Hi guys,
So currently my male BP, is in a Viv thats appropriate for his size, but I do want to upgrade him into something like a
4x3x1.5
Essentially a 4ft wide by 3ft high Viv, and I’m curious as to whether he would actually use the height if I make sure there’s clear path ways and the branches will support him and hold him steady?
But I’m wondering would a 2ft high be just as good provided the climbing would be lower and less potential.
Just want opinions and advice, I want to upgrade but unfortunately length and depth can’t be the upgrade but height definitely can
I’d even think of adding in shelves to give some respite in higher parts of the 3ft viv
He most likely would, a lot of people offer their BPs so-called sky hides, which are hides placed on the ceiling of the enclosure, and in most cases the BPs love them. That being said, snakes are individuals, with individual preferences, so it’s hard to say until you try it, but it’s never a bad idea to give them the option to choose for themselves
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I thought this, I mean I’ll be honest his current Viv is about a ft high, and I hate it because he climbs one of his logs and climbs his glass sometimes when he’s really exploring and I feel like if I add the height he’d basically be a perching ball 
and just be climbing all night he’s very explorative and which a higher Viv I’d be able to create a much nicer environment for him
Do you let him free roam supervised? If he’s really that explorative you might want to open his door and give him the option to come out and explore, supervised, of course. Don’t force him out of his enclosure, just give him the option to come out. That’s probably the some of the best mental health enrichment you can give.
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We do let him free roam, he enjoys it but tbh I’m having rows on Reddit right now for them if “it’s not 4x2x2 then get rid of you BP you worthless owner”
My whole point in this question is this, I have a 4x1.5x1.5, it works he’s happy (in terms of he explores and isn’t showing signs of stress or boredom) however as an owner I’d be silly to think never upgrade but I don’t have the 2ft depth available to house that size so in my mind a 4x3x1.5 is the next best thing, more climbing more exploring
I mean I’m on Reddit getting told Ball Pythons ARE NOT semi arboreal??? And then being told it has to be a 4x2x2
Bigger is better in 90% of the cases, so if you are able to upgrade then there’s no good reason not to give it a go imo. 4x2x2 is the ideal size, but I don’t think it’s bad to keep it in something with different dimensions, given that you’re still able to provide everything it needs in terms of heating, humidity, and enrichment. In any case, i believe the 2 feet minimum requirement is partly based on the fact that they’re often kept in PVC-enclosures where the heating would have to be put on the inside, which, along with a nice thick layer of substrate, would be difficult to fit in anything shorter.
Semi-arboreal is a bit of an indistinct term, but regardless, there’s plenty of proof out there that BPs will utilise the height if given the chance.
Ok, your first problem is you’re on Reddit. Reddit and Facebook are known for being very toxic. You don’t need that, you don’t deserve that. Stick with this MorphMarket Reptile Community. We don’t judge and we love to advise, hopefully based on experience.
It’s been said that given the opportunity to climb, BPs will take advantage of that. Why not give them that option? Hopefully it’s added enrichment, better mental health and lower stress.
I like your logic about a 4x3x1.5. Problem is, that’s an odd size and I’m not sure it’s available if you’re looking to buy and not build. 4x2x2 is a much more standard size that’s readily available from multiple vendors. But I get that that’s not an option for you. If the 4x3x1.5 is a good footprint for you and you can dial in the husbandry, go for it. BPs seem to be very sensitive to stress, typically presented by a lack of appetite, so keep an eye out for that.
Stressing over enclosure size is a quality of all good keepers. We should all want to give our pets ideal living quarters, not just the best we can afford. Big breeders will tell you their BPs thrive in their tight rack system. That might be true, but are they truly “happy” (whatever that means to a BP). Are they at the lowest stress level possible? It’s difficult to say, it’s not like they can speak English. Big breeders using tight tubs might be right on spot as far as optimal BP health. The good ones believe they are doing right by their animals, hopefully they are, their heart is in the right place. I’m not bashing them. Anything bigger than a 4x2x2 might be wasted space to the average BP. Until the day comes that we can actually look into the mind of a BP, we can only guess. I know high levels of cortisone is associated with stress, but who’s going to pull blood monthly to test for that. Unfortunately there are many strongly opinionated people on Facebook/Reddit that don’t understand there are many ways to skin a cat. They think because their way works for them, then it’s the ONLY way for everyone.
Anyway, give the 4x3x1.5 a shot. It’ll take a little time for your BP to settle in. And it’ll take a little time for you to dial in the husbandry. Let us know how it’s going 6 months in. Who knows, you might have something to teach us about giving BPs some height.
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This is the response I’ve been waiting for,
As for difficulty finding that size I’m in the Uk and there’s a company that makes odd sizes like the one I’ve proposed in all different types of materials
I’d be going for standard wood and I’ve since come to the same conclusion, every post on MM community is met with fairness and honestly mixed with trying to help rather than show superiority, Reddit is filled with opinions that if you differ from then you’re a red flag to be shut down
I’m going for the 4x3x1.5 and I’ll keep this community posted when my ball is in it, up until now with his set up he’s never missed a meal and is extremely docile and friendly so giving him more room with added clutter for more security will only help him in my eyes
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This. While I don’t doubt that there are good, knowledgeable people who use Reddit (and Facebook), the overall culture in reptile groups on those platforms tends to be very judgemental and black-and-white. Either you keep your snakes in one very specific way, or you’re an animal abuser. There’s often not much space for nuance, or much willingness to acknowledge that there can be more than one “correct” way to do something.
I think the dimensions you mentioned could work well, so long as the enclosure is outfitted properly. If you bp likes to climb, he’ll probably enjoy the extra height. Only real issue I see is that, as @halfmoonlakeherps mentioned, it might be hard to purchase an enclosure with those dimensions. But if you can find one or if you plan to build one, then I say go for it.
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I definitely appreciate this community every post I’ve put on here enhances and helps me build my knowledge in a healthy way as opposed to Reddit and facebook, that makes me feel like I’m banging my head against a wall
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Glad we could help. Be sure to let us know how it works out.
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They are not classified as semi arboreal. They are heavy bodied constrictors that like to ambush hunt in burrows.
A reticulated python would be a semi-arboreal example… But often they are obese in captivity. They should be ‘lean and mean’
That said… They have been known to climb on occasion. Like in the wet season if the ground is flooding. If you give them the opportunity you might have one who enjoys the enrichment.
You want to make sure that this enrichment is safe though, which is absolutely possible in a 4x2x2’. Anything taller that 4’ can be dangerous. And I would make sure you are there to supervise any jungle gyms or anything that height so they don’t have a heavy fall and break a rib.
The reason that they are resisting on the 1.5’ is most likely they feel like your snake may not have enough space to comfortably turn or coil? Which is definitely odd.
I tend to stick around here and avoid a lot of reddit or Facebook groups because they can become a very close minded group just echoing the same things.
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