Care Sheet for Ball PythonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 5.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 05/28/2007 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Ball Pythons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Bazzer |
Years Experience: | Under 1 Year |
Species: | Royal Python |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | It has been said that males generally have longer anal spurs than females and adult females are bigger than males. Unless you know what you’re doing, don’t attempt to sex your snake by using methods described in books/ on the internet by probing etc, as you may harm your snake. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Change water once/ twice a day, as snakes sometimes defecate in it.
I use aspen/ orchid bark or both as substrate, as both are good for holding humidity and look natural. Other options include newspaper, reptile carpet or astro turf, but make sure you have several pieces to hand for cage hygiene. |
Lighting and UVB: | 50watt infra red bulb to help maintain temperature.
The wattage may have to be upped in the winter months.
12/12 day time/ night time lighting cycle in winter, followed by a 14/12 day time/ night time cycle in the summer. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Warm end hide temp - 90f (day time)
Warm end outside temp - 95f (day time)
Cool end (day time) - 80f
Night time temperature - 76f to 80f
Humidity = 40 to 60 (raise to approx 70 in shedding cycle or introduce a humidity box). |
Heating and Equipment: | I have a wooden vivarium with sliding glass doors. I use the following for a 36 x 20 x 20 viv:
1. 70watt heat plate fitted to sealing (warm end)
2. 20watt habistat heat mat underneath a layer of aspen under the warm hide.
3. 1 and 2 are controlled by habistat thermostats, with number 2 set to 90f, with probe inside warm hide, and 1 set to 80f with probe placed in cool end.
4. An infra red 50watt bulb in warm end, to help with heating as necessary (not usually needed).
5. A dulux digital thermometer/ hygrometer. The unit is placed in cool end and the probe is placed inside the warm end hide to measure the hide temperature. I also have another digital thermometer/ hygrometer to measure outside temperature/humidity in warm end.
6. 2 identical hides (snug hit for snakes), one in cool end and one in warm end.
7. A heavy medium size water bowl placed in cool end.
8. Substrate.
9. Artificial plants and climbing branches.
10. A very long pair of feeding tweezers and spare parts for your vivarium as req’d. |
Caging Provided: | I have a wooden vivarium with sliding glass doors. It measures 36 inch x 20 inch x 20 inch. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | I have a CB06 royal python approx.18 inches to 2 foot feeding on medium/ large mice.
Also, I have an adult royal python approx 3 ft long feeding on weaner rats.
Rats are generally better as they are full of nutrients and more fatty. One rat every seven days is plenty to feed. One mouse a week will be plenty for younger royals. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Nil |
Maintenance: | I’m fussy. I give mine a complete clean out once a week, including fittings etc. Husbandry is important.
Also, I do spot checks/ cleans on a daily basis to remove any stool etc.
Change water daily. |
Some Words on this Species: | Excellent. Docile and slow moving, which would rather curl into a ball than bite. Become very tame with gentle handling and care.
Level of experience is beginner upwards, but if you have no snake keeping experience at all, I would recommend reading up on and owning a Corn Snake for a few months first, to check you can manage. |
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