Bill & Amy
Harley Rider
I am trying to create a care sheet for ball pythons to post as a sticky for new owners. Please read and make any suggestions you think are necessary. This is a first draft so please be kind.
Common Name: Ball Python or Royal Python
Latin name: Python regius
Native to: Central and Western Africa
Size: Adult ball pythons average in size from three to five feet and are known to reach 6 feet in the wild.
Life span: Ball pythons are one of the longest-lived snakes. It is not unusual for these pythons to live 20 - 30 years in captivity. One specimen lived for 47 years at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Selecting Your Ball Python: Choose an animal that has clear firm skin, rounded body shape, clean vent, clear eyes, and who actively flicks its tongue around when handled. All ball pythons are naturally shy about having their heads touched or handled by strangers. The snake should grip you gently but firmly when moving around. It should be alert to its surroundings.
Captive Bred is Best: Ball pythons are somewhat notorious for refusing to feed, but many believe that is a much larger problem with wild caught specimens Wild caught snakes tend to be very stressed from capture and transport and often harbor parasites. Captive bred snakes tend to be more expensive, but they are well worth the extra cost.
Snake Health: If you already have a constricting snake at home, any new python (or boa) should be quarantined due to the risk of inclusion body disease. Experts vary on the length of quarantine, but 3-6 months is not extreme. A vet check should be provided, especially for internal (take a recent stool sample) and external parasites.
Enclosure: Remember that all snakes are escape artists and when designing an enclosure it is of the utmost importance that whatever enclosure is used is made as escape-proof as possible. Generally an adult ball python should be kept is a 30-gallon sized enclosure (12 inches x 36 inches) or equivalent sized tub or cage.
Substrate: Newspaper makes excellent substrate even though it is not very attractive. It is easy to clean and is excellent to use when acclimating new ball pythons to their enclosure. Wood shavings can also be used, though cedar should never be used and some pine can also cause health problems as well. Aspen shavings are usually an excellent choice if using wood shavings. If keeping the snake on wood shavings, care should be taken when feeding the snake to avoid shavings becoming lodged in the snake's mouth.
Temperature: Daytime ambient temperatures should be maintained at 80° - 85° F with a basking temperature of 90° - 95° F. Nighttime ambient temperatures can be 75° - 80° F, but the basking temperatures should be maintained.
Lighting: There is no need for special lighting. Usually whatever natural light enters the room is adequate.
Heating: When providing heat, do not use hot rocks. Hot rocks are notoriously unpredictable and can cause serious burn injuries to your animal. Under the tank heating pads can also be used to help raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure or provide a basking temperature. It is recommended to routinely check the temperatures of the enclosure with thermometers. The heating sources should be controlled by a thermostat, rheostat or dimmer switch. Thermostats are not required, but highly recommended.
Humidity: A 50-60% humidity level seems to work well for ball pythons.
Diet: Hatchlings can be started off feeding on fuzzy mice or pinky rats. Juveniles and adults can gradually take larger prey of adult mice or a variety of rats sizes. Typical feeding schedule is usually every 7 days. The size of the prey is usually equal to the girth of the snake in question.
Maintenance: Fresh water should be maintained. Newspaper is easily replaced when soiled. Wood shavings should be spot cleaned as needed. Periodically, the enclosure should be disinfected. A 5% bleach solution or chlorhexidine solution makes an excellent disinfectant. As always, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your ball python or any cage accessories.
Common Name: Ball Python or Royal Python
Latin name: Python regius
Native to: Central and Western Africa
Size: Adult ball pythons average in size from three to five feet and are known to reach 6 feet in the wild.
Life span: Ball pythons are one of the longest-lived snakes. It is not unusual for these pythons to live 20 - 30 years in captivity. One specimen lived for 47 years at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Selecting Your Ball Python: Choose an animal that has clear firm skin, rounded body shape, clean vent, clear eyes, and who actively flicks its tongue around when handled. All ball pythons are naturally shy about having their heads touched or handled by strangers. The snake should grip you gently but firmly when moving around. It should be alert to its surroundings.
Captive Bred is Best: Ball pythons are somewhat notorious for refusing to feed, but many believe that is a much larger problem with wild caught specimens Wild caught snakes tend to be very stressed from capture and transport and often harbor parasites. Captive bred snakes tend to be more expensive, but they are well worth the extra cost.
Snake Health: If you already have a constricting snake at home, any new python (or boa) should be quarantined due to the risk of inclusion body disease. Experts vary on the length of quarantine, but 3-6 months is not extreme. A vet check should be provided, especially for internal (take a recent stool sample) and external parasites.
Enclosure: Remember that all snakes are escape artists and when designing an enclosure it is of the utmost importance that whatever enclosure is used is made as escape-proof as possible. Generally an adult ball python should be kept is a 30-gallon sized enclosure (12 inches x 36 inches) or equivalent sized tub or cage.
Substrate: Newspaper makes excellent substrate even though it is not very attractive. It is easy to clean and is excellent to use when acclimating new ball pythons to their enclosure. Wood shavings can also be used, though cedar should never be used and some pine can also cause health problems as well. Aspen shavings are usually an excellent choice if using wood shavings. If keeping the snake on wood shavings, care should be taken when feeding the snake to avoid shavings becoming lodged in the snake's mouth.
Temperature: Daytime ambient temperatures should be maintained at 80° - 85° F with a basking temperature of 90° - 95° F. Nighttime ambient temperatures can be 75° - 80° F, but the basking temperatures should be maintained.
Lighting: There is no need for special lighting. Usually whatever natural light enters the room is adequate.
Heating: When providing heat, do not use hot rocks. Hot rocks are notoriously unpredictable and can cause serious burn injuries to your animal. Under the tank heating pads can also be used to help raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure or provide a basking temperature. It is recommended to routinely check the temperatures of the enclosure with thermometers. The heating sources should be controlled by a thermostat, rheostat or dimmer switch. Thermostats are not required, but highly recommended.
Humidity: A 50-60% humidity level seems to work well for ball pythons.
Diet: Hatchlings can be started off feeding on fuzzy mice or pinky rats. Juveniles and adults can gradually take larger prey of adult mice or a variety of rats sizes. Typical feeding schedule is usually every 7 days. The size of the prey is usually equal to the girth of the snake in question.
Maintenance: Fresh water should be maintained. Newspaper is easily replaced when soiled. Wood shavings should be spot cleaned as needed. Periodically, the enclosure should be disinfected. A 5% bleach solution or chlorhexidine solution makes an excellent disinfectant. As always, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your ball python or any cage accessories.
