Pet Snake Habitats for a Ball Python

Wild snakes get what they need from their natural habitat, and pet snakes must be able to satisfy these same needs in captivity. In the case of ball pythons (Python regius), these resources include proper temperatures, hiding spots, substrate, water and appropriate cage space. If provided with a quality habitat, ball pythons can live exceptionally long lives; the oldest recorded snake was a ball python that was held in captivity for 48 years before its death.

  1. Natural Habitat

    • Wild ball pythons live in western and central Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Preferring open forests and savannas, ball pythons spend most of their day in underground burrows and termite mounds. Workers often find ball pythons when clearing the land in forest-edge habitats and agricultural areas.

    Common Features

    • All ball python habitats must provide a few key elements. Create a basking spot by placing a heat lamp or pad at one end of the habitat, allowing your snake to access cooler temperatures at the other side of the cage if he desires. The warm side of the cage should be approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cooler side should be in the high 70s to low 80s. Include substrates like paper towels, newspaper, cypress mulch or aspen shavings. Water bowls can be simple or elaborate, as long as they are clean and always accessible. Make sure there's at least one hiding spot. Natural materials like logs and stones, or man-made materials like cardboard boxes, make acceptable hiding places.

    Naturalistic or Utilitarian

    • Sometimes, reptile owners design elaborate cages to mimic the animal̵7;s natural habitat. If you like, include live or fake plants, dirt substrates and real logs in your ball python̵7;s habitat -- but these items are largely for the your benefit, and the snake may destroy the furnishings. Ball pythons will thrive just as well in completely utilitarian enclosures, featuring paper substrate, plastic hides and ceramic water bowls. In either case, naturalistic or utilitarian, you must supply the animal̵7;s basic needs.

    Aquariums

    • Aquarium habitats fitted with screen lids are popular choices for housing ball pythons, though the cages have a number of drawbacks. Glass is heavy and fragile, which creates additional labor and headaches when cleaning it. Additionally, glass isn̵7;t a good insulator, which increases the cost and difficulty of heating the habitat. Despite these drawbacks, 30- to 40-gallon aquariums are acceptable habitats for ball pythons. Many keepers decorate their aquariums elaborately, but they function more effectively when decorated sparsely.

    Commercial Snake Cages

    • Commercial cages are usually manufactured out of opaque plastic and feature front-opening glass doors -- a design that allow the snakes to feel more comfortable than in an all-glass cage. The plastic construction also means commercial cages are easier to move and clean than glass aquariums. Sometimes, plastic cages contain built-in lamp shrouds or spaces for heat panels. Either of these features help to establish proper placement and, therefore, the establishment of a good thermal gradient. Plastic cages work well for naturalistic or utilitarian styles. Use a cage with at least 4 to 6 feet of floor space, though they needn̵7;t offer much height; 12 inches will suffice.

    Storage Box Habitat

    • Most professional breeders use plastic storage boxes for ball python habitats. While these storage boxes make acceptable habitats, they require more experience to heat, ventilate and secure than other cage styles do. While hobbyists can overcome these obstacles, the benefits do not offset the challenges. Plastic storage boxes work wonderfully in drawer-style, heated rack units; however, rack-like units make little sense for a single pet snake. Plastic storage boxes are generally furnished in a utilitarian fashion, as the enclosures don̵7;t display well.