This post will be about how to set up a vivarium for your Royal Python! First of all I will give you the basics, then some cool ideas on how to design your vivarium so it looks amazing. Royal Pythons are very inquisitive animals and therefore they like to explore new surroundings. To keep your Royal Python from becoming bored, you can change the layout of the vivarium and give them something new to explore. Imagine being stuck in the same place all day everyday... you'd get bored too!
How you choose to lay out and decorate the vivarium is entirely up to you, just as long as it is suitable for the snake and all their needs are met. I will be discussing the types of substrate, hides and heating you can use, as well as the different ways you can make the vivarium aesthetically pleasing.
First is the choice of vivarium. Now as Royal Pythons aren't highly active animals they do not need massive enclosures to explore. The size vivarium you will need will depend on the size and age of the Royal Python that you have got. The basic rule to go by is that the vivarium should allow a minimum of 1
square foot of floor space to each foot of snake and be approximately a third
of the snake’s length in height. When I bought Fifi, she was three months old and about a foot and a half in length. I bought a 3ft x 2ft x 2ft vivarium for her, however because this is quite large for the size that she was, I sectioned off half of the vivarium so that it was smaller. This meant that when she was big enough I could remove the divider and she would have the bigger space that she needed. I did this so that I would only need to buy one vivarium, however if you do not want to do this you can purchase a smaller vivarium and then when you Royal Python is bigger, buy a larger vivarium to move them into.
Substrate
I used to
use Beech Chippings for my Royal Pythons substrate. This was purely because
when I bought my first snake I thought these looked the ‘nicest’ and have used
them ever since. However pretty recently I’ve started using Aspen
Beech
Chippings
Beech
Chippings are easy to buy from most reptile shops and are an attractive and
aesthetically pleasing substrate to have in your vivarium. You can usually get
the chippings in three different grades - small, medium or large. I’ve used the
medium for my snakes in the past, but it’s pretty much up to you what size you
want to use.
Paper
Towels
These are
usually used for hatchlings and when snakes have belly injuries or are in
quarantine. I’ve seen a lot of breeders use paper towels if they keep their
Royal Pythons in rack systems rather than a vivarium as they are easy to spot
clean and inexpensive if you have a large number of snakes.
Orchid
Bark
Orchid
bark is more appropriate for snakes that require higher humidity levels. It is
safe to use for Royal Pythons as long as you monitor the humidity of the
vivarium regularly.
Hides
Royal
Pythons like to feel secure and have somewhere to hide so it’s important to
have somewhere that they can do this in their vivarium. You can buy snake hides
from most reptile shops and they come in a wide range of designs and sizes. If
you can’t afford to buy a hide, there are many other items you can use. Wood
bark, cardboard boxes and plant pots with a hole cut out for access are
commonly used, and they can be easily replaced it they become soiled. The hide
should be just big enough for your Royal Python to curl up inside so that they
feel safe; if the hide is too big they won’t feel secure.
It is
important that you make sure you place two hides in your vivarium, one at the
warm end and one at the cool end. This means that they have a hiding place in
both temperature gradients so they can regulate their body temperature and feel
secure when doing so.
Heating
Royal Pythons are cold blooded animals and therefore get heat from their surroundings. They need to regulate their body temperature, so they need a hot spot and a cool spot into their vivarium that they can move between when they need to. The ideal temperature for you snake's vivarium is a temperature gradient of 80°F at the cool end and 91°F at the hot spot. You can place thermometers at both ends of the vivarium to ensure that these temperatures are being achieved.
The most popular source of heating when setting up a vivarium for a Royal Python is a bulb. Whenever you use a bulb, you should always have a bulb guard protecting it. If your Royal Python is heat seeking, they may go up to the bulb and wrap themselves round it. If you do not have a bulb guard they will wrap themselves around the bulb itself and could get very badly burnt! They are two different types of bulbs you can use with Royal Pythons, and they are as follows:
Ceramic bulb
Ceramic bulbs give a source of heat without emitting any light. They should be used on a pulse thermostat to keep the hot spot in your vivarium at the correct temperature. The pros of using a ceramic bulb is that they last longer than normal bulbs and do not create a light source. As Royal Pythons do not need light 24 hours a day they can become stressed if there is always light, so using a ceramic bulb can avoid this problem.
Normal bulb
Normal bulbs provide a heat source the same way that a ceramic bulb does however they also provide a light source. You can buy a variety of bulbs in a variety of colours at most reptile shops, which can add to the decoration as well as heating in a vivarium. I use a red bulb in my vivariums as I think it gives them an interesting glow. I have never had any problems with using normal bulbs rather than ceramic bulbs, even though as I mentioned before some Royal Pythons can become stress if there is a permanent light source in their vivarium. If you are unsure of which you would like to use you can speak to someone who works at your local reptile shop and they should be able to help you with your decision.
