Care Sheet for Ball PythonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.30 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 02/24/2006 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Ball Pythons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Sully |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Ball python |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | all ball python morphs |
Sexing and Characteristics: | There is no 100% way to tell what sex a snake is unless you have an expeienced vet or otherwise probe you snake. if tthe person is not experienced it is possible that they will harm the snake |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | There is much debate on substrates, most people will tell you that aspen is the best but i think it looks un-natural.so if u want a natural looking substrate use cypress mulch or fir-bark, aspen is a very good substrate though
freas water should ALWAYS be provided because most snakes urinate/deficate in their water, so water should be refilled everyday. |
Lighting and UVB: | UVB is not needed, lighting should be on a 12/12 schedule, when its winter a 14 hours of dark and 10 hours of light schedule works well. but this is only if you wish to use lighting, i prefer an under tank heater ( heat mat) |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Day time temp ambiant should be about 87 degrres farenheit, with a 92 degree basking spot, cool side can be about 80 to 84 degrees farenheit. night-time tepms. should be about 82 to 84 degrees farenheit.
humidity does not have to be extremely high about 40 to 60 % is fine, you may want to up it to 70 % when thety are in a shed cycle but it is not nescessary. |
Heating and Equipment: | It all depends on the cage size, for that matter i use a heating pad, you can purchase on of these at just about any pet store, make sure you get one that is appropiately sized UTH,
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Caging Provided: | You can house a hatchling in a 10 gallon tank for about 5 months and then upgrade to a 20 gallon long, this should last about 2 years and then a 30 gallon breeder will suffce for the rest of a ball python’s life, i use a 40 gallon breeder but it is not nescessary. also the a very important element in a ball python’s life a few good hide boxes, one on the cool end and one on the hot end. a water bowl that the snake can fully submerge itself in is prefered. and maybe a few climbing branches. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Rodents, rodents and more rodents, a hatchling can eat rat pups for a while then upgrade to adult mouse, until about 9 months to a year old you can start feeding small rats. ball python’s have a bad reputation for being picky eaters, yes mine will only eat live prey but you should try as hard as possible to get your snake to eat frozen/thawed or fresh killed, because a live rodent can kill ot seriously injur a ball python. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | None are needed they get all of their supplements from their whole prey items |
Maintenance: | A ball python is considered a very gorr beginner snake because they are vey low mauntenance snakes.
spot clean you snakes cage as needed. i.e. when you notice poop or regurgitated meals clean it up immediatly
fully clean out your snakes cage once a month |
Some Words on this Species: | This is a very rewarding species and is one of the most requested snakes in the country. but as with any species of any animal you should really do a lot of research so you know as much as possible. there are dozens of morphs with this species many of wich are very expensive.
( i am in no way saying this is the best way, this is just works well for me) |
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