fuckyeahballpythons:

ratfarm:

My Ball Python, Monty, in her planted tank after a watering. This is from a while back so it’s changed a bit, it has moss and a layer of autumn leaves that are crumbling into mulch.

Both my snakes have planted tanks and they are more active in them. I’m experimenting with a bioactive system that composts poop and other organic matter (such as spent foliage). There are earthworms and isopods (pill bugs) to aid these natural processes.

Hey, this is a really pretty set up but this is not how you should be doing a planted terrarium for a reptile and definitely not a sufficient enclosure for a BP.

I don’t know what kind of soil you used but it looks like potting soil which should be avoided as it usually contains additives to aid in plant growth but are considered extremely unhealthy for reptiles. Most naturalistic terrariums use an some variant of an ABG mix which will work for BPs as well. I’m fairly certain that you should also have a drainage layer in a planted terrarium.

I would also strongly advice against encouraging a bioactive system and allowing bugs to be in a terrarium that’s intended for a BP. This is going to encourage a lot of bacterial growth which can make your snake ill and cause scale rot in the future. It’s also highly possible that earthworms and pill bugs are carrying their own bacteria and even parasites as well, especially if these were collected out in your yard. 

You also need more hides than just this one flower pot. Chances are the reason why your BP is being so active right now is because it cannot find a spot where it feels comfortably hidden and is still searching. You can make very nice naturalistic hides yourself fairly easily and cheaply (x x x). Or simply buying a shallow flower pot, overturning it, and drilling a hole that’s an inch wider than the thickest part of your snake through the side would work too. 

Your heating also leads something to be desired. Heat lamps tend sap out moisture in the environment so I don’t recommend them for BPs, also they will not provide the proper lighting to maintain those plants either, but belly heat is not likely an option either. You should probably try a “radiant” method of heating with either flexwatt/THG heat tape mounted on the side or radiant heat panel or ceramic heat emitter, an RHP will likely be the most effective though. 

I don’t know that much more on creating and maintaining a planted terrarium so if I have any followers with more experience in that area, any added input would be great.