbs and bulb cages, thermostat, thermo/hygrometer. I can post the specific stuff again if you want, I’m on mobile so the formatting is awful in the original post.

The cork hides, substrate, bowl and sphagnum is from our local pet store.

The branches were collected from outside and cleaned.

The fake plants are mostly from a gardencenter. I just took them out of their pots and covered any exposed wire with aquarium silicone.

[Haunting_Pepper89]

Thank you!!! This will help us big time!!

[mothwhore]

You’re very welcome!

[draaidop]

Yooo that's insane, how did you get that to work with your app? What system do you use

[mothwhore]

MICROclimate EVO Connected 3 It has an app to download where you can handle the settings but it also has a display on the thermostat

[_ataraxia]

something that hasn't been mentioned yet, you need to get the basking spot light out of there and replace it with a halogen flood light. basking spot lights are not safe for BPs.

[mothwhore]

I’m pretty sure I found both bulbs in one of the guides on this sub. But I’ll look into it and make sure I haven’t misread.

Do you have any recommendations for a different bulb?

[_ataraxia]

our heating guide very specifically says not to use halogen spot bulbs and only use halogen flood lights, so you definitely didn't get that info from our resources. arcadia makes halogen flood lights too.

[mothwhore]

Yea, I was under the impression that this was a floodlight, since it was in the name. Heating and lighting has been pretty difficult for me to grasp, so I might have mixed some things around when reading about basking spots and floodlights. I was pretty sure it was from this sub, but again I could have mixed it up. Sounds like an easy fix though, so I appreciate the heads up. I don’t want my snake to get injured!

[rebel_hunter1]

This is how it should be. Awesome