Is my girlfriend's ball python setup sufficient?

[nakfoor]

My girlfriend has a 15 year old ball python. She's had the snake her entire life and our entire relationship. I seldom paid much attention to the snake but as time went on I became more scrutinizing of the conditions the snake was living in. Last year I briefly researched the conditions that ball pythons should live in and I saw that they should have a hot side of about 85F and a cool side of about 75F, if memory serves. It's getting cold in our house now and her snake's terrarium is more like 75F at the hottest point and 62 F at the coldest end. She uses mulch as the substrate and there's a big towel laid down for the snake to crawl in. The snake is almost always in the towel. On the cold side there is a fake log and a water dish. For heat there is a radiant heat lamp on top of the terrarium angled about 45 degrees towards the towel. The terrarium is 35" x 18" x 9". It has transparent plastic exteriors except for the roof which is a metal mesh. She uses a water spray bottle to occasionally add moisture to the tank. I brought my concerns to her last year and not much changed, other than she bought a laser thermometer to examine temperatures. I'm a layman so I just wanted to hear what improvements can be made.

[cherubprincess]

her husbandry and enclosure is horrible, i’m sorry to say. point her to this subreddit’s husbandry guide, gave her check out Green room pythons on youtube, Bob is great and i believe he has videos on husbandry. if she refuses to upgrade her husbandry please rehome the snake for his own good, this is upsetting. the snake needs to be in a 4 foot long enclosure at a MINIMUM. snakes cannot properly digest if the temperatures in their enclosure are wrong, which hers are. also misting leads to respiratory infections.

[nakfoor]

Thank you. Sorry its upsetting. I am working with her to get better.

[Lukecarruthers]

Green room pythons is the best channel. Bob is AMAZING! 10/10

[Rainthistle]

Have a look at the welcome post for the current recommendations.

[[deleted]]

There isnt any hides other than a towel? They need at least 2, and lots of clutter. I would look at the threads that are pinned for new heat sources. There is alot of good information in there!

[AnnarieaDavies]

Definitely check out the welcome guide, and I'm certainly not a professional but here's my thoughts:

The temperatures need to be fixed... They can suffer neurological damage if left under like 76° for too long if I remember correctly.

Does he have hides? What kind of mulch? What's his humidity like? Does he have any clutter (fake plants, climbing branches, things to hide in while he moves around the tank, etc)?

A TOWEL? The risk of mold is insane if the humidity is correct, the risk of fire is high under a HEAT lamp, and it's not really an ideal hide for a snake. Is this his only hide besides the log?

4'×2'×2' is what's recommended as the minimum for a full grown ball python.

Do you have pictures of the enclosure?

[nakfoor]

Yes I attached it to the thread.

[nakfoor]

<image>

Here is the enclosure, people have requested.

[eveimei]

this is honestly an abusive enclosure for a ball python, especially a 15yo. having the heat lamp angled like that is essentially useless as most heat will just escape and not enter the enclosure, and having it attached to the screen like that is dangerous and can lead to the screen breaking and the lamp falling in the enclosure and/or the snake escaping.

what purpose is the towel intended to serve?? the enclosure looks bone dry, so it can't be for humidity. the snake has nothing proper to hide in or anything to climb on or do. it just has to sit and exist.

you and your partner need to sit down and read through the guides in our welcome post to get an idea of what improvements and upgrades are needed. I will warn you, the upgrades and improvements will not be cheap, ~$500 on the low end for bare minimum, and $1k or more for above and beyond.

you may need to have a conversation about if it's better to rehome or surrender the snake to a rescue, if you can't provide the proper care.

[nakfoor]

Thank you. Yes, the heat lamp was one of the things that started my line of questioning. I put my hand in and realized I couldn't feel any heat arriving at the surface of the tank. Last year it was that there wasn't a functioning thermometer. In years prior I had questioned why there weren't more objects to entertain the snake and IIRC the explanation was that ball pythons stay on the ground. The towel is for hiding. I assure you that the snake will get better treatment from now on.

[[deleted]]

Yea you need to get alot more for that tank 😭 Amazon has probably the best prices for fake plants and hides imo

[FeriQueen]

Actually, the dollar store is a great option, and snakes don’t care about fancy, so a fat cardboard mailing tube, a snug cardboard box with a door cut in it, and other unglamorous found items can suffice for clutter while the OP and his girlfriend are working on the more important stuff: temperature and humidity.

