Care Sheet for Ball PythonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.44 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 05/10/2005 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Ball Pythons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Emperor_Boa |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | West African Python/Ball Python |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Sexing of a snake should be done by a QUALIFIED veterinarian. They use a probe and count up the scale count. |
Mostly Active During: | N/A |
Substrate and Water Needs: | You can use mulch(coconut or aspen). But DO NOT use cedar. It is toxic and can be fatal. You can use carpeting, or, more economically newspaper. Use a water dish big enough for it to soak in. They usually won’t soak unless shedding or if they have mites. Use a deep water dish. It can aid in adding humidity. |
Lighting and UVB: | They do not require lightning or UVB. They get their vitamin D3 from the livers of their prey. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Ball Pythons are extremely hardy. But, they should be kept within 80 to 90 degree temperatures. Humidity should be maintained within 40 to 50 percent. Don’t make it too humid or the Ball Python can get sick. Lightning is up to the preference of the owner. |
Heating and Equipment: | Use an under the tank heating pad that is half the size of the tank. Place 2 hid spots on opposite sides. Place water dish in the middle of the tank. Use ropes or thick string(not nylon) as jungle vines. |
Caging Provided: | Hatchling can be kept in a 10 gallon tank. After about 1 year keep in a 20 gallon tank until about 3. Then use a 30 to 50 gallon tank for remainder of it’s life. Make sure all aquariums are twice as long as snake. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | As hatchlings(until about 6 months old), feed pinkie or fuzzy mice. Then feed mice. Do this until large enough to feed rates. FEED EVERY WEEK UNTIL 3 YEARS OLD. Then feed once every 2 weeks for 1 year, then once a month for remainder of life(unless females are breeding). |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Dust mice with calcium. |
Maintenance: | Clean out cage once a week using a 5percent bleach solution. Mist once a week or while shedding. |
Some Words on this Species: | Ball python males get to about 3 to 6 feet long while females are about 6 to 9 feet long(in optimal conditions). They can up to 40 years but average around 30 years. For more information or breeding tips e-mail me at Boa_Constrictor_Imperator@yahoo.com |
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