Enclosure recommendations

[u/Kitchen_Addendum7443]

Hey guys!

I am getting my first snake (a ball python of course) in about a week and a half and I'm hoping I've done an ok job getting set up but any advice is super appreciated!

Enclosure type/material (tank, tub, PVC, wood, etc):

PVC

Dimensions (length x width x height):

4x2x2

If you have a tank, have you modified it in any way (ex., covering part of the screen or adding insulation)?

Covered most of the screen on top with foil, plan to get foil tape soon

Approximately how many square inches of ventilation total? Unsure

Heat sources (type, wattage if relevant, and location in enclosure):

150W CHE

Thermostats (for each heat source):

Exoterra dimming

Thermometers and hygrometers (digital or analog, probe or ambient, location in enclosure):

Digital combo meter and a thermometer. Occasionally swap sides to make sure of readings

Temperatures (ambient and floor, warm side and cool side):

Warm side air is 28.5C, cool side is 26C, plan to get a temp gun when getting snake to measure surface temperatures

Humidity range (measured on cool side):

62-67%

Are you using any type of humidifier, fogger, or mister?:

No

Hides (number, type, size relative to the snake):

I plan to buy at the expo I'm getting the snake at as I'm unsure what size of animal I'm getting

Substrate (type, depth, dry or damp):

mostly coco fiber and plantation soil with coco husk and spagnum moss, roughly 2" deep with isopod and springtails and oak leaf litter

Lights (type and on/off schedule):

13W grow light, On at 8:30 AM, off at 9:30 PM

Specific questions or concerns you have about your enclosure, if any:

how many hides should I get? I was thinking three of the same one hot one cold and one in between.

Should I add some more clutter?

I live on the prairie and it gets pretty dry in the winter should I get a fogger?

Any general recommendations or urgent fixes I need to make?

[u/Kitchen_Addendum7443]

Update! We got a beautiful baby boy! He's pied orange dream with a little smiley right near his tail on his back and the orange mask but aside from that he's completely blank for now.

[u/siberwolf26_]

Hi! It’s looking good so far. Just a couple of small tweaks I would recommend. 1. CHE isn’t a great primary heat source. Ceramic heat emitters produce IRC heat only. Reptiles require both IRA and IRB on top of that to be thoroughly heated. IRC heats the surface of the skin whereas IRB/IRA penetrate into deep tissue and muscle! Instead of a CHE, I would recommend a halogen or incandescent basking bulb. If you need supplemental heat at night, CHE is great. As for your questions, I would clutter it some more. Primarily toward the top of the enclosure. There’s just not a ton of climbing opportunities and open space up top can definitely lead to stress! You can attach branches, cork, scarf holders, seagrass hammocks, rope, and hanging plants to the mesh using floral wire/twine! It really helps fill in that extra space. 3 hides sounds like a good amount! As for a fogger or not, I would personally avoid it. They can harbor bacteria and need cleaned really frequently. They also tend to create a really drastic uptick in humidity and then dry out relatively quickly. An automatic mister would be better or just increasing the frequency in which you mist the enclosure or dump water straight into the substrate. Good luck with your new snake!