This article focuses on some of the most creative Ball Python enclosure ideas. Being the smallest of the African pythons, Ball Pythons don’t require the largest enclosures which means you can create a nice setup on a budget.
Here are some of the most common but also some of the most creative enclosures to get inspired from.
Table of Contents
1. PVC Terrarium
A standard PVC is always a good start when brainstorming ideas for Ball Python enclosures. Cheap, durable, and easy to move around, this type of tank comes in all shapes and sizes, which means there’s more room for creativity than with other types of tanks.
2. Custom Wooden Terrarium
Back in the day, there was no readily available PVC. Furthermore, professionals always invest in custom solutions. This is still possible today, with custom wooden terrariums ideal for more involvement. You can also build an enclosure that specifically fits on a table or in a tight space around your home.
3. Simple Setup
A simple glass setup with some lights and minimum decor also works. You may not want to invest heavily in a setup or you might just be considering your first Ball Python enclosure. Whichever the case, this is one of the ideal options for you. Discover the key elements of a simple setup such as leaf litter, logs, and climbing surfaces.
4. Bioactive Setup
With plenty of small but interconnected living elements, a bioactive setup is a choice for a nature-inspired python enclosure. Living elements should also make the habitat a bit more pleasant for your python pet.
5. Halloween Enclosure
Themed Ball Python enclosures are just starting to become a thing. A Halloween one is certainly different. It makes your enclosure stand out in a world where the closest thing is a simple skull or skeleton. Take it further with full Halloween decorations, even throughout the year.
6. Semi-Tropical Terrarium
A semi-tropical tank is often what we think about when it comes to python enclosures. Ideas here include a combination of fake and real plants as well as just about any type of decor you can easily integrate with plants. Make sure not to go overboard with too many semi-tropical plants as clutter adds up quickly in a small space.
7. Rocky Enclosure
Do you want to make your colorful Ball Python stand out? A rocky enclosure with up to 3 walls of rocky wall design is about to make it happen. This is the option that looks DIY the most, but it’s based on rocky decor you can buy in stores and online.
8. Climbing Challenge
A simple system of ropes and sticks can become all of the climbing challenges your python needs. It may take time to assemble, but at least you know it’s something highly customizable made by you. Ropes of various diameters or paracords can be used to wrap sticks or to create soft climbing bridges.
10. Hidden Temple
Enclosure temples also come in all shapes and colors. They add a mysterious appeal to the enclosure and they may be open for your python to hide inside. The hidden part of the story means you may need to add a bit of vegetation on top to make it less obvious and to add to its mystery. An excellent ice-breaker for visiting friends.
11. Jungle Explorer
Recreating a jungle inside the enclosure is a true challenge with plenty of visual and humidity-related rewards. Use a combination of living and fake plants to create a jungle worth exploring. Determine the key plants and wooden elements of the enclosure and build around them. Don’t be afraid to go with one dominating element to create a more realistic enclosure.
12. Bamboo Forest
Bamboo forests are gaining popularity among python lovers as well. You can create a different kind of forest with bamboo yourself. Consider the multiple uses of real and fake bamboo of all sizes. Combine elements to recreate a forest of standing bamboo or an old forest with plenty of bamboo on the ground.
13. Rocky Cliff Face
A surreal python enclosure is possible with rocky cliffs and rocky elements. You don’t need to overcrowd your enclosure to make your python stand out. Consider the various rocky elements working together and add just 2-3 fake or real plants as statement pieces for a professional enclosure.
14. Lost City
There’s always mystery and stories attached to a lost city. Your python is certainly no ordinary pet and it deserves a story worth telling. Recreating a lost city is easy as you can get each building and element separately. Go for an old mining town for a gray-looking lost city or buildings in an overgrown forest for a lost city of the jungle.
15. Wooden Cabinet
Ready to get hands-on action with the enclosure? Why not turn an old wooden cabinet into a practical enclosure? You can use shelves to create floors and see-through glass to maximize viewing angles.
16. Plastic Tub
A plastic tub is also a good budget option, especially if you plan to move the tank around frequently. Remember, ventilation is the main issue with these all-plastic solutions so you’ll need plenty of holes to support proper airflow.
Learn how to set up a plastic tub for ball pythons here.
17. Paper Towels
Far from fancy, paper towels are frequently used on the tank floor as an easy solution for cleaning. You simply replace the paper towels as needed and forget about substrate, leaves, and other types of decor that require more maintenance.
18. Aspen
Aspen is still a common choice for Ball Python enclosures. It’s not higher up on the list as it doesn’t hold moisture and because you need another solution that favors humidity alongside. Moss is often used along it.
Aspen is debatable in the snake community.
