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Housing the African Rock Python
African Rock Pythons, Like all "Giant" snakes, adults require a large enclosure, if not a room sized one. Babies can be kept in smaller enclosures, keeping in mind that they will outgrow them quickly. Babies should be lept in a 24x12x12 enclosure, moving the snake into larger encolsures once they outgrow this one. The rule of thumb is: add the cage length to teh cage width and the total is the biggest size snake that should be housed in that cage. Example: Cage is 24" wide by 12" deep (the cage height doesn't need to be used with mainly ground dwelling snakes), add those two together and you get 36". So once the snake reaches 36" it should be moved to a larger cage. As the snake a certain weight, it is not recommended to use glass as a window or door. A big Burm can break the glass just by pressing against it and cause injury to itself, not to mention escape.
Fresh water should always be provided. A large water bowl that can accommodate the snake that wants to soak should be placed in the cage and the water changed daily. I use either the big heavy ceramic dog bowls or the metal bowls that are wider at the bottom so that the are difficult to tip over. Once again, as with all "Giant" snakes, it is easier to use newspaper or the rolls of brown paper as a substrate. Aspen can be used for babies and juveniles, but not adults. DO NOT use cedar of pine shavings. These are harmful to the snake. Cypress mulch is a good alternative for these.
A hide box that is just big enough for the snake to fit into should be placed in the back corner of the enclosure. This will give the snake some place to get away from it all and feel secure in its surroundings.