Thank you thank you thank you! I am so incredibly happy there are people like you who don't put their snakes in drawers. You're amazing and I'm glad you keep spreading information to people.
maybe you could do a video on all of the places where you buy your items, vivs, hides, bedding and of course the snakes themselves. Thanks for the cool video BTW
It's refreshing to hear someone with the same philosophy I have, and I like how yours is set up with lots of natural looking plants and rocks and vines. I'm planning on getting a large enclosure with a radiant heat panel and moss, ferns, and various plants. It took me awhile to find someone to build the kind of enclosure I want, but I finally located someone with a small business who also does payment plans. I can hardly wait for Winter and the high heating bills to be over so I can start making those payments. My female really needs something like this, and I have another female that is growing quickly. Her mother was big, so I think she just has the genes for it. She's not overweight, just a really strong Ball Python on the large end of the spectrum. On my first cage I'm having a ledge built into it so my oldest female can have an upper level when she wants to be up there. If that goes well I'll probably have the same design made for my younger female. I think giving them places to climb is really important. That is the one biggest drawback of rack systems; they're very short from top to bottom of each tub and there's nowhere for a snake to get out of its mess when it goes to the bathroom, and the headroom is pretty cramped.
So nice to hear from someone with the same thought process! It’s great to hear what you’re doing for your snake! I also am looking forward to winter ending. My heating bill is high right now 😂
My western hognose loves to climb too. You can really tell the difference in their body when they've spent time climbing as opposed to when they have nothing to climb. Just got my first ball python, a little mojave female and checking your video for reassurance
No problem I have been waiting for a new video for a while lol, very patiently!! 😂 but before I got my Royals last year I watched literally every video and it was a nice change to have someone in the UK to watch
Love your videos man! Always high quality, and I loved that you mentioned tubs. Personally I’m against them and find them not suitable for snakes bigger than 6 months but to each their own. Gorgeous cage keep up the good work! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Hey I know I’m a lil late but using a heat mat as a primary heating source is a much better day than a heat lamp because ball/royal pythons require belly heat
That’s wildly incorrect unfortunately. Think about how that works in nature. The sun heats the ground from above and creates a warm surface, but the more you burrow, the cooler it gets. Royal pythons burrow and use hides to thermoregulate, so encountering heat as they move down is entirely unnatural. Wild royal pythons also bask frequently in the late afternoon sun. So please don’t spread misinformation on my channel thanks :) If you’re curious, feel free to ask questions, more than happy to share the facts.
@@JensensReptiles wow I’ve always been told to use a heat mat and I’ve never really had a problem with it tbf and when I got my first royal python all the heating research I did said use a heat mat so that’s what I’ve done all these years and it’s always worked I have 9 happy healthy royals
Well, whatever works for you. I’ve seen it cause horrendous burns due to thermal blocking and serious digestive issues. I much prefer a natural approach, but your pets are yours and my pets are mine. So we can agree to disagree!
@@JensensReptiles well thanks for telling about the heating anyway I have always only wanted the best for my animals so from now on I think I will go for the more natural approach and I really appreciate that
Good having you back mate! I reckon the problem with royals coming to space is that most advice is giving by breeders. They obviously, if not having major assets, have some restrictions. What do you think about the argument regarding termite hills as a hiding spot, being a small space in the first place?
Thanks mate! Royals love a good termite mound, same as a rabbit burrow or any other convenient hole in the ground. But they don’t stay there for longer than a couple days at a time. The great thing about the wild is always having the option to move I suppose!
I’ve not across many that are big enough, and they can’t be heated correctly either. But each to their own. I’m not telling people how to keep their pets, just here to show how I prefer to keep mine
Great video! I use the 4ft viv exotic viva+ for my snakes. So much better than the old models. I absolutely agree with the ceramic heaters, as mats heat the floor but the air is cold, and they just don’t move because they want to be sat on the heat. Warmth comes from above in the wild anyway so I think it’s more natural. But everyone always disagrees and prefers mats. You’ve got a beautiful snake too 😊
hi i want to change from the heat mat to a ceramic heater and i was wondering what watt i should use I've been looking for the answer but can't seem to find it, any chance you could help?
@@rileighturner7867 it depends on how big your enclosure is really. If it’s small you don’t want to use something with a high watt. My enclosures are four feet long and I use 100watt bulbs that don’t produce any light. If the wattage is too high with certain thermostats it can cause the bulb to blow. So I tend to use anything from 50-100, hope this helps! Oh and don’t forget to use a heat lamp guard! Or the snake can get nasty burns.
@@Chloe_Batty hiya thank you for this i have a 3 foot viv and I purchased a 100 watt bulb as that’s all I could get but of course it will be on a thermostat and I ordered a guard and had to send it back and order a new one and it was really long and was practically touching the floor of the viv haha
@@Chloe_Batty also what thermostat do you use as I currently have a on/off one and I know this it bad but it’s all I have at the moment so just need to know for when I have the money to pick up a new one, thanks
Welcome back! The way you care for your snakes is amazing🖤 My question is: have you ever considered using or worked with radiant heat panels? Specifically for royal pythons?
