Second-
That cage is HUGE!!!! most likely your ball python will be going through a lot of stress with a cage of that size (im guessing it is like a 90 or so gallon bow front, way to big for your ball python). If you wont want to give your snake a smaller more appropriately sized cage, i suggest making a cage divider (opaque) to make the cage a more adequate size. Also tape something that is opaque onto all the sides (tape is on the OUTSIDE of the aquarium) and 1/2 of the front to offer more security for your snake, if you can find transluscent contact paper use that for the front.

Third-Get some real hides. The half log thing shouldn’t even be considered a hide, and that black thing is way to big. The snake should be very tightly coiled in its hide (something dark, small, and easily cleanable/disposable is best. Most of the stuff you get at the petstores are crap). I would use flower pot bases (either terra-cotta or plastic) for a snake that size use a base 6-7" in diameter.

The temps should be 90 hot, 80 cool. What setting did you set your heat pad to?

Yes, the cage is currently too big and probably stressful on your snake. Go to a garden center or Walmart(I found mine there) and buy a bunch of clay pot bottoms and lay them out throughout the cage to give the snake a good choice of hiding spots(knock holes in them first, like shown in the link). Also maybe you could buy some fake greenery like plastic vines and leaves you can get at pet shops, or craft shops(cheaper if you can find them) to give more coverage. Basically, crowd the cage so it looks more secure. I’m all for supplying room for your bp to roam and explore at night, but with not much coverage, it might stress out.

I have always been curious about the validity of a large enclosure stressing a snake out. If you have a huge open space and nowhere for your snake to hide then I can see it providing a lot of unwanted stress. However, if on the other hand you have a larger enclosure but plenty of hides and good husbandry, then why would your snake get terribly stressed? Afterall, they live in the wild which is... well... HUGE. Otherwise they must get terribly stressed in nature, right?

That said, I’ve never tested this myself and have always kept my hatchling snakes in small enclosures until they were at least a year old.

Opinions?

Reasons for smaller cages:
-Snakes are thigmatrophic
-Larger cages instill the idea of the snake having many predators (for a snake, almost 100% of your predators come from above)
-Smaller cages are easier to heat (in some peoples opinions)
-Not as bright as a larger cage (it depends on the type of cage)
-Easier to monitor your snake for health problems
-Many smaller (and skittish) species of snakes tend to do better when kept in small and dark environments

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"...when i first got here, i could have critisized everyone on here for the things they said. you’re the only one so far that i’ve seen that actually knows what he’s talking about."
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why say something like that? Do you know everything? I highly doubt that. The thing that erks me is that you said "everyone", not "some" or, "most" which still would have been wrong ... but everyone, other then one person, knows nothing ...

hmmm

i suppose i shouldn’t have been "harsh," if thats what you’re saying. i actually have no problem with anyone on this site. i just think that theres some false information going around.

Love,

Super Smash, my original post was to Pelota, she said I was giving advice that wasn’t good for snakes.

go here: http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites/TheWarAgainstSnakeMites.html

But seriously, could you tell me when I said something that is not good for a snake?

And I am not self-conscious, alot of people will be like oh shes a kid, don’t listen to her. I have a problem with you, and supersmash.