19. Coco Husk
Easy to scoop, coco husk does hold up moisture and represents a top choice for snakes that do like humidity. At the same time, the substrate may be used with other options such as aspen and moss to create a mixed habitat with moisture.
20. Fake Plants
Fake plants are a cheap option for just about any size enclosure. At the same time, there would be some room for a bad choice here. Make sure your fake plants are made from plastic and not some type of porous fabrics as these materials hold water and will eventually lead to mold growth.
21. Live Plant Oasis
While it does require the most work, a live plant enclosure is ideal for Ball Pythons. The classic leafy houseplant works here.
Take snake plants as an example. They don’t require much effort to grow and spread and add a green touch to the enclosure.
Consider if you go for an enclosure with tens of small plants or if you’re looking after 2-3 special living plants to show off. Consider how they come together and their watering needs.
22. Cork Bark Castle
A real castle would be an option but a cork one is certainly more common than you’d expect. Durable and ideal for a live plant or fake plant enclosure, a cork bark castle adds a dominating central element to the enclosure.
23. Logs
Often the simplest solution, logs offer hiding and crawling spaces for a variety of enclosures, including those of Ball Pythons. If you do choose logs, make sure to inspect them properly to avoid adding molded ones next to your snake.
24. Vine Paradise
Vines offer plenty of climbing options as well as decor and shade for your python. One of the key areas with vines that can be climbed is to simply ensure it’s soft enough and smooth enough so as not to be a potential danger. Consider adding multiple types of vines to make the enclosure more realistic or use just one vine to create a minimalistic python enclosure.
25. Climbing Rope Challenge
Climbing rope is an ideal option, often used by some of the more creative python traders and collectors. They can be a simpler solution to more complex approaches such as wrapping paracord around sticks and vines.
26. Leaf Litter
Just about any type of dry leaves you collect may be used inside the enclosure. Some say only oak leaves are worth collecting but any leaves that are heated in the oven to kill any bacteria are good as leaf litter. Also, consider that you can mix leaf litter with substrate. You can always add substrate on top of your dried leaves to recreate nature inside the enclosure.
27. DIY PVC Hammock
Into DIY python enclosures? Why not get creative with PVC pipes and start creating your enclosure? You can cut these with a regular knife and use paper glue to hold them together. Get creative for your multi-level enclosure for a python that loves being active.
28. Driftwood
The python owner community often recommends driftwood. Simple, good-looking, and free, driftwood does offer a great addition to your enclosure. As with leaves you collect outdoors, baking for 30 minutes is often recommended to kill off all of the organic things that may penetrate the enclosure. Mites are the invisible enemy here so consider using an over to kill them while you still can.
29. DIY Ladder
A bold move for some, an actual DIY ladder is a fun project. You can create a small one that fits your enclosure, hang plants and vines off it, or simply allow it to act as a resting place for your python. It’s best to refrain from painting it if you’re after a more natural-like habitat where there’s no room for harmful chemicals.
30. Skull Decor
Ever wondered what happens when you add a decorative skull inside a python’s enclosure? Nothing, but it’s on the lips of everybody who sees it at first glance. This bold decorative idea is gaining popularity among python and snake enclosures with a more rugged or distinctive decor.
31. Hol-ee Roller Dog Ball
A ball with holes in it, that’s what a Hol-ee Roller Dog Ball is. For your python, it’s a ball it can move around to or which it can climb for a bit of daily diversity when it comes to being active. It also stands out as one of the few or the only truly colorful pieces inside the enclosure.
32. Lego Hide
Following the same lines, a Lego hide is another similar idea, but with a twist. Feeling like a DIY project, a Lego hide might be small or large, depending on how many pieces you use. At the same time, you can have all of the access points you need for your Lego castle and get your python curious about new ways to access it.
33. Moss Cave
Moss caves come both in real and fake moss options. They are some of the simpler options but they may hold humidity which may add a natural-looking element to the enclosure. For more diversity, why not combine multiple moss caves into a labyrinth worth exploring?
34. Skeleton
Do you already have a skull inside the enclosure and want something more? Why not try an actual plastic skeleton which comes in all sorts of colors? Our bet is on one color that matches the substrate to create a more blend-in decor for your python.
35. Wallpaper
Actual customization kings in the world of enclosure decor, and wallpapers options come in their thousands. From a print representing a waterfall to an actual forest wallpaper, there’s always room to get one that fits your home. At the same time, you can swap wallpapers frequently to create the illusion of a new enclosure every few months.
36. DIY Background
Whatever materials you have around the home and garage can be used for a DIY background. Unlike the wallpaper you get in the store, you can get a bit more creative. You can use a combination of rocks, logs, and sticks to create a one-of-a-kind background for your special Ball Python.