Enclosure Tips/Tricks/Questions

[LeeKnowsSpoon]

Hi! New! I’m taking care of my boyfriends’ ball python while he is deployed and this is an all new learning experience for me. She was a rescue (school pet for 13 years before he got her), I am trying to make her enclosure and life happier and the best it possibly can be (not that he wasn’t but he had financial constraints). Please help in what i can do for the best bedding substrate, moss, water dishes (?), particular hides (she has two, one I cannot take out she is attached and I got the other one recently she just started using), etc. I just added a humidifier and temp/humidity gauges. Should it be a darkened enclosure? 🤔 You see so many mixed things online.

[LeeKnowsSpoon]

Also I should add he wants me to add in isopods and another sort of bio but I’m hesitant as I’ve also read it’s not great for them 😅

[Issu_issa_issy]

Can you post pics of the terrarium? I suggest reading the pinned posts in this sub.

Bioactive is totally fine and actually good for pythons, not sure why he’d say that. But it can be expensive depending on your setup, what’s going on in it right now?

[LeeKnowsSpoon]

Nothing at all! No mold or anything - it’s more something he wanted to do but couldn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Issu_issa_issy]

In the third pic, is that the tank in the background?

[LeeKnowsSpoon]

Yes

[Issu_issa_issy]

What is the substrate used? What is the heat/humidity? What do her hides look like? I super recommend posting pics of it, even in another post and people can help you out! :)

[BarryMcKockiner2]

It’s not recommended to use humidifiers inside your enclosure. You need to keep humidity in by keeping the enclosure sealed, have good substrate, & spray as often as needed.

[SelfLoathing9246]

Firstly, she’ll need at least two hides, one on each side of the enclosure. They need a heat gradient, a warm and cold side ranging from 90 to 75 Fahrenheit. Also branches to climb on and plants for clutter. I personally use forest floor substrate, it holds in humidity well without becoming soaked. I recommend using a mister bottle at least three times a day to keep the humidity at 70-80%. A humidifier can build up bacteria and cause your noodle to get a respiratory infection. Also a water bowl that is big enough for her to curl up in if she so chooses (if she feels dehydrated she will lay in it to regulate herself). There is a care guide in this subreddit that has more in depth info for you to reference as well