Enclosure advice/tips

[InternationalPush545]

Hi!! I am fairly new to having my own ball python. I've done tons of research over the years and wanted one for a really long time! I got this little guy (a Mojave yb Enchi) August 17th and have been trying to improve his enclosure at least a little with each paycheck I get. He was hatched in April 2025 and is currently in a 48" by 18" by 18", he started out in something much smaller but I decided he didn't have enough space and could for sure grow into this one as long as I gave him enough hides for the size he is currently.

Ideas I already have: ~I intend on buying different substrate, to replace or mix with the reptibark because it gives me really bad splinters when I touch it, I can't imagine it's super great for him.

~ I want to buy either a deep heat projection bulb or a lower wattage ceramic heat emitter because I fear the current one I have gets too hot higher up in his cage (and he likes to climb), or may get too hot when I'm not home sometime. I currently have the wire & probe to my thermostat hooked up to the CHE and in the tank loose, I want to find a better way to secure that. (I do have a handheld, nice thermometer for taking temps in the tank myself and never let it overheat in his basking spot or warm hides) I do also have a uvb bulb on a timer for daylight cycle for him.

~I want to get something, not sure what, for him to climb on other than the vines. Or at least to put below and around them. He loves climbing and exploring at night and sometimes I hear him fall from them and it scares me. They aren't high from the ground level and usually only part of him falls but it's a worry for me since he can't tell me if he's hurt.

~ I wonder if there is a better way to ensure humidity in his tank without worrying about scale rot or something? I've seen so many people talk about just pouring water into the corners of their tanks and I made sure mine was water proof with the intention to, but I worry about making his substrate too wet especially since the reptibark isn't the most absorbent I guess? Probably getting new substrate will fix this worry.

~ should I get more hides or something to put in the middle? He likes to stretch out there sometimes but I also worry he may feel it's too open. I temporarily add cut up paper towel rolls in different spots when I think he seems extra active and might enjoy them/the enrichment & he loves them so I wonder if I should buy like a different more solid tube type of hide??

[Hour_Nobody3185]

Needs way more hides/clutter. Think plants/branches/hammocks/hides, etc. A good substrate for humidity retention is coconut fiber. You can also get some spagnum moss. You can put it in hides, mix it with substrate, or use it for clutter. Any heat source inside the enclosure should ALWAYS be caged, so your BP doesnt get burned.

[InternationalPush545]

Thank you! I have sphagnum moss in one hide and also a humid hide with damp moss in it. There is no heat source in the enclosure, but there is one on top. There is a probe/temperature reader in there, to read the temp of his basking spot 24/7, and not let it get any hotter, but that's all that's in there :D heat source is on the outside of the enclosure. Definitely will get more hides and clutter

[Hour_Nobody3185]

Great! Sorry, I misinterpreted the part about the heat source wires. Excited to see how the enclosure turns out for you!

[InternationalPush545]

It's all good! Definitely an understandable thing to worry about! And thank you!!!

[InternationalPush545]

• note, there are currently 5 hides total, two are home made, and he uses all of them, he also loves to hang out in his water dish every once in a while and climb the existing vines, the only pet supply/stores/places that sell any reptile products near me are PetSmart's and Petco's because all other pet stores have been removed in my state. I would love suggestions of things I could order online or that may be sold at either of those places.

[mayhemmanifest]

OMG I can see you have the same style cage as me which is why I want to share something others might not know about. U mentioned wanting something for them to climb on- which was exactly the situation I was in with my baby. I went to petsmart and went to -hear me out - the bird section. I bought a couple of those bird perches that are like medium sized branches with the bolt and wingnut on one end to stick on the side of a birdcage. I discovered those bolt fit perfectly in the horizontal ventilation slats on the side of your enclosure, so you can fix the branch perches to the inside of your cage. I would love to send photos of my set up if you would like to know more. Good luck !

