My Royal Python/ Ball python set up
Just cleaned out the royal. He has been on paper in boring quarters for a while after a mysterious mite outbreak. Seriously I don't know where they came from...the only explanation I have is they came back from the vets...
But now its time for refurnishing!
First lets start with a nice clean empty tub.
This is a 145L Really Useful Box which measures approx 80 L x 60 W x 40 D (cm). This is about the smallest size I would ever consider keeping a royal in and he will be put in something a bit bigger when I upgrade my legless army to vivs.
The tank is heated by both a heat mat (underneath the tub not in it) and a ceramic bulb on a pulse stat. The reason for having two heat sources Is because I just couldn't get the appropriate air temps with a heat mat alone. (If anybody is interested In modifying a tub for a ceramic it needs to be well thought out to make sure it safe for the snake and not a fire hazard so message me if you want to know more about how I did that.)
-Next I added a thin layer of orchid bark.
Then the two hides and the heaviest rocks (If you put lots of substrate down before heavy items there is a risk of the snake burrowing under them and injuring itself.) I like using large pieces of slate because its heavy enough that if arranged well even a clumsy royal wont be able to knock it over. A nice piece of slate on the hot hide also keeps the stat probe firmly in place inside the hot hide.
-I then add more substrate to make sure the snake can dig a bit (but not under anything heavy) and the other furnishings. The pebbles and fake plants (which will no doubt be scattered everywhere by tomorrow) just provide some different textures which are enriching for the snake.
It may look there's not enough " floor " but when you think about it even a terrestrial snake like a royal in the wild wouldn't think twice about crawling over a rock or log even twice as high as this stuff... 40 or even 60 cm is viewed as quite a decent amount of height for a tub/viv but really it's nothing to them.
That's all ! Have a bonus photo of Solo the python exploring his new digs!