Thanks so much! I use a radiant heat panel for my rainbow boa. They’re great for enclosures where you want moderate heat and high humidity, so I’m not sure id ever use one with royals :)
Thank you so much! :) It may be a while before I get my snake, but I'm always trying stay updated on care. Also, I just have to say that all of your enclosures are always so beautifully decorated. Goals, honestly.
Hi I'm looking at getting a exo terra tank with a canopy on top for lighting and heating for a ball python which bulb would you recommend for this setup ? Many thanks
I just got surprised with a new snake I’ve got a heat Mat we haven’t got the snake yet but it’s ready to be paid and picked up I’ve got a heat mat a thermostat and a suitably small terrarium how long until it would ruffly outgrow the terrarium
Nah, heat mats are crap, especially for a heavy bodied snake. Make sure you’re using an appropriate substrate, and spray it down and mix it every few days. Moss is a great addition to any substrate to hold some extra moisture
Nice video, thanks - I've just bought the Viva+ 3ft (86cm) vivarium for our first snake so it'll all look fairly similar to your set up hopefully. Can I ask where you bought those branches from? Is there a particular type we should go for & is it OK to use natural wood or will it cause issues with mites etc? Thanks a lot and look forward to more videos 👍🏻
Assuming you meant to write ball python? If so yeps, they’re the same. Americans call them ball pythons, here in the UK we call them royal pythons 😁 same species
I was considering buying a 4ft repti life vivarium for a baby royal, would you say this is okay or should I get a 3ft and upgrade to a 4/5ft when it’s an adult?
@@JensensReptiles amazing, thanks for the quick reply! I was hoping this would be the case. Going to get a 4x24x24 viv for a male royal to grow into. Thanks for the help 🙂
Thank you, very good infomation. 2 questions, what heat lighting brand do you use for your enclosure and do you think it would be okay to give my baby bp a 1.2 metre enclosure with lost of leave clutter and hides??
Enclosure wise, the bigger the better. As you said just make sure there’s lots of places to hide and feel secure. I use white python heating and lighting for my royals :)
Hi so pleased we’ve come across you... it seems we’ve fallen at the first hurdle and listened to the first piece of advice😬we’re picking up our baby royal python this week so have got the enclosure etc set up to acclimatise... we got a smaller one with the plan of getting a larger enclosure when he’s bigger-what do you think about this? Also it has a heat mat-which covers approx 2/3 of the floor size-again what do you think about this?
Would a zoomed ceramic heat emitter work with a zoomed reptitemp digital thermostat? For a ball python. And how does the ceramic heat emitter heat up the hot place if there is a hide. Do I just not put a hide there?
You can put a hide under the heater. It’ll still be warm underneath it. Same as if you sit by a radiator but there’s a chair in the way. Still warms up the room.
Hi Jesen, great video as usual! I currently have an empty 3ft x 2ft x2ft wooden viv. Im going to be getting a royal in a couple months time and would like to know a few little bits and bobs. Firstly, would an 150w ceramic bulb be too much for a 3ft tank if i have it on a pulse proportional thermostat or would an 100w be better? Secondly, will i have to provide a humid hide during shed, even if the substate i’ll be using will have different mosses and hold humidity well? Finally, i have a halogen bulb that says it can be used for royals on the box but i’ve heard and think that it’ll be too bright for the little fellow due to hearing that these snakes aren’t a big fan a bright lights. Thank you so much for the information in the video too!
Hey :) 150w is totally fine, that’s my preference for 3-4ft enclosures. Humid hide depends on the humidity you can achieve in your home and in the enclosure. I put some extra moss in my hides as standard so I can dampen it a little leading up to shedding. Halogens do provide a rather bright spot, but one thing you can do is attach plants to branches to provide shady spots and diffuse the lighting a little. I prefer LEDs on a dimmer so I can adjust them (they also don’t give off much heat)
Jensen's Reptiles Brilliant info cheers for that! Also in trying to budget myself as much as possible so whats the best way to treat wood found in the wild? I walk my dog a lot in wooded areas and was wondering is it easy to treat wood as all the wood in my local stores or so expensive. Thanks again!
Jensen's Reptiles Sorry i’m back again, just have one more question. Ive got the viv all setup up with the substrate. I’m using is a mix of bio life products which include forest life and bark chips. I have a large exo terra water bowl in the middle of the enclosure and it averages 50 - 60% humidity. If the humidity is already good within the viv is it still necessary to mist it? And if so how often should it be misted? Thanks again!
Very helpful video for me again mate🤣🤣, got a 4ft viv the other day don’t know if that’s a bit big?.. but I’ve gave him loads of hides & climbing space like yourself.. He’s 5 months just now & my last question would be my rooms quite cold, should I get 2 Ceramic heaters one at each end or just have the 1 heater? & if I need 2 then what thermostat would be best to use proportional wise? Not wanting to use 2 thermostats if possible.. He comes Wednesday so tomorrow is my last day of preparation really!
