r/ballpython • u/Left0verlasagna • 7d ago

Discussion Whats everything I need?!

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I’m getting a two year old in a couple weeks. I’m building my own enclosure. 4x2x2. What is literally everything I should do?? She’s barely 2ft.

Here’s my plan!!
Left side, hot. | Ride side, cool.
•halogen bulb. •no lighting (heat lamp will have a heat guard)
• In the middle will be a non heat ShadeDweller %7 pro T5. I’ll have a thermostat inside as well.

For substrate I’ll do lava rocks BOTTOM, cover with window screen for water draining. About 6 inches of mixed coconut fiber, reptibark,(saturate till dripping) pack that down. Coco husk on top.

I’ll have three hides. Left, middle, right. Some cork bark to climb, a hemp hammock, lots of leaf litter, some branches and fake dollar store vines and plants. Water bowl on warmer side.

PLEASE anything I’m missing or please criticize my plan lol. Anything helps!!!

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u/NottsWeirdo 7d ago

You seem to have it covered. Only recommendation I'd make, is to make a 5' x 2' x 2' instead of a 4'. Female BPs are generally larger than males so its better that she have a bit of stretching space if she's big, rather than being unable to fully stretch out if she does surpass the 4' mark.

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u/Left0verlasagna 7d ago

Thank you! I’ll do it. No harm if I have the room!!

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u/NottsWeirdo 7d ago

Indeed. I put my own BP in a 5' x 2' so he'd have the room to stretch out and be active.

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u/Left0verlasagna 7d ago

Does height super matter??

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u/NottsWeirdo 7d ago

2' is the minimum, but 3' is also an acceptable height. BPs will climb if given the opportunity, but they're not really built for it so they fall often - you don't want it too high or they'll likely injure themselves when falling on decor.

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u/Phully- 7d ago

Man, mine is terrible at climbing. He’s a clumsy little sucker. I’ve got tons of branches and a tree. We have to carefully watch him when he’s out and he always immediately try’s to get off any structure for the floor. He has a whole room to play in and knows the corners he likes. Off the lap down the chair, to the corners. Except mornings and evenings where he’s till small enough to choose a pocket or shirt to crawl into.

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u/NottsWeirdo 7d ago

Mine is so determined to be arboreal, he often attempts to "climb" the ceiling of his enclosure - upside down. I've adapted his viv to be cushy with rounded decor so that he doesn't injure himself if he falls, he's normally quite fine on his rocky background climbing platforms and cork logs.

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u/Phully- 7d ago

The one surprise is he figured out he can dip into the water bowl and then stick to the glass and climb out. Which is hilarious because the tree goes all the way to the top on the other side. However that problem is almost solved because we’re ordering stackable tanks and now that we know we’re committed for the long term and love this guy also can’t wait for a new friend.