Setting Up a Cage for Your Ball Python

With the growing popularity of ball pythons as pets, there are a large variety of cages available. Some are very basic models, some more elaborate, and of course they are priced accordingly. Some first time snake owners opt to use an aquarium, without the water of course. Others will build their own cages.

Whatever you use for a cage it should be two-thirds the length of your snake. So if your snake is three feet long, you should have a two foot cage.

Whether you build one or buy one, there are certain things every cage must have to keep your pet snake happy and healthy.

An absolute must is a tight fitting lid on the cage. The lid must also have some type of locking mechanism. Ball pythons love to push their noses against things, like the lid of their cage. If there is a small space under the lid your snake will find it and manage to escape.

There are some basic things that must be inside the cage. They are: a hide box, water bowl, a heater, full-spectrum light bulbs, and bedding.

Ball pythons need a place to hide in order to feel safe. You can buy plastic ones at the pet store or make your own. A cereal box cut to fit the cage works well. When it gets dirty just throw it out and make a new one, whereas the plastic one will need to be washed regularly.

In order for your snake to feel secure in his hide box, he must be able to touch the sides of his box when he's curled up. A big box and small snake won't work.

The water dish needs to be heavy enough so your snake can't get his nose under it and tip it over. Heavy dog dishes work great. They are inexpensive, easy to clean, and come in different sizes.

Snakes are cold-blooded (they get their heat from the environment) so you will have to heat your snake's cage. The air temperature of the cage should be 77 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 68 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

There are several different ways to heat the cage. You can use tungsten light bulbs. A couple of 75-watt bulbs are usually enough but be sure to check the temperature with a thermostat. Place the bulbs at one end of the cage. This way if one end gets too warm, your snake can mover to the other cooler end. Also, make sure to cover the light bulbs with wire mesh. Your snake may cuddle up to the light bulbs and could get burned.

Heating lamps can be use to heat the cage. The problem with this method is the air tends to get dry. Your snake needs humidity and the lamps may make the air too dry.

The most popular form of heating is an under the cage reptile heating pad. They can be found in pet stores or online and are relatively inexpensive. Get one that covers only half the cage so your snake can move on and off it, heating and cooling himself when he wants. Be sure to get one with a thermostat.

Snakes are nocturnal but they are still influenced by the day-night cycle so you'll need to light his cage in the day time. Fluorescent bulbs that emit "daylight" or broad-spectrum light are excellent. Fluorescent bulbs don't get hot enough to burn your snake should he touch them so no wire mesh is needed around them.

Add an automatic timer to the lights so they go on and off corresponding to the daylight hours of where you live.

You will need to put bedding on the bottom of the cage. There are several different materials you can use. Newspaper or paper towels work well, making it easy to clean the cage. Just throw them out and put down new ones. Bath towels or old pieces of carpet also work well. However, they will need to be washed frequently. You will need to have a spare to use when the other one is being washed.

You can also buy commercial bedding at the pet store. It is very absorbent, keeps the smell down, and can be spot cleaned. The down side is it can be expensive.

Adding a tree branch to the cage is a good idea. Your snake will enjoy crawling on it, giving him some exercise. The branch also gives your snake something to rub against during the shedding process.

Providing a proper environment for your pet snake goes a long way to ensuring your snake is happy and healthy.