How to Build a Snake Cage for a Ball Python

Ball pythons (Python regius) are popular reptile pets because of their docile nature and ease of care. Ball pythons get their name from their inclination to curl their body into a "ball" when frightened in the wild. They are gentile snakes that grow to an average length of 4 feet. They are readily available from captive breeders and creating an environment that will keep your ball python healthy is a simple task requiring only a few basic components.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Newspaper
  • Hiding box
  • Small tree branches
  • Water dish
  • Heat source
  • Bleach solution
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that the aquarium you plan to use has a secure top with a latching or locking mechanism. Ball pythons are strong and despite their size can force their way out of small openings.

    • 2

      Mix four ounces of bleach with one gallon of water to create a mild bleach solution. Sterilize the aquarium with the bleach solution and then rinse well with water. Ball pythons, like most snakes, are susceptible to skin and bacterial infections, so keeping a clean enclosure from the beginning is imperative to your ball python's health.

    • 3

      Sterilize the tree branches, water dish and hiding box. The plastic components can be sterilized using the bleach solution. Tree branches should be cleaned and then sterilized by placing them in the oven and heated to 200 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. This will help prevent any foreign elements from causing health issues for your python.

    • 4

      Add newspaper to cover the base of the aquarium. Though its appearance may not be attractive, newspaper will allow you to monitor the behavior of your ball python as well as observe the fecal matter to ensure the health of your ball python. Newspaper and prompt cleaning of fecal will help you make sure your ball python remains healthy from the beginning.

    • 5

      Place the hiding box, water dish and climbing elements to the cage and then arrange the heating source. The heat source should be added to the section of the enclosure opposite of the hiding box. An under-tank heater or a shop light with an incandescent bulb work well as a heat source. Temperatures in the cage should remain around 80 to 85 degrees; the basking area near the heat source should be around 90 degrees. The use of heat rocks should be avoided as they often develop hot spots that can cause severe burns on ball pythons.

    • 6

      Introduce your ball python to the cage and allow it to settle in, undisturbed, for the first few weeks. Once the health of your python is confirmed---eating on a regular basis with stools that appear normal---then you can experiment with the appearance of the enclosure and add more natural substrates, plants and other accessories.