Jensen's Reptiles perfect mate thanks again! Been a huge help! Any certain type of bulb that’s best to go for? Going to go get some today! Hope to see more videos soon man!
Jensen's Reptiles see that’s why I prefer your help to the pet shops lol! Ended up getting the white python one too & a pulse stat, comes tomorrow so hopefully the heat is all good this time🤞🏻🤣 Thanks again mate
Hi Jensen, brilliant video and amazing setup, just wondering would the same set-up in regards to size and decor be suitable for a baby to yearling BCI? Asking because I'm leaning more towards a BCI than RP
Dan, would you recommend the deep heat projector for a 4x2x2 vivarium? Need to make some changes to my adult royal's enclosure, so I'm making it fully bioactive with UVB light and moonlight so I'm wondering if the deep heat projector. I've also heard good things about the reptile systems spotlight.
Yes they work perfectly. Heat from below is entirely unnatural and a massive way for the reptile keeping community to save money rather than take proper care of their pets. Think about how it works naturally. The sun heats the earth from above and the ground retains some heat. But if the snake burrows, it gets cooler. You want to replicate that
I've a 6 month old royal and I was going to do ceramic but then was advised I shouldn't but I don't like the thoughts of a heat matt inside a viv thanks
For my Royal Python, it is located in my room and on occasion i leave the light on to around 10pm, is that bad that he has a light source at night? Or is it okay? And also, after feeding he doesn't come out but watches for about 2-3 days (fed on Sunday - comes out fully on Wednesday/Tuesday). My royal python is about 4 months old at the moment.
Hi, I went out and bought a medium pied royal yesterday thanks to another one of your videos I saw :-) Please can you tell me what bedding you use? Thank you
I love your view on the heating pads I've been on the fence about this my boas thrive fine without but my balls have the heating pads underneath the hot side hide and I've been wondering a lot whether I should use lamp instead or both I feel like I might take the pads out and try how my boas are set up. What do you think I should do sir I really would love to know
Heating pads and boas don’t mix. Thermal blocks and burns can happen easily with a heavy bodied snake. Use a well guarded, overhead heat. More natural, better heating throughout the enclosure, and much safer for the animal
@@JensensReptiles ok sweet ill switch my ball pythons to the same way i heat the boas and i guess ill use my heat pads under the water bowls or something but you are right about that my boas do wonderful and they have never had a heat pad just heat bulb and ceramic heater if i do that my ball pythons will be just fine. Thanks good lookin out
I've started to get into snakes and I'm looking at getting a ball python. Would you say a 86×37.5×42cm viv would fit a male ball python for a while? And what's best for lighting ive been doing independent research and speaking to alot of breeders and keepers and ive found mixed opinions on heat mat vs heat lamp. Ik this video is old but I'm hoping you have time to answer these questions as I've asked so many people and have got such mixed responses.
I use overhead heating for all of my snakes. Heat mats are total crap for the animal, they either have heat or don’t with a mat. With overhead heat you achieve a proper temperature gradient throughout the enclosure and the animal can thermoregulate properly. That enclosure size is ok for a couple of years if you get a hatchling, but you’ll need to upgrade so it’s worth giving the little one more space from the get go
My viv is smaller than yours, I am also going to get a baby, a 2019 juvenile, but I am not going to keep my royal in it that long, since this will be my first snake and I am rubbish at maths I got a smaller viv than I expected it to be. Silly me thought it would be bigger in person, even though I had a measuring tape to check. But I know he will come out every day if that doesn't stress him out, and he has a second floor (a magnetic rock) to climb on so I am sure he will be fine as it is a temporary viv... I think? I have also got a lot of hiding spots for him. I have heard about snakes needing to be able to stretch out fully, and I totally agree with that. Royals are so small when they are first born, that my viv, which is 2ft if i remember correctly, should be enough, right? Also, what would you say to people that say that you NEED a heat mat for a Royal? When searching for care sheets on Royals I found some that say you should never use a heat mat for them, while some others, usually in other countries, say you should always use a heat mat... it could get quite confusing for some people who are new. Especially if they don't know the reasoning behind such things.
2ft will be OK for the time being, but I’d upgrade as soon as you can as the heat gradient will be harder to achieve in that space :) As far as heat mats go, here’s the best way of explaining it. Naturally, the sun heats the earth and creates a warm surface temperature, but royal pythons will naturally travel downward to get cooler. So with a heat mat, they move down and encounter a higher temperature. It goes against everything natural. It also doesn’t allow for a proper degree of thermoregulation as you’re either on the mat or off the mat, rather than having dissipating heat from above :) A lot of care sheets are so incorrect- but remember anyone can write a care sheet- they don’t need to pass a test :) Hope that helps! Shout if you have any questions
@@JensensReptiles OK, thanks for the advice! When I get my snake I will try to get a new viv as soon as possible! I will ask if I have any more questions. :) Yeah, that is the problem with care sheets, anyone can write one. Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense what you said with thermoregulation.
I have been doing a lot of research on royal pythons because i am thinking of getting one myself. Every where else i have had my information from it has said to use a heating mat with a thermostat, in your video you recommend the bulb. Is there much difference between the two?
