ball python care

Question
can you please tell me whats the smallest size enclosure i can  use for  2 two feet ball pythons? and what bulb wattage i should use for that encloser and what heat amount. and what about night time heat and bulb wattage? what substrate is best? how big of a water dish for 2  two feet pythons? thanks! kim

Answer
Hello Kim,

Well, if you are going to keep 2 ball pythons in a tank, you have to keep in mind that they will get larger.  I would go for at least a 6x2x2 or larger.  That way they can each have their own space & don't crowd each other.
You can use either a basking bulb or a ceramic heat emitter for heating along with an undertank heater too.  We use a 40 watt heat emitter but our tank is a 4x2x2 though & only 1 snake.  
They need a hot area that can reach 88-90 & then a cooler end of around 78-80 or so.  The humidity should be lower when they are not shedding such as around 30% or so.  When they are getting ready to shed, you can increase the humidity to at least 70% to help with shed.  Just move the water dishes onto the undertank heater & that will increase the humidity during that time.  
So, if you use a heat emitter you can have it on all of the time, because they really don't have to have a direct light, they usually hide in their cave during the day anyway.
Alot of people use Aspen or Cypress shavings but avoid cedar & pine as they can emit toxins from their resins when heated up.  We use felt & he just goes under it.  
You should probably put 2 large water dishes.  You can use a long wide tupperware dish for them.  

Good luck.  Let me know if you need more help.

Tracie