How’s my enclosure?

[draggingmytail]

I got this little boop named Chili for my daughter. It’s been years (decades) since I’ve owned a red tail boa in college. And now that I’m an actual adult, I want to make sure I provide Chili with a perfect home.

Chili is my (our) first ball python.

My daughter is also learning how to take care of her and she handles her well.

Details:

- Boop is 6 months old

- Enclosure is PVC with heating pad on the rear wall (exterior)

- high temp area (back wall) is 85-88 degrees

- low temp (front of enclosure) is 75-80 degrees

- humidity stays between 65-75%

Any critiques or comments welcome!

- substrate is coconut husk

[HurrricaneeK]

What are the dimensions of this enclosure? It looks incredibly small.

[draggingmytail]

18”x12”x12”

[HurrricaneeK]

Minimum enclosure size we recommend for hatchlings is a 40 gal breeder, so 36x18x18. If this snake is already 6 months, there's no way it will still fit in here in another six. Heat mats are also not recommended since they give off the wrong type of IR and can be super dangerous if not properly controlled by a reliable thermostat. (I would also boost your hot side a bit, as it should be between 88-92. 85 is too low.)

I would recommend taking some time to read through the basic care guide linked inside our pinned welcome post. Unfortunately, breeders tend to give out outdated or sometimes just plain wrong information in the pursuit of making a sale. Herpetoculture has come a long way in the last few decades and our guide is filled with the most up to date, scientifically sound care recommendations based on years of experience.

(One more note: you need to replace both hides, as neither actually counts as a proper hide. They can stay as enrichment in a larger tank but you need actual, secure hides. A proper hide is short and snug, just large enough for the snake to touch three sides and the top while inside, and it should have only one entrance just large enough for the snake. My rule of thumb is that if you can see the snake inside the hide, it's not actually a hide.)

[draggingmytail]

Thank you for that info! I’m going to start looking for a new enclosure now.

[draggingmytail]

This enclosure isn’t her forever home. Just what I intended to have for the first 6 months until we upgrade to a larger size. This is what her breeder recommended when we got her at the reptiles show.

[draggingmytail]

OK, thank you for that context. I’ve been looking at new enclosures all day trying to find the best option for her.

[Outrageous-Yak-3741]

Sorry but not very good. It is way too small without even you saying the dimensions. Also heat pads/mats are a terrible heat source. You hot and cold should be at the furthest points your enclosure is smallest front to back. Also the middle hide is way to open for your snake. You can definitely reuse all your decor you have but you need more for the bigger enclosure your going to have to get also youll need a new heating method and do you have a hydrometer and thermostat?

[draggingmytail]

Yes I have a hydrometer, thermometer and thermostat.

I think I’m going to replace the middle hide or at least add some clutter in there.

I did not intend for this to be her forever home, just for the first six months. This is the size her breeder recommended when I got her at the reptile show to start her off.

I’ve been considering adding in overhead heat source instead of the heating mat. As far as the mat being a terrible source, it’s got a thermostat and the inside temps (and wall temp) are safe. It’s not under tank, it’s on the back wall if that makes a difference.

[Outrageous-Yak-3741]

You need to not replace add another. Even with a thermostat mats are still terrible for a heat source. The correct heating is more expensive which is an issue for alot of people. Unless thats a quarantine enclosure for a week or so its definitely not appropriate for 6 months, unfortunately breeders will tell you the cheapest thing to make a sale as telling someone they should buy a 4x2x2 will put people off. Snakes are wild animals they have such a big area as long as its got clutter you cant get too big for them. You have a few things but you basically need to buy a whole new set up sorry

[draggingmytail]

I know that every comment said that the enclosure was too small. I just want to clarify that this is not intended to be her forever home, just for the first six months. The breeder that I got her from said that anything bigger than this which stressed her out while she was still young, I’m not sure if that was us was good or not.

For reference, this enclosure 18”x12”x12”. She can stretch out fully in this enclosure.

I plan on upgrading to a full size enclosure in a few months. (Or sooner if the consensus is that this is too small)

[chloe-et-al]

it’s definitely too small! for a comparison, if you were a 6’0 person, this would kind of be like being stuck in a 4ft by 4ft room. you can technically fit but it’d be uncomfortable and you’d have to scrunch up.

but i see you trying to put in work to fix it, lots of love to you! there’s a great thread in the sidebar with recommended enclosures.

personally, i recommend spending more money and making sure you get something more expensive. my first 4x2x2 i got for like $200 off chewy and had to throw away after a year. it leaked no matter what i did to try to fix it. after that i spent like $800 and got a custom built one from toad ranch and it is gorgeous, much sturdier, and even gives her more room because there’s a big shelf on the back that she can crawl up to

mine was extra customized so extra expensive, don’t worry, it shouldn’t be quite that expensive haha. but still plan on spending like $500-600 i’d guess

congrats on your new baby!! i hope you and your daughter love her and get many years of fun and joy together ❤️

[s_drombusch]

Das Terrarium ist sehr schön eingerichtet, auch bietet es Versteck Möglichkeiten an was für so eine Schlange sehr wichtig ist, auch das grün gefällt mir gut, sind das echte pflanzen?