A huge difference between the two. One will give you a proper thermal gradient (the bulb), while the mat will give you an unnatural warm spot and no gradient
I am worried I've gotten a too big enclosure for a young python. It's 100x50x50cm. anything smaller seemed so tiny. I will stuff it full of clutter though.
There’s no such thing as a “too big enclosure” don’t worry. Just make the space safe and secure with lots of hiding spots. You’ll have a very very happy snake
@@JensensReptiles ok thanks than that's a relief. I feel better watching a snake inside a nicely spaced environment rather than a tiny box with minimal room.
Hi Mate..enjoyed your new video I need your help as I'm having problems with my temps..I've got a 4 year old normal that was rescued.. he's in a vivexotic 4ft 6inch long viv ..W..19 inches .. H..22 inches.i have the same white python heating as you have .I need to know what should be the temps inside the hide on the hot side ? and on top please..at the moment inside the hide is 29c and on top is 34 to 35c.. the ambiance is 26 to 27 it's hard to maintain 27 like yours lol..cool end is 24 to 25c..I be greatful for your help as been trying for a week trying to get my temps like yours..
@@JensensReptiles Thanks for your your helpmate..my hide is exo terra X large hide like ones you have used...Can I ask you..your 4ft vivs what settings are your thermostats set up ? Mine is at 28c cheers mate..
That's what I usually do to..I just wanted to compare yours and mine..as my front room gets cooler because of the weather at the moment..Does vivexotic Still make 4ft by 2ft by 2ft viv as I carnt find one online.. :)
@@JensensReptiles I am going to take this video and use it on my adult pinstripe who isn't eating.. I need to make improvements and you have great advice 💕
Remember that fasting is normal in adult royals :) my two adult females will fast for up to 6 months at a time without losing any weight. It’s just a royal thing!
Cool video, but I would be careful with that skull. There shouldn’t be any openings in an enclosure your full snake can’t fit through. Potential for serious injury if he gets stuck going through a eye.
May sound like stupid question thinking switching my royals to deep heat projector what wattage do you use ? Jus trying research before hand many thanks
Thank you thank you thank you! I am so incredibly happy there are people like you who don't put their snakes in drawers. You're amazing and I'm glad you keep spreading information to people.
Thanks so much!
maybe you could do a video on all of the places where you buy your items, vivs, hides, bedding and of course the snakes themselves. Thanks for the cool video BTW
Good video! You have some lovely setups. It's obvious you love your animals. Keep uploading mate👍
Cheers dude!
Amazing! So glad you’re back. I love all your enclosures and I’m working to have more natural setups for all my animals💞
Thanks!
It's refreshing to hear someone with the same philosophy I have, and I like how yours is set up with lots of natural looking plants and rocks and vines. I'm planning on getting a large enclosure with a radiant heat panel and moss, ferns, and various plants. It took me awhile to find someone to build the kind of enclosure I want, but I finally located someone with a small business who also does payment plans. I can hardly wait for Winter and the high heating bills to be over so I can start making those payments. My female really needs something like this, and I have another female that is growing quickly. Her mother was big, so I think she just has the genes for it. She's not overweight, just a really strong Ball Python on the large end of the spectrum. On my first cage I'm having a ledge built into it so my oldest female can have an upper level when she wants to be up there. If that goes well I'll probably have the same design made for my younger female. I think giving them places to climb is really important. That is the one biggest drawback of rack systems; they're very short from top to bottom of each tub and there's nowhere for a snake to get out of its mess when it goes to the bathroom, and the headroom is pretty cramped.
So nice to hear from someone with the same thought process! It’s great to hear what you’re doing for your snake!
I also am looking forward to winter ending. My heating bill is high right now 😂
Nice to have you back! I really love your setups! Definitely gonna upgrade mine!
Thanks Bryce! Good to hear from you!
My western hognose loves to climb too. You can really tell the difference in their body when they've spent time climbing as opposed to when they have nothing to climb. Just got my first ball python, a little mojave female and checking your video for reassurance
Fantastic video as always, he looks super happy 👍
Cheers mate!
No problem I have been waiting for a new video for a while lol, very patiently!! 😂 but before I got my Royals last year I watched literally every video and it was a nice change to have someone in the UK to watch
Royal Pythons are great beginner snakes, normally friendly and very manageable.
Some guy told
Me about your videos on redit amazing by the way
Very nice set up for your royal python!
Cheers!
Good that you're back! Great setup as always.
Thanks John!
Love your videos man! Always high quality, and I loved that you mentioned tubs. Personally I’m against them and find them not suitable for snakes bigger than 6 months but to each their own. Gorgeous cage keep up the good work! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Thanks so much!
Hey man really enjoyed these vivarium videos, hope all is well and hope you give us a update soon
Hey I know I’m a lil late but using a heat mat as a primary heating source is a much better day than a heat lamp because ball/royal pythons require belly heat
That’s wildly incorrect unfortunately. Think about how that works in nature. The sun heats the ground from above and creates a warm surface, but the more you burrow, the cooler it gets. Royal pythons burrow and use hides to thermoregulate, so encountering heat as they move down is entirely unnatural. Wild royal pythons also bask frequently in the late afternoon sun. So please don’t spread misinformation on my channel thanks :)
If you’re curious, feel free to ask questions, more than happy to share the facts.
