Snake tanks with basic decor can look a bit dull, but there are plenty of ways you can spruce up your reptile’s terrarium with safe and good looking accessories.
In this article, we are going to go through the ball python’s requirements for their enclosure and enrichment pieces that can turn your boring tank into an A-class home for them.
Ball Python’s Requirements vs Enrichment
A ball python is a simple creature that only needs a few things in an enclosure to survive which are heat, humidity, substrate, a hide, and a water dish.
They can truly survive without a substrate or a hide, but those are essential for their comfort and will reduce stress for them.
Enrichment, on the other hand, is anything that can improve(or enhance) the quality of life. In the ball python world, this could be safe decor, mimicking hunting, or anything that will spark curiosity.
The good thing about decor that doubles as enrichment for the snake is that it not only enhances their quality of life but it improves the look of their enclosure.
Some Ball python tank decor will double as something useful for them and make their lives a bit easier. Stones, for example, can help a ball python when its going through a shed.
Cheap Ball Python Tank Accessories
Surprisingly, the best ball python tank decorations come from Dollar Tree. They only sell in bulk online, but you can find any of these at your local store.
Most items are found in the Home & Garden section, but everything can be repurposed as reptile tank decorations and enrichment.
Flower Decor
You can never go wrong with faux flowers when decorating your reptile’s terrarium. It adds color to a tank that would otherwise be all earthy tones. Be sure to clip off the ends so they don’t stick out and hurt your ball python. Here are some examples.
- Gladiola Flowers
- Ranunculus Flower Bush
- Iris
- Morning Glory Flower Leis
Flowers are great but these leis can make perfect hanging decor for your reptile enclosure. Keep them in a circle how they come or cut the string to create a single-strand hanging decor.
Just make sure to secure the ends so the flowers don’t fall off.
- Colorful Flower Lei
- Faux Roses
- Weighted Flower Stands
These are perfect to stand up in your ball python’s enclosure and burry under their substrate.
Here’s an example of a plant sticking out of the substrate giving a more natural look.
- Dripping blossoms
These dripping blossoms would look beautiful hanging upside down on your reptile enclosure.
- Clip-on flowers
Clip-on flowers can be clipped onto any hanging vine to add a little color to your snake’s terrarium. You can also clip them to your hanging leis to add some variety.
Leaves/Vines
Faux leaves will always look good in a reptile terrarium and it makes the enclosure looks like the animal’s natural habitat.
Fake leaves and fake flowers are better than growing live plants in your ball python’s tank because real plants won’t survive the constant movements from your ball python.
- Hanging Vines
These vines come with a ring to hang them. Command hooks can do just the job, but since they use sticky adhesive I would opt for suction cups like the one’s linked here.
Plant Decor
Faux plants are perfect because they don’t wither and they are low maintenance. All it takes is a little cleaning.
For the fake plants with stems, I recommend cutting the stems and wrapping the ends with floral tape so there’s no chance of your reptile getting injured(or scratched).
- Faux Succulents
The easiest plant to take care of just got easier with these faux potted succulents. Add a splash of color without needing a splash of water.
2 Succulent Box
Get creative and add this succulent box art.
- Fern and Eucalyptus
- Burlap potted plants
These burlap wrapped plants are a unique way to hide any pottery and keep your ball python’s enclosure looking as natural as possible.
- Moss
The photo below is fake moss balls that you can add to your ball python’s enclosure for only $1, but even the real thing can add some natural humidity to their tank.
Besides the faux moss balls, you can opt for the real sphagnum moss which holds water and is naturally sourced. It’s used in gardens to hold moisture and add nutrients to soil, but it’s also safe to use with reptiles as long as it doesn’t have fertilizer.
Unique Water Dishes
Water dishes for reptiles, especially ball pythons, can be anything that can hold water. Get creative and find bowls that are different than most.
- Star Glass bowl
Get away from basic water dishes and opt for this glass star-shaped dish. Glass makes it a perfect heavy weight so it’ll never tip over.
- Decorative Glass Bowls
- Dog Bowls or Cat Bowls
Bowls marketed for furry pals? Well, we can use them for our scaled friends, too!
- Plastic containers
Clear plastic containers like this can give your reptile enclosure a very unique look. A ball python that loves soaking in water will definitely appreciate how deep this one is.
Plastic can easily tip, but it could be weighed down with a layer of rocks.
- Silver Water Bowls
These silver bowls will add just the right amount of shine to your ball python’s enclosure.
- Stoneware or Ceramic Bowls
Stoneware is the perfect sturdy material and you can get it in different colors or patterns that can hold your ball python’s water just like any water dish.
- Plant pots
I wouldn’t recommend any Terra Cotta in your ball python’s enclosure, but definitely try these plastic plant holders. The hexagon shape gives it a modern feel.
Tank Backgrounds
Backdrops are accessories that you can put in the back of your ball python’s enclosure. It’s best to put the backdrops on the outside of the tank if it’s glass, but they can be put on the inside too.
Make sure the backdrop is secure whether it’s on the inside or the outside.
- Stickers
Stickers could make a beautiful collage for the background of any reptile terrarium. To avoid them from deteriorating you can make your own backdrop by using a blank piece of poster board and taping it behind the enclosure.
- Tablecloths
Tablecloths are an easy, cheap way to add color to your ball python’s terrarium. Different colors and patterns let you choose your style of backdrop for their enclosure and you can change it out once you get bored.
- Coasters
These coasters are as beautiful as tile, without the price or possibility of them breaking. Glue these coasters together and stick to the back of your enclosure for a unique background you won’t see anywhere else.
You can even do this for terrariums made of any material besides all glass.
- Placemats
These placemats are perfect for a back drop for a unique pattern. Cut them to size and secure them with tape on the outside of their enclosure.
Also, how cool would it be to have this background with the matching stoneware water bowl.
- Wall tiles
This one is self-explanatory, but I will say these would look great in any enclosure.
- Foil wrapping paper background
Garden decor
- Fairy Houses
- Garden statues or Garden Stones
Conclusion
Ball python’s enclosures don’t have to be boring or even look like nature in a box. You can add backgrounds, statues and fake greenery to add some personality to their enclosure.
Even the basic water dish and hide can be switched out for something nicer, shinier, or unique.
Secure everything safely with magnets or suction cups and your ball python’s tank will look like no other.
