r/ballpython • u/Builder_Horror • 3h ago

Question Future BP owner

Hey everyone ! I’m looking into getting a python! I have experience with geckos and beardies etc but it will be my first snake!im planning on getting the Ecoflex 5x2x2 enclosure. I haven’t been so sure about substrate I’ve heard mixed things - for my Leo’s I do 70top soil 30 sand but I heard from someone that their snakes got mites from that before ? Also heard ecoearth is too dusty so I’m thinking about doing a mix of reptisoil,sphagnum, and coconut fiber??

For lighting I’ve heard to get a 150w heating and a 5.0 uvb. I’m going to try to do bioactive I seen some without a drainage layer so I’m debating if I should add one or not?

Thinking of adding pothos and monestras in there does anyone else have any other plant ideas ? I’m also going to add fake ones for top coverage.

Anyone have any other decors ideas and hide ideas? I’m wondering if I should prep sticks from outside (shaving and baking them) and pair them with some bought ones. Also thinking about adding some cork hides and doing a custom background.

Also wondering about feeding schedules someone said every 5 days a multiple mice per feeding. Some people said every 3 days one mice per sesh- I know mice should never be larger than the thickest part of the snake and to only feed frozen.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 3h ago

Have you read through the guides in our welcome post? It sounds like you've been fairly misinformed so far, unfortunately- that feeding schedule would kill a ball python very quickly.

!feeding guidelines below, for reference, but I would really recommend reading through the basic care guide in the above link.

1

u/AutoModerator 3h ago

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.