Post by Natalie on Sept 8, 2010 16:53:40 GMT -5
Latin name: Python regius
Other names: Royal python
Size: 3-6'
Ease of care: Easy
Ball pythons are stressed easily so it's important to give it a small tank. I would suggest not keeping one in anything more than a 10 gallon as a baby and as an adult, a 30 gallon. Give it a substrate of aspen chips but do not use cedar, wood shavings, mulch, ground walnut, etc to reduce the risk of RI and impaction.
I would say to give your ball python at least 2 places to hide, wether they be caves or just lots of plants. Also give it a large water bowl (big enough for it to soak in) and probably a few plants (if, of course, when of your hiding spots already is not plants!!) to add some decor and more hiding places.
Ball pythons are slightly harder to care for than other beginner species. The temps on the 'warm' side should be roughly 90-95*F and the temps on the 'cool' side 80-85*F. This heat can be provided by a heat pad on the side of the tank and a heat lamp overhead.
Ball pythons also like occasional humidity so spritz it once a week-once every 2 weeks for a humidity boost of maybe 70%. Otherwise it can be 40%.
Ball pythons are absolutely notorious for their VERY bad feeding attitudes so you need to take this into a lot of consideration before buying a ball python.
Normally you should only buy frozen mice to feed but sometimes ball python owners--driven by desperation--feed their snakes live mice. This is a BIGmistake!! Live mice can be very dangerous for two reasons, the first being they can carry disease, the second being they can deal deadly bites.
Before you feed live, PLEASE make sure to do everything you can before switching to live!!
Otherwise, feeding is the same as with all snakes.
The two main reasons ball pythons do not eat are:
1. Improper humidity/heat
2. Stress
Stress is usually caused by a few things: excessive handling (should only be handled every few days) too large a tank, not acclimated and too much foot traffic in the room. Please restrain from handing a new snake for at LEAST 72 hours, a Ball python should be left alone for about 5 days.
Shedding is the same for many snakes: boost the humidity and provide a rock for rubbing. Make sure no eyecaps are retained.
Breeding ball pythons is complicated but breeding no snake is reccomended to a beginner.
Any other questions about Ball pythons can be PM'ed to me and I will include them!!
~Nat~
Other names: Royal python
Size: 3-6'
Ease of care: Easy
Ball pythons are stressed easily so it's important to give it a small tank. I would suggest not keeping one in anything more than a 10 gallon as a baby and as an adult, a 30 gallon. Give it a substrate of aspen chips but do not use cedar, wood shavings, mulch, ground walnut, etc to reduce the risk of RI and impaction.
I would say to give your ball python at least 2 places to hide, wether they be caves or just lots of plants. Also give it a large water bowl (big enough for it to soak in) and probably a few plants (if, of course, when of your hiding spots already is not plants!!) to add some decor and more hiding places.
Ball pythons are slightly harder to care for than other beginner species. The temps on the 'warm' side should be roughly 90-95*F and the temps on the 'cool' side 80-85*F. This heat can be provided by a heat pad on the side of the tank and a heat lamp overhead.
Ball pythons also like occasional humidity so spritz it once a week-once every 2 weeks for a humidity boost of maybe 70%. Otherwise it can be 40%.
Ball pythons are absolutely notorious for their VERY bad feeding attitudes so you need to take this into a lot of consideration before buying a ball python.
Normally you should only buy frozen mice to feed but sometimes ball python owners--driven by desperation--feed their snakes live mice. This is a BIGmistake!! Live mice can be very dangerous for two reasons, the first being they can carry disease, the second being they can deal deadly bites.
Before you feed live, PLEASE make sure to do everything you can before switching to live!!
Otherwise, feeding is the same as with all snakes.
The two main reasons ball pythons do not eat are:
1. Improper humidity/heat
2. Stress
Stress is usually caused by a few things: excessive handling (should only be handled every few days) too large a tank, not acclimated and too much foot traffic in the room. Please restrain from handing a new snake for at LEAST 72 hours, a Ball python should be left alone for about 5 days.
Shedding is the same for many snakes: boost the humidity and provide a rock for rubbing. Make sure no eyecaps are retained.
Breeding ball pythons is complicated but breeding no snake is reccomended to a beginner.
Any other questions about Ball pythons can be PM'ed to me and I will include them!!
~Nat~