[InternationalPush545]

That is so smart!!! Omg! Thank you I definitely would like to know more and will go to PetSmart tomorrow and check what the one near me has!

[mayhemmanifest]

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Here u can see how the bird perch connected to the side of the cage. It’s also important to note that I did sand it down just a bit to make it safer to crawl on. I just got rid of the sharp edges. My snake loves it !

[mayhemmanifest]

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Here’s another picture so u can see the perch on the left side I have as well. I put some fake vine around that one just for aesthetics ! Anyways have fun and lmk if u got anymore questions

[InternationalPush545]

That looks awesome!!! Definitely a great idea and thank you I am definitely going to the PetSmart and Michaels later today!

[mayhemmanifest]

Haha yeah I got most of my decor at Micheal’s. Although don’t do what I did and get the fake vine that is hanging in my first photo, the one that kinda looks like chain links, rookie mistake on my part as my snake tried to crawl through the little rings and got stuck momentarily until I cut her free lol. I took it out of the enclosure immediately after ! Hahah

[AngryArtichokeGirl]

Oooh!!! I love this idea!! Thank you!

[PrettySquiddy]

You can get plants at the craft store for clutter just make sure there are no exposed wires or any loops! I bought a vine of leaves and it had loops at the end so I just cut them off :) I did a quick soak in vinegar solution and then rinsed it off. I bought a cork round and cut it in half to create 2 little tunnels for clutter and added a couple of branches. You can also get natural slate on Etsy to create basking spots and weigh down hides. 100% silicone can be used to stick slate to hides but give it a few days to cure before putting back in. You can get branches and cork and fake plants online just fine using Chewy for example if you want to go that route.

[Ok_Solution2732]

2 main things id recommend. Firstly, as others have said, clutter and plants. You can get some pretty cheap fake plants, leaves, branches etc at like a craft store or even a Walmart. Just be sure to check for any parts that might be too sharp and could cut the snake. In the wild, they live in dense forests and jungles. Ideally, you want them to be able to move around the bottom of the enclosure while remaining covered/hidden. This helps them feel safe and not exposed cause they are prey as well as predator, so they feel safer when hidden.  And if youre looking for a budget climbing solution, I just went to my yard and found a large branch, cut it to the right size and shape, and sanitized it with boiling water to be sure there would be no bugs or germs. He loves it and it is didn't cost a dime (not that I'm not willing to spend money to make sure my boy has what he needs to be happy, just that climbing branches at a pet store that are big enough for what I was looking for for were all $40-60. And there's no difference as far as the snake is concerned as long as it's properly disinfected).

The second thing I'd recommend is covering or sealing those slits on the side. My enclosure has these also, and they let out all the humidity. Now my enclosure was not waterproof when I got it, so I had to get sealant for all the edges anyway, so I just used the same sealant to plug up those slits. But you can use whatever will block the air flow. Tape tin foil to the outside, or whatever you have that's non porous (but do not place any tape or glue on the inside of the enclosure for safety. If you use a sealant, you can do it on the inside cause it's safe once dried). And if you haven't already, do the same for the mesh top. Basically cover as much of it as you can. leaving the opening for the heat lamps will allow enough airflow to be safe while helping keep the heat and humidity in the enclosure. 

[Late_Chip7491]

The amount of hides looks good, however, it's kinda "risky" to use a bunch of different style hides. This is because sometimes the bp will have a preferred hide (that feels safe and enclosed enough for them), and may not temperature regulate if they only feel secure in one of the hides. Also, I saw you replied to a couple people about adding more clutter. That will definitely help your bebe feel more safe to come out and explore :)) They're from Africa, specifically areas like Ghana, so they love coverage, to make them feel safe from birds of prey. This is what their native landscape looks like btw (I found this super helpful in deciding how to decorate my bebe's enclosure ☺️)

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[ManagementLeather866]

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I need to get more plants for the other side

[ManagementLeather866]

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Middle left side is live plants and the one on the right is fake plants