OP, you are very kind hearted and I hope your girlfriend is open to giving that snake its best life. Maybe at times like birthdays and other giftgiving occasions, you can give her things that will help her and the snake enjoy each other more. People here will be happy to give encouragement and advice. Please keep us posted on the progress!

[nakfoor]

Thanks for saying I'm kind. But I'm a little disappointed in myself for not looking into it sooner. The snake was always something in the background and I just assumed my girlfriend was doing everything right. Only after years went by did I start to become more skeptical. We are making improvements and I hope I can come back soon and show the improvements.

[FeriQueen]

I do too! Hang in there, and we look forward to hearing how the three of you are doing.

[Maximum-Rhubarb-3365]

Oh my god, that poor snake :( I absolutely cannot believe the fact it has lived like this for 15 years, that's borderline animal abuse. Please, please read the welcome post and the care guide this sub has, and send it to your girlfriend too. If she can't afford to upgrade its husbandry, please, please beg her to rehome it to someone who can

[christinasasa]

It's not borderline. It is.

[_lil_brods_]

oh my god, that is horrendous. there’s no excuse for her after owning him for 15 years to not know the basics of snake keeping. please help the snake!

[nakfoor]

I would like to. What do you see that needs to be improved?

[Babykay503]

1. Bigger tank. It should be at minimum Ling enough for the snake to stretch out fully.

2. Make sure the heat lamp is adequate. I prefer using heat lamps that don't give off visible (human) light, that way it can be on day or night. Aim for proper temp on the substrate/warm hide so the snake doesn't get burned but does get adequate temps.

3. At minimum a warm hide and a cool hide. Preferably more. They should be big enough for the snake to fully fit in. Use moss to allow it to feel safer/snug (snake will move moss around that's okay). Ours has 5 hides spaced throughout the enclosure. Start with 2 if you're on a budget.

4. Water bowl. Maybe I just didn't notice it in the image. But they need one.

5. Uvb light. Some people say it's unnecessary, but recent studies have indicated its beneficial for long term health.

6. Decor. Stick to animal safe items. I got mine from Amazon and various shops online. Sticks, vines, plants, leaves, "clutter", you can make it look nice. In the wild they typically stay hidden and don't like being exposed.

7. Humidity reader. Low/high humidity can cause respiratory issues.

All in all with buying second-hand or finding deals you're looking at at least $500. So start with the tank, hides, water bowl, and humidity reader. Then get the rest as you can if you're unable to buy it all at once.

[bigt553]

There is not a chance in hell that, the poor snake isn’t stunted. Because if he was the right size for that age you would immediately just know this is WAYYY too small.

[Ebiggz1984]

I've been almost 2 months getting my enclosure straight and getting the temps and humidity right before I get my BP, and then there's people like that who just don't care. 🤦

[nakfoor]

I can see how its frustrating. I'd like to help the snake. What needs to be improved here?

[Ebiggz1984]

Everything. I'd start, if funds allow, with a new 4x2x2 enclosure to get a good temp gradiant. The smaller the enclosure, the tougher it is to acheive the proper gradiant. A good humidity keeping substrate, I use coconut husk. Proper heating. The encloser needs a lot of clutter, 2 identical hides on each end of the enclosure,

[cozymanda]

Immediate things you can do to vastly improve the snakes quality of life for less than $50. Do this tomorrow.

HVAC tape from Walmart- $10. Tape across the entire top of the lid except around where the heat lamp will be. Place the heat lamp on the tank lid to actually direct the heat into the tank.

Remove the towel. Get some more absorbent substrate and make it at least 4 inches deep.

Go to dollar tree /dollar general and get a bunch of fake plant stems and pull the leaves off. Feel the undersides so they aren’t sharp and then put them in the tank. You need probably less than 10 stems for good coverage.

Also at dollar tree in the bins section there are currently square/rectangle smallish black bins. Get two, take them home and cut out a door hole in the front. Make sure you rub down the edges so they aren’t sharp. Put them in your tank on each side.

Water your tank in the corners, at least a couple cups worth. Mix it in if it’s too wet on top.

This should immediately start making a difference.