The most popular source of heating when setting up a vivarium for a Royal Python is a bulb. Whenever you use a bulb, you should always have a bulb guard protecting it. If your Royal Python is heat seeking, they may go up to the bulb and wrap themselves round it. If you do not have a bulb guard they will wrap themselves around the bulb itself and could get very badly burnt! They are two different types of bulbs you can use with Royal Pythons, and they are as follows:
Ceramic bulb
Ceramic bulbs give a source of heat without emitting any light. They should be used on a pulse thermostat to keep the hot spot in your vivarium at the correct temperature. The pros of using a ceramic bulb is that they last longer than normal bulbs and do not create a light source. As Royal Pythons do not need light 24 hours a day they can become stressed if there is always light, so using a ceramic bulb can avoid this problem.
Normal bulb
Normal bulbs provide a heat source the same way that a ceramic bulb does however they also provide a light source. You can buy a variety of bulbs in a variety of colours at most reptile shops, which can add to the decoration as well as heating in a vivarium. I use a red bulb in my vivariums as I think it gives them an interesting glow. I have never had any problems with using normal bulbs rather than ceramic bulbs, even though as I mentioned before some Royal Pythons can become stress if there is a permanent light source in their vivarium. If you are unsure of which you would like to use you can speak to someone who works at your local reptile shop and they should be able to help you with your decision.
Heat mats
Heat mats should not be used in a vivarium set up for a Royal Python. This is because there is risk of thermal blocking which can cause hot spots on the heat mat which can result in severe burns! Heat mats are commonly used in rack systems when they are placed under RUBs (Really Useful Boxes). When using a heat mat in a rack system they should be regulated by a mat stat.
Water
You can purchase a water bowl from most reptile shops in a variety of styles and sizes. The most important thing to consider is how heavy the water bowl is so that your Royal Python cannot tip it over. Fresh water should be given daily, and if your Royal Python defecates in its water bowl is should be cleaned immediately so avoid it drinking the dirty water.
Humidity
Royal Pythons require a humidity level of 50% to 60% in their vivariums, however this is increased to around 80% when they are going to shed. You can buy a Hydrometer to monitor the humidity in the vivarium. If the humidity is too low, you can sporadically spray the substrate with water or add a damp hide made up of Sphagnum Moss. Damp hides are most commonly used when a Royal Python is going to shed. This is so they can go into the hide when they need more humidity to help them shed, and when they hide is no longer needed you can simply remove it from the vivarium.
Husbandry
You can decorate the vivarium with various branches, plastic plants and vines to give it a more 'wild' look. Vines are very useful in a vivarium as they can provide a way for your Royal Python to climb up their heat bulb if they want to. I have wrapped a vine around the heat guard and fastened it on so that my Royal Pythons can get up to their heat bulb safely and wrap around it whilst resting on the vine. The vine is also quite rough which can aid my Royal Pythons when they are shedding. I also have some plastic plants that I have placed around the vivarium to provide some decoration. You can decorate your vivarium as much or as little as you like, however bear in mind that it could be a bit too overcrowded for your Royal Python if you go a bit overboard!
Well guys, I hope you liked this blog post! If you have any more suggestions for posts you'd like to see please comment below :)
xoxo
Water
You can purchase a water bowl from most reptile shops in a variety of styles and sizes. The most important thing to consider is how heavy the water bowl is so that your Royal Python cannot tip it over. Fresh water should be given daily, and if your Royal Python defecates in its water bowl is should be cleaned immediately so avoid it drinking the dirty water.
Humidity
Royal Pythons require a humidity level of 50% to 60% in their vivariums, however this is increased to around 80% when they are going to shed. You can buy a Hydrometer to monitor the humidity in the vivarium. If the humidity is too low, you can sporadically spray the substrate with water or add a damp hide made up of Sphagnum Moss. Damp hides are most commonly used when a Royal Python is going to shed. This is so they can go into the hide when they need more humidity to help them shed, and when they hide is no longer needed you can simply remove it from the vivarium.
Husbandry
You can decorate the vivarium with various branches, plastic plants and vines to give it a more 'wild' look. Vines are very useful in a vivarium as they can provide a way for your Royal Python to climb up their heat bulb if they want to. I have wrapped a vine around the heat guard and fastened it on so that my Royal Pythons can get up to their heat bulb safely and wrap around it whilst resting on the vine. The vine is also quite rough which can aid my Royal Pythons when they are shedding. I also have some plastic plants that I have placed around the vivarium to provide some decoration. You can decorate your vivarium as much or as little as you like, however bear in mind that it could be a bit too overcrowded for your Royal Python if you go a bit overboard!
Well guys, I hope you liked this blog post! If you have any more suggestions for posts you'd like to see please comment below :)
xoxo
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