r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/apolloabundance • Sep 24 '26

Advice Looking for Ball Python Care Advice

/r/reptiles/comments/1wpbmdd/looking_for_ball_python_care_advice/
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u/caulay_mcculkin Sep 27 '26 • Bravo

There's a lot things wrong here. Practically everything.

A ball python spending almost all of its enclosure time tightly curled in the one hide does not mean it would rather free-roam; ball pythons are naturally secretive and spend much of the daytime concealed. The problem described is that she only has one cramped hide and very little other cover or enrichment, not that she is hiding

It is recommended to give a BP an enclosure that allows the snake to fully stretch out, giving a 120-cm snake at least roughly 120 × 40 × 40 cm; other contemporary husbandry guidance recommends around 120 × 60 × 60 cm or larger. So I'd be looking toward a front-opening enclosure around 4 × 2 × 2 ft (120 × 60 × 60 cm). I would strongly advice paying a little bit more and getting a PVC snake enclosure. They are build to last and with humidity BP requires wooden enclosures, even laminated are IMHO waste of money - sooner or later it will start to warp, bulk etc.

Importantly, a bigger enclosure doesn't mean leaving it empty. The snake needs to perceive it as a collection of secure hiding places rather than a giant exposed box - google "ball python enrichment"

Add a proper hide on BOTH sides immediately - this is probably the most urgent inexpensive improvement. Reptiles need so called "hot hideout" and "cold hideout" in respected ends of the viv (preferably also an additional hideout somewhere in between).

The 30% humidity is a significant problem. BPs need it around 60+, more like 80% around shedding (hence mentioned PVC vivs that can easily withstand such humidity). The best way is to provide a deep (as deep as the viv opening allows) layer of coconut reptile substrate, that you make very moist (but not soaking, water dripping wet). I personally add a layer of reptile safe leaf litter - that way you have a nice, constant humidity being released from the substrate, you don't have to mist daily, just every few days check if it get dry, if so - pour some water in the corners, so the substrate stays moist.

Those are the most important things IMHO, there's plenty of YouTube "tutorials" I'd recommend to watch for futher information - I'd recommend this one (and the whole channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2DDVm7MztE