@@JensensReptiles wow I’ve always been told to use a heat mat and I’ve never really had a problem with it tbf and when I got my first royal python all the heating research I did said use a heat mat so that’s what I’ve done all these years and it’s always worked I have 9 happy healthy royals
@@JensensReptiles and I apologise for spreading that information but great video tho
Well, whatever works for you. I’ve seen it cause horrendous burns due to thermal blocking and serious digestive issues. I much prefer a natural approach, but your pets are yours and my pets are mine. So we can agree to disagree!
@@JensensReptiles well thanks for telling about the heating anyway I have always only wanted the best for my animals so from now on I think I will go for the more natural approach and I really appreciate that
Good having you back mate! I reckon the problem with royals coming to space is that most advice is giving by breeders. They obviously, if not having major assets, have some restrictions. What do you think about the argument regarding termite hills as a hiding spot, being a small space in the first place?
Thanks mate!
Royals love a good termite mound, same as a rabbit burrow or any other convenient hole in the ground. But they don’t stay there for longer than a couple days at a time. The great thing about the wild is always having the option to move I suppose!
I think rubs are great if you pack the inside with enrichment
I’ve not across many that are big enough, and they can’t be heated correctly either. But each to their own. I’m not telling people how to keep their pets, just here to show how I prefer to keep mine
Great video! I use the 4ft viv exotic viva+ for my snakes. So much better than the old models.
I absolutely agree with the ceramic heaters, as mats heat the floor but the air is cold, and they just don’t move because they want to be sat on the heat. Warmth comes from above in the wild anyway so I think it’s more natural. But everyone always disagrees and prefers mats.
You’ve got a beautiful snake too 😊
I think as long as you’re confident in what you’re doing, don’t mind about what others say. We know we’re right 😉
hi i want to change from the heat mat to a ceramic heater and i was wondering what watt i should use I've been looking for the answer but can't seem to find it, any chance you could help?
@@rileighturner7867 it depends on how big your enclosure is really. If it’s small you don’t want to use something with a high watt. My enclosures are four feet long and I use 100watt bulbs that don’t produce any light. If the wattage is too high with certain thermostats it can cause the bulb to blow. So I tend to use anything from 50-100, hope this helps!
Oh and don’t forget to use a heat lamp guard! Or the snake can get nasty burns.
@@Chloe_Batty hiya thank you for this i have a 3 foot viv and I purchased a 100 watt bulb as that’s all I could get but of course it will be on a thermostat and I ordered a guard and had to send it back and order a new one and it was really long and was practically touching the floor of the viv haha
@@Chloe_Batty also what thermostat do you use as I currently have a on/off one and I know this it bad but it’s all I have at the moment so just need to know for when I have the money to pick up a new one, thanks
Welcome back! The way you care for your snakes is amazing🖤 My question is: have you ever considered using or worked with radiant heat panels? Specifically for royal pythons?
Thanks so much! I use a radiant heat panel for my rainbow boa. They’re great for enclosures where you want moderate heat and high humidity, so I’m not sure id ever use one with royals :)
Thank you so much! :) It may be a while before I get my snake, but I'm always trying stay updated on care. Also, I just have to say that all of your enclosures are always so beautifully decorated. Goals, honestly.
Hi
I'm looking at getting a exo terra tank with a canopy on top for lighting and heating for a ball python which bulb would you recommend for this setup ?
Many thanks
So glad you're posting again! Can you do a similar video on the common boa constrictor? We just picked up a 9 mos old!
Sure thing!
Nice work mate !
Cheers Shane!
amazing video! some great inspiration for when I get a royal!
Thanks mate!
Awesome video!!! Subscribed!!!
I just got surprised with a new snake I’ve got a heat Mat we haven’t got the snake yet but it’s ready to be paid and picked up I’ve got a heat mat a thermostat and a suitably small terrarium how long until it would ruffly outgrow the terrarium
Great video! Great channel! Keep the good job!
Thank you!
How do you keep the humidity up? I have a similar vivarium but with a ceramic heat bulb but It dries out. Would I be better with a heat mat?
Nah, heat mats are crap, especially for a heavy bodied snake. Make sure you’re using an appropriate substrate, and spray it down and mix it every few days. Moss is a great addition to any substrate to hold some extra moisture
Good video and info nice viv beautiful and royal mate
Thank you!
Nice video, thanks - I've just bought the Viva+ 3ft (86cm) vivarium for our first snake so it'll all look fairly similar to your set up hopefully.
Can I ask where you bought those branches from? Is there a particular type we should go for & is it OK to use natural wood or will it cause issues with mites etc?
Thanks a lot and look forward to more videos 👍🏻
I would love to work with you on an enclosure for my beautiful boa your enclosures are perfect
bruhhh u here too? hahaha didn't expect to see a fellow cod nerd here
Thanks so much mate!
