What Is The Best Gallon Size Tank For Ball Python?

Keeping the royal python in captive, and captivating a royal python responsibly; requires the best enclosure for it to feel safe. But deciding and choosing the best ball python tank size and gallon count is tricky. And sometimes you cannot choose between a compact size and a larger one. But worry not, because I have your back!

The enclosure, what we professionally term as a vivarium, varies in shapes, sizes, and types. And different pet shop owners will tell you different stories, maybe because they think they know better. They might do as well.

It is advised to use a smaller tank for a baby ball python, and increase the size as the slithering creature grows. This is to ensure that the python does not feel unsafe or scared when left alone inside vast surroundings. Otherwise, it may stop taking food because of stress. It is their own way of showing that they are stressed and need some love.

However, if you are tight on a budget, you may go for a medium-sized tank instead of increasing the size for a specific period. And when the snake starts to show some signs of growth, you can choose a bigger tank.

But what are the best ball python tanks and gallon size?

Baby ball pythons can be as tiny as 15 inches, which is slightly larger than your regular ruler. Therefore, keeping them inside a 120gallon tank will do worse than any good. It will thrive in a 10-20gallon tank and will feel most comfortable in it. Similarly, an adult one will love a 40-50 gallon tank or more. Adults can grow up to 5ft long.

This information is, however, for knowing the unit gallons of tanks. The tank size matters a lot because length and width may vary while the tank's capacity remains the same. Therefore, this size chart may help you choose your best tank size effectively:

     Gallons (capacity)                     Size (Length, Depth, and Height)

10	20 x 11 x 13
10	24 x 9 x 13
20	30 x 13 x 13
20	24 x 13 x 17
20	24 x 13 x 21
40	36 x 18 x 17
40	48 x 13 x 17
50	37 x 19 x 20
55	48 x 13 x 21

 

Now that you have a size chart, you can now easily choose a suitable tank size for your ball python. But wait, do you know how to measure the gallon capacity and sizes? No? Don't worry, it is reasonably straightforward.

1 dry gallon equals 268.80 dry cubic inches.

1 fluid/liquid gallon equals 231 cubic inches.

For instance, let's take the 20gallon tank in the count, and multiply 20 by 231 inch³. This gives us 4620 units. Similarly, 20 multiplied by 268 inch³ gives 5200 inch³ units. Now, 30 x 13 x 13 gives 5070 inch³ and 24 x 13 x 17 gives 5304 inch³ units.

Since these values are approximately equal, now you know how you can calculate the tank capacity and size, using this size chart. There can be a more revised chart in your pet shop. We hope you can now choose what the best ball python tank and gallon size are.