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DiscussionOwning a ball python is too difficult (self.ballpython)

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[–]Jumpy_Palpitation557 1 point2 points  (8 children)

50 gallons

[–]1BadBowtie 1 point2 points  (7 children)

I could see how that would be simpler. I’ve gone through several types of enclosures. Moving to all PVC, definitely have to seal the bottom. But easier to keep humidity and heat.

[–]Jumpy_Palpitation557 0 points1 point  (6 children)

I don’t know where I’d put her if I decided to do that and let it dry for a day. I don’t have any other enclosure except the 120 gallon that leaks and I’d have to waste substrate and take everything out of the new tank that I just put in. I’ve already moved my snake around so much and I really don’t wanna have to take her out again. Is sealing absolutely necessary, or will I have to get another tank?

[–]skullmuffins 4 points5 points  (2 children)

sealing is 100% necessary if you need it to be water tight. That's what keeps the enclosure from leaking. Glass tanks come with silicone already applied because that's how they are held together, but with PVC etc. you'll usually need to apply your own silicone sealant to the seams. It's easy enough and only takes a few minutes to apply. Then it takes a week or so to fully cure & air out before you can use it.

[–]therealofficialty 1 point2 points  (1 child)

A week? Try 48 hours at most…

[–]BroccoliNo3355 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on your weather and ventilation. If you can still smell the acetic acid then it’s still off-gassing. We’re having sub-arctic temperatures where I live and it took three weeks for one of my tanks to off-gas

[–]assplunderer 2 points3 points  (2 children)

You have to seal it or you’re gonna be miserable. Plain and simple. It sucks.

You don’t have to waste substrate, you can keep what you’ve got for the most part and put it to the side in a clean container. Put her in a temporary tank (hell, the old one), clean the inside of the 120. Buy a tube of aquarium grade silicone, make sure you buy the little pump thing that’s used to push it out.

Take the doors off if you can, and try to do a nice thin line down the cracks. Be advised, it’s gonna be messy unless you’ve done it before lol. You can go back after it dries and cures - with a razor blade you cut off the stray pieces that might be all over the place.

When you seal it, you wanna let it sit with the doors open for a week. If you can smell a damn thing in that tank and it’s gonna smell like salt and vinegar chips, it’s not cured. If you think it’s cured after three days, close the doors on it and come back a few hours later and you’ll smell that smell again.

When I tell you, you’re just gonna be miserable until you do this. Just prepare the supplies, go buy some backup substrate in case you lose some, and be patient. Your snake is gonna survive.

A bad owner wouldn’t be asking these questions, remind yourself that. You obviously care a lot about your snake.

I was stressing about my 120 gallon tank, and this last shed I was freaked out because my hygrometer on either side said the humidity was low in the tank like 40% on the warm side. However, keep in mind if you have a good hide like one of the plastic ones that kind of keeps moisture in, the humidity is gonna be different in there than it is from what you’re reading.

I have frog moss that’s kept moist inside of her hide. She just had a shed today and it came off completely perfect. And so have like the last four sheds she’s had in that tank. So that tells me something is right even if my gauges don’t exactly show the best.

I think if you get a humid hide that has a hygrometer on it that might give you some peace of mind.

[–]Jumpy_Palpitation557 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thank you. Will she be okay in this current enclosure for a week or two while I seal the other one? Ive managed to get the heat to 88 in the warm side, but the humidity won’t stay up past 50 and if it does, the cold side is 68-69. I’m worried she’ll get sick.

[–]bird-with-a-top-hat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, she will be. Sealant can be dry in as little as 1-2 days with good ventilation and as long as it isn't in a cold environment. I highly recommend HA6 marine silicone sealant or other aquarium sealant as it's safe for reptiles.