What morph is he
Hey amazing enclosure I am just wondering where you get your vivariums from
This one is from vivexotic but I also get custom builds from repti-life vivariums :)
Jensen's Reptiles okay thanks mate will have a look at them
Are bull and royal pythons the same snake ?
Assuming you meant to write ball python? If so yeps, they’re the same. Americans call them ball pythons, here in the UK we call them royal pythons 😁 same species
@@JensensReptiles yes ty bud
I was considering buying a 4ft repti life vivarium for a baby royal, would you say this is okay or should I get a 3ft and upgrade to a 4/5ft when it’s an adult?
You can start with a 4ft, the more space the better. Just provide a couple extra hides
@@JensensReptiles amazing, thanks for the quick reply! I was hoping this would be the case. Going to get a 4x24x24 viv for a male royal to grow into. Thanks for the help 🙂
Hiya Ik I’m late but I’m getting a 2 foot year old Royale ball python do u think that 32 gallon is really to much ?
What are the measurements of the enclosure. 32 gallon doesn’t mean all that much to me. But you can provide as big an enclosure as you want.
Thank you, very good infomation. 2 questions, what heat lighting brand do you use for your enclosure and do you think it would be okay to give my baby bp a 1.2 metre enclosure with lost of leave clutter and hides??
Enclosure wise, the bigger the better. As you said just make sure there’s lots of places to hide and feel secure.
I use white python heating and lighting for my royals :)
Jensen's Reptiles thank you so much, I have decided to give both my BP and my Corn a 5ft enclosure!
Thanks...thumbs up.
I'm looking at getting a first pet snake but tied between a royal python and corn snake which would you recommend
Both are great :) do a little more research and see which fits best with your wants
Hi so pleased we’ve come across you... it seems we’ve fallen at the first hurdle and listened to the first piece of advice😬we’re picking up our baby royal python this week so have got the enclosure etc set up to acclimatise... we got a smaller one with the plan of getting a larger enclosure when he’s bigger-what do you think about this? Also it has a heat mat-which covers approx 2/3 of the floor size-again what do you think about this?
I’d advise against a mat, and start as you mean to go on enclosure wise. A small snake will enjoy the opportunity to explore
Would a zoomed ceramic heat emitter work with a zoomed reptitemp digital thermostat? For a ball python. And how does the ceramic heat emitter heat up the hot place if there is a hide. Do I just not put a hide there?
You can put a hide under the heater. It’ll still be warm underneath it. Same as if you sit by a radiator but there’s a chair in the way. Still warms up the room.
Hi Jesen, great video as usual! I currently have an empty 3ft x 2ft x2ft wooden viv. Im going to be getting a royal in a couple months time and would like to know a few little bits and bobs. Firstly, would an 150w ceramic bulb be too much for a 3ft tank if i have it on a pulse proportional thermostat or would an 100w be better? Secondly, will i have to provide a humid hide during shed, even if the substate i’ll be using will have different mosses and hold humidity well? Finally, i have a halogen bulb that says it can be used for royals on the box but i’ve heard and think that it’ll be too bright for the little fellow due to hearing that these snakes aren’t a big fan a bright lights. Thank you so much for the information in the video too!
Hey :)
150w is totally fine, that’s my preference for 3-4ft enclosures.
Humid hide depends on the humidity you can achieve in your home and in the enclosure. I put some extra moss in my hides as standard so I can dampen it a little leading up to shedding.
Halogens do provide a rather bright spot, but one thing you can do is attach plants to branches to provide shady spots and diffuse the lighting a little.
I prefer LEDs on a dimmer so I can adjust them (they also don’t give off much heat)
Jensen's Reptiles Brilliant info cheers for that! Also in trying to budget myself as much as possible so whats the best way to treat wood found in the wild? I walk my dog a lot in wooded areas and was wondering is it easy to treat wood as all the wood in my local stores or so expensive. Thanks again!
I like to steam clean with a good reptile disinfectant :)
Jensen's Reptiles Sorry i’m back again, just have one more question. Ive got the viv all setup up with the substrate. I’m using is a mix of bio life products which include forest life and bark chips. I have a large exo terra water bowl in the middle of the enclosure and it averages 50 - 60% humidity. If the humidity is already good within the viv is it still necessary to mist it? And if so how often should it be misted? Thanks again!
You only need to mist to maintain humidity. When the substrate dries out, mist and mix it through. Then it will rise up again :)
Could you use a heat Matt and lamp
I avoid mats all together, they’re an inefficient and unnatural way to heat an enclosure
Very helpful video for me again mate🤣🤣, got a 4ft viv the other day don’t know if that’s a bit big?.. but I’ve gave him loads of hides & climbing space like yourself.. He’s 5 months just now & my last question would be my rooms quite cold, should I get 2 Ceramic heaters one at each end or just have the 1 heater? & if I need 2 then what thermostat would be best to use proportional wise? Not wanting to use 2 thermostats if possible.. He comes Wednesday so tomorrow is my last day of preparation really!
