I am a noob to reptiles and wanted to start a 20g ball python terrium, just wanted to know some tips and help on how to setup the tank and how to care for it, before i get one.
wanting to get into reptiles
- Thread starter monster_frontosa
- Start date
Well the setup is pretty easy
Just take the tank, add adequate substrate, like aspen, bark chips, coco husk, or cypress mulch for some examples. I personally recommend newspaper for ease of cleaning. You add a secure hide on each side. Put a water bowl on one side. Stick on an under tank heating pad on the side opposite the side with the bowl. Setup the thermostat or rheostat for temperature controlling purposes. And add a top. Also if keeping it in a tank, you should cover the back and sides with a dark background to help the snake feel more secure.
Or the alternative, which is what I use, is to use a plastic tub. Get the tub, add the heat pad and temp controller to one side. Then add newspaper, or other substrate, and a water bowl. Hides are generally not needed for larger bp's because the tub is usually opaque, but for younger or more skittish snakes, you can add a hide or two.
Also, for both setups, don't forget to get a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temperature of the inside of the tank/tub right above the heat pad.
Just take the tank, add adequate substrate, like aspen, bark chips, coco husk, or cypress mulch for some examples. I personally recommend newspaper for ease of cleaning. You add a secure hide on each side. Put a water bowl on one side. Stick on an under tank heating pad on the side opposite the side with the bowl. Setup the thermostat or rheostat for temperature controlling purposes. And add a top. Also if keeping it in a tank, you should cover the back and sides with a dark background to help the snake feel more secure.
Or the alternative, which is what I use, is to use a plastic tub. Get the tub, add the heat pad and temp controller to one side. Then add newspaper, or other substrate, and a water bowl. Hides are generally not needed for larger bp's because the tub is usually opaque, but for younger or more skittish snakes, you can add a hide or two.
Also, for both setups, don't forget to get a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temperature of the inside of the tank/tub right above the heat pad.
Royals can be quite difficult feeders and many wont feed for weeks on end, in the wild they will naturally live in rodent burrows which they find so i would personnally use either a Faunarium or a Really Useful Box, one of the 9litre ones, they want to feel enclosed. As the snake grows it can then go into larger accomodation.
You could use a 20gallon glass aquarium but glass doesnt do a very good job of holding heat and its quite difficult to make it snake-proof.
You will need a heat pad and a thermostat so that you can set the heatpad to a temperature and regulate it. I'd keep it on a substrate of Aspen as its cheap, absorbant and soft.
Go for a couple of hides, one on the warm side and the other on the cool side, and get a few plants and a branch aswell and try to give him as much cover as possible to help him feel secure.
You could use a 20gallon glass aquarium but glass doesnt do a very good job of holding heat and its quite difficult to make it snake-proof.
You will need a heat pad and a thermostat so that you can set the heatpad to a temperature and regulate it. I'd keep it on a substrate of Aspen as its cheap, absorbant and soft.
Go for a couple of hides, one on the warm side and the other on the cool side, and get a few plants and a branch aswell and try to give him as much cover as possible to help him feel secure.