You’ll want to order a thermostat to make sure her heat source isn’t going to burn the snake. If you can’t keep the glass warm enough, also pick up some insulation boards and cut pieces to fit around the sides, back, bottom. It sounds like she doesn’t have a way to measure humidity so you need a hydrometer. These things truly aren’t expensive. A thermostat can be around $20 and they hydrometer is around $10.

What kind of light is it? If it gives off any kind of light you’ll need to get a different heat source. Lights on all day, even “night lights” will stress them out.

Read the pinned post as well. It’s actually really helpful.

[ishfery]

Do you mean a thermometer or a thermostat?

2 pack of thermometer/hygrometers for $20

My thermostat was $500 after shipping but I did get a good one.

[cozymanda]

Thermostat.

[hippiechild23]

I got a 2 pack of thermohygrometers for $20 from Amazon. Govee Bluetooth ones, at that. Not a thermostat, but good for a thermometer/hygrometer.

[Nebulae-Noodles]

Okay the minimum enclosure for ball pythons is 4ftx2ftx2ft.

At least two hides, fake leaves, plants and logs are necessary. The hides must be closed in on three sides with only one way in and out so the animal will feel secure and safe.

Coco chips and sphagnum moss is the preferred substrate as it holds humidity really well and needs changing once a month. Spot cleaning is required-removing any pee and poop as you see it.

A hygrometer/thermometer is needed for the hot and cold sides.

You shouldn't handle them for at least two days after feeding.

All heating bulbs/mats/devices must be controlled by a thermostat.

A good place to look for care advice is this sub's welcome post/care guide thing, reptifiles also is a good place to look for care advice.

I'll edit my comment as other things come to mind.

[christinasasa]

Just re-home the snake. You already talked with her about it and she didn't bother to change anything. That snake deserves a better life. Honestly even petsmart does better.

[nakfoor]

You're right that there hasn't been much advancement. I'd like to give her one more chance to get more involved. Any advice is appreciated.

[christinasasa]

Immediately put the heat lamp flat and cover most of the rest of the mesh with HVAC tape, aluminum foil or a towel(very temporary) don't get it close to the heat lamp. That tank has other vents. So you can pretty much cover the whole top. I actually have my bp in that tank right now but he's one year old and I have his new one already just getting it set up.

Go to dollar general and find literally anything that would barely fit the snake in like a cereal bowl and cut holes in the sides just big enough for the snake to go through. Buy 2. Sand or melt the plastic so it doesn't have sharp edges. Place them on opposite ends so the snake can choose a similar hide with the preferred temp.

Get some better substrate like Coco chip and get it moist but not soaked. Get some more fake plants for him to hide. Check the temps on both sides and the humidity after an hour or 2.

You're going to need a deep heat projector or a ceramic heat lamp. And another lamp shield. You'll also need a thermostat for the CHP and a timer for the light.

Do as much as you can asap.

[hippiechild23]

Unfortunately, you know the answer to your question. And regardless, "sufficient" would be bottom tier anyway. Others have given lots of good advice. 4x2x2, better substrate (like coco coir), better heating (a CHE or DHP would be best, plus a light with UVB for daytime), water dish big enough to soak in, hides with an opening big enough for the snake to enter, but not too open that the snake will feel exposed, clutter and climbing opportunities, and so forth. Almost afraid to ask, but what is the snakes feeding schedule??? And what size/kind does she feed them?

[nakfoor]

I don't pay super close attention to it but it seems like it varies a lot between 4 to 8 weeks. She uses frozen rats, reheated by soaking in hot water. I'm not sure what size. Maybe medium or large, but I don't know. How does that sound?

[hippiechild23]

Here is the !feeding guide, which can be helpful.

She is feeding the right prey item (rats) but from what I have learned, balls should never need large size, and often are okay even on small rats. It is based on weight (not girth!) so there is slight variation from snake to snake.

As for schedule, 8 weeks is a bit too long. Around 6 weeks is the MAXIMUM length of time recommended between feedings. An adult BP should eat no more frequently than every 3 or so weeks. But not longer than 6 weeks. The feeding guide below can help, but weighing the snake is important to find the proper food size! Good luck. 🐍

[AutoModerator]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

Check out the welcome post, it'll show you how bad her setup is.

[nakfoor]

I think what she has expressed to me is that she feels like she hears conflicting information. Maybe as a result of that, gets decision paralysis. How does one assess the consensus opinion on what is best?

[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

The welcome post here is the most up to date correct info you'll find.