Also pets at home were telling me to use a heat mat & only a 16 inch one for a 4ft viv.. they are useless lol
You only need the one ceramic heater. 150w is perfect for a 4ft enclosure. That’s what I use in mine and it heats them beautifully :)
Jensen's Reptiles perfect mate thanks again! Been a huge help! Any certain type of bulb that’s best to go for? Going to go get some today! Hope to see more videos soon man!
I use the white python ceramics because the guard comes with a reflector (helps the temp gradient)
Jensen's Reptiles see that’s why I prefer your help to the pet shops lol! Ended up getting the white python one too & a pulse stat, comes tomorrow so hopefully the heat is all good this time🤞🏻🤣 Thanks again mate
How long do you have heat bulb on
It’s always on, on a pulse stat
Hi Jensen, brilliant video and amazing setup, just wondering would the same set-up in regards to size and decor be suitable for a baby to yearling BCI? Asking because I'm leaning more towards a BCI than RP
I’d go for minimum 4ft for a BCI. Mine outgrew his 4ft enclosure pretty quickly by 4 years old, so start bigger for sure and plan for larger :)
@@JensensReptiles Thanks for the quick reply and great content
Dan, would you recommend the deep heat projector for a 4x2x2 vivarium? Need to make some changes to my adult royal's enclosure, so I'm making it fully bioactive with UVB light and moonlight so I'm wondering if the deep heat projector. I've also heard good things about the reptile systems spotlight.
I’d go with a ceramic for a 4ft. The projector is good, but I wouldn’t say it’s strong enough for a 4ft sadly!
Do the ceramic heaters work ok with ball pythons I was told they need belly heat
Yes they work perfectly. Heat from below is entirely unnatural and a massive way for the reptile keeping community to save money rather than take proper care of their pets. Think about how it works naturally. The sun heats the earth from above and the ground retains some heat. But if the snake burrows, it gets cooler. You want to replicate that
I've a 6 month old royal and I was going to do ceramic but then was advised I shouldn't but I don't like the thoughts of a heat matt inside a viv thanks
Ive a 9 month el Salvador boa and shes eating a large mouse every other week is this ok?
Without seeing her that’s hard to answer. If you want to send me a photo, you can find at Jensen’s reptiles on Facebook :)
For my Royal Python, it is located in my room and on occasion i leave the light on to around 10pm, is that bad that he has a light source at night? Or is it okay? And also, after feeding he doesn't come out but watches for about 2-3 days (fed on Sunday - comes out fully on Wednesday/Tuesday). My royal python is about 4 months old at the moment.
His behaviour sounds normal. Why not get a timer for the light so you can give him a proper cycle?
Hi, I went out and bought a medium pied royal yesterday thanks to another one of your videos I saw :-) Please can you tell me what bedding you use? Thank you
I read you other comment that its coir, orchid bark and moss mixed together... I will use that when I collect my new (first) snake next week :-)
I love your view on the heating pads I've been on the fence about this my boas thrive fine without but my balls have the heating pads underneath the hot side hide and I've been wondering a lot whether I should use lamp instead or both I feel like I might take the pads out and try how my boas are set up. What do you think I should do sir I really would love to know
Heating pads and boas don’t mix. Thermal blocks and burns can happen easily with a heavy bodied snake. Use a well guarded, overhead heat. More natural, better heating throughout the enclosure, and much safer for the animal
@@JensensReptiles ok sweet ill switch my ball pythons to the same way i heat the boas and i guess ill use my heat pads under the water bowls or something but you are right about that my boas do wonderful and they have never had a heat pad just heat bulb and ceramic heater if i do that my ball pythons will be just fine. Thanks good lookin out
Where do you get the branches and plants from etc I have a full grown royal and struggling to find extra hides for him
Internet reptile mostly :)
Exo terra make big hides, so do Komodo, but pieces of cork bark work really well too!
I've started to get into snakes and I'm looking at getting a ball python. Would you say a 86×37.5×42cm viv would fit a male ball python for a while? And what's best for lighting ive been doing independent research and speaking to alot of breeders and keepers and ive found mixed opinions on heat mat vs heat lamp. Ik this video is old but I'm hoping you have time to answer these questions as I've asked so many people and have got such mixed responses.
I use overhead heating for all of my snakes. Heat mats are total crap for the animal, they either have heat or don’t with a mat. With overhead heat you achieve a proper temperature gradient throughout the enclosure and the animal can thermoregulate properly.
That enclosure size is ok for a couple of years if you get a hatchling, but you’ll need to upgrade so it’s worth giving the little one more space from the get go
@@JensensReptiles thank you good to know someone else's view on a hobby you clearly have experience in thank you
My viv is smaller than yours, I am also going to get a baby, a 2019 juvenile, but I am not going to keep my royal in it that long, since this will be my first snake and I am rubbish at maths I got a smaller viv than I expected it to be. Silly me thought it would be bigger in person, even though I had a measuring tape to check. But I know he will come out every day if that doesn't stress him out, and he has a second floor (a magnetic rock) to climb on so I am sure he will be fine as it is a temporary viv... I think? I have also got a lot of hiding spots for him. I have heard about snakes needing to be able to stretch out fully, and I totally agree with that. Royals are so small when they are first born, that my viv, which is 2ft if i remember correctly, should be enough, right?
Also, what would you say to people that say that you NEED a heat mat for a Royal? When searching for care sheets on Royals I found some that say you should never use a heat mat for them, while some others, usually in other countries, say you should always use a heat mat... it could get quite confusing for some people who are new. Especially if they don't know the reasoning behind such things.
2ft will be OK for the time being, but I’d upgrade as soon as you can as the heat gradient will be harder to achieve in that space :)
As far as heat mats go, here’s the best way of explaining it. Naturally, the sun heats the earth and creates a warm surface temperature, but royal pythons will naturally travel downward to get cooler. So with a heat mat, they move down and encounter a higher temperature. It goes against everything natural. It also doesn’t allow for a proper degree of thermoregulation as you’re either on the mat or off the mat, rather than having dissipating heat from above :)
A lot of care sheets are so incorrect- but remember anyone can write a care sheet- they don’t need to pass a test :)
Hope that helps! Shout if you have any questions
@@JensensReptiles OK, thanks for the advice! When I get my snake I will try to get a new viv as soon as possible! I will ask if I have any more questions. :) Yeah, that is the problem with care sheets, anyone can write one. Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense what you said with thermoregulation.
can i ask where you got this enclousure from please?
It’s made by vivexotic :) you can find them at any good reptile shop in the Uk
I have been doing a lot of research on royal pythons because i am thinking of getting one myself. Every where else i have had my information from it has said to use a heating mat with a thermostat, in your video you recommend the bulb. Is there much difference between the two?
A huge difference between the two. One will give you a proper thermal gradient (the bulb), while the mat will give you an unnatural warm spot and no gradient
Jensen's Reptiles thanks :)
Is some of those things from pets at home?
Yeah! They have the exo terra range there. That’s where I bought the skull and the bowl :)
I know I’m late but what kind of enclosure is that with the wood and stuff in the background and sides just wanna know
It’s a vivexotic. They have lots of options on their website
I am worried I've gotten a too big enclosure for a young python. It's 100x50x50cm. anything smaller seemed so tiny. I will stuff it full of clutter though.
There’s no such thing as a “too big enclosure” don’t worry. Just make the space safe and secure with lots of hiding spots. You’ll have a very very happy snake
@@JensensReptiles ok thanks than that's a relief. I feel better watching a snake inside a nicely spaced environment rather than a tiny box with minimal room.
Is a 3x2 viv good for a 300g royal? Also how do you secure the branches?
Yeah that size will do for a little bit :) and I just wedge the branches in
Thank you:)
Hi Mate..enjoyed your new video I need your help as I'm having problems with my temps..I've got a 4 year old normal that was rescued.. he's in a vivexotic 4ft 6inch long viv ..W..19 inches .. H..22 inches.i have the same white python heating as you have .I need to know what should be the temps inside the hide on the hot side ? and on top please..at the moment inside the hide is 29c and on top is 34 to 35c.. the ambiance is 26 to 27 it's hard to maintain 27 like yours lol..cool end is 24 to 25c..I be greatful for your help as been trying for a week trying to get my temps like yours..
Your temps sound absolutely fine.
And hide temps will depend on the hide you use and how well it retains heat. My temps are very similar
@@JensensReptiles Thanks for your your helpmate..my hide is exo terra X large hide like ones you have used...Can I ask you..your 4ft vivs what settings are your thermostats set up ? Mine is at 28c cheers mate..
It depends to be honest. I check the temps in the enclosure rather than relying on the stat temp dial :)
That's what I usually do to..I just wanted to compare yours and mine..as my front room gets cooler because of the weather at the moment..Does vivexotic
Still make 4ft by 2ft by 2ft viv as I carnt find one online.. :)
Yep, they do :)
Where did you get that viv and do you get the lights with it
It’s from vivexotic, the lights are from white python (not included)
Where do you get those probe holders from?
They’re just cable holders. I buy them from amazon :)
Boa complete care video please 💕
Sure thing!
@@JensensReptiles I am going to take this video and use it on my adult pinstripe who isn't eating.. I need to make improvements and you have great advice 💕
Remember that fasting is normal in adult royals :) my two adult females will fast for up to 6 months at a time without losing any weight. It’s just a royal thing!
Cool video, but I would be careful with that skull. There shouldn’t be any openings in an enclosure your full snake can’t fit through. Potential for serious injury if he gets stuck going through a eye.
I’m well aware of that and he can fit through all openings without any issues :) thanks though!
Can I have a shout out
May sound like stupid question thinking switching my royals to deep heat projector what wattage do you use ? Jus trying research before hand many thanks
There’s only 50w available :)
Jensen's Reptiles oh thank you your setups and videos are amazing btw 😊
In the first 10 views!
My little guy has been gone for 6 months in 3 digress weather
Sorry to hear that :(
Jensen's Reptiles I’ve lost my hope
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