Ball Python Care
Setup
Housing
-A single ball python can be house in a 40 gallon aquarium (minimum). Babies can be housed in a 10-20 gallon aquarium.
-An aquarium must have a screen lid on the top to prevent other pets from harming your snake and your snake from escaping. (Lid locks may be used)
Heating, Lighting, and Humidity
-Place heat pad on one side of the aquarium, most heat pads should be placed on the underside of the aquarium. Do not turn it on yet; do it when you’re finished with the aquarium. For heat lamp users, screw on heat bulb (25-50 watt red bulbs work well). Place heat lamp on top of the screen lid, on the same side as the heat pad. The best heat source for ball pythons is the heat pad (it should be big enough to cover 1/3 of the aquarium) Heat lamps are used if the heat pad does not provide enough heat, or for night time.** Remember not to use bulbs that produce white light, it can harm your snake's eyesight and prevent it from coming out of its hiding place. Temperatures on the side of the heating source at day time should be around 89F. The opposite side should be around 85F At night time, the whole tank can be around 75. Place a thermometer on either side of the aquarium, this helps you keep the temps right.
Ball pythons do not need any UV lighting because they are nocturnal.
The snake needs high humidity. They will need to have a large water dish to maintain that humidity.
Substrate
-Reptile carpet, aspen wood shavings, reptile bark, coconut fiber, paper towels, and newspaper can be used as substrate.
Hiding Spots
-Ball pythons will need at least one hiding spot in its home (two or three is better) They will rest in it, and hide in it when they feel threatened. Without a hiding spot, they feel exposed and vulnerable, which can lead to great stress. There are many types of hiding spots available at pet stores, but you can always make one out of cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, and napkin boxes. **Some people like to have a humid hide in their geckos' home; it will help them shed better. Just place some moist paper towels in one of the hides on the cooler side.
Decorations
-This is not necessary, but decorations can make your snake's home more nice and comfortable. You can get smooth stones, bark, and branches from your backyard; just make sure you clean it very well before using it. Plants can be used, too. Personally, I think artificial plants work better than real plants. If you use real plants you must make sure that it is not harmful to your snake, you also have to water it, and give it UV lighting.
Food and Water
Types of Food
- Babies will eat pinkies and adults eat large mice and rats.
Frozen thawed or live.
How to Feed
- -Most people will feed their ball pythons frozen thawed mice or rats. Live mice and rats can bite and scratch your snake; sometimes it can be quite fatal. If feeding thawed, place the rodent in a plastic bag, seal it, and dump the whole thing in a cup of warm water. Wait for 15 minutes, the mouse shouldn’t have any frozen parts. Use tongs to feed your snake to prevent any accidental biting. If feeding life, watch your snake until your snake is swallowing the mouse. If the rodent is biting, quickly put a chopstick or any other objects in the mouth. Feed a mouse that is the appropriate size. It should be no more than 4 times the length of the width of your snake. Feed your ball python every 10 days. Ball pythons are known to be picky eaters. If your ball python won’t eat, do not panic! Some will not eat for months and they are still fine! Some tricks are done to make your snake eat. 1. Ball pythons love gerbils; try feeding your snake a gerbil or rub .the mouse with gerbil bedding. 2. Cut the animal open; the smell of blood might make your snake want to eat. 3. Check if the heat source is still working; snakes won’t eat when they are cold. If your snake is still not eating after a long time, it might be sick. Go to a vet.
Water
-Ball pythons will need fresh water everyday. Poor water in a dish. You can use bottled water or tap water with one or two drops of dechlorinator.
Cleaning
1. Take your snake out of her tank, put her in a small container.
2. Unplug all the heat sources, take off the heat lamp. Some heat pads have to be stuck to the bottom so don't take those off.
3. Take the water dish and wash it with water, then dry it
4. Take all furnishings out and wash them well with a diluted bleach solution, and rinse it very well with water. Dry all furnishings. Don't wash anything that is made out of wood; they can be hard to dry...just give them a good shake outside.
5. Dump out old substrate. Refill with new ones.
6. When there is nothing in the aquarium, wash it using soap or a diluted bleach solution, scrub it well, and then rinse the aquarium with lots of water.
7. Dry the aquarium with paper towels.
8. Add in all the materials when the aquarium is dry, including the new substrate. 9. Put your ball python back in her home.
10. Turn on the heat source and close the lid.
Handling
Ball pythons rarely bite, and they usually bite when they think your hand is food! So when you are feeding them, use a tong just in case. Also try feeding them in a separate container; they will know that they will only get food in that container and will not mistake your hand as food when you reach in their enclosure.
All info are self-written
Housing
-A single ball python can be house in a 40 gallon aquarium (minimum). Babies can be housed in a 10-20 gallon aquarium.
-An aquarium must have a screen lid on the top to prevent other pets from harming your snake and your snake from escaping. (Lid locks may be used)
Heating, Lighting, and Humidity
-Place heat pad on one side of the aquarium, most heat pads should be placed on the underside of the aquarium. Do not turn it on yet; do it when you’re finished with the aquarium. For heat lamp users, screw on heat bulb (25-50 watt red bulbs work well). Place heat lamp on top of the screen lid, on the same side as the heat pad. The best heat source for ball pythons is the heat pad (it should be big enough to cover 1/3 of the aquarium) Heat lamps are used if the heat pad does not provide enough heat, or for night time.** Remember not to use bulbs that produce white light, it can harm your snake's eyesight and prevent it from coming out of its hiding place. Temperatures on the side of the heating source at day time should be around 89F. The opposite side should be around 85F At night time, the whole tank can be around 75. Place a thermometer on either side of the aquarium, this helps you keep the temps right.
Ball pythons do not need any UV lighting because they are nocturnal.
The snake needs high humidity. They will need to have a large water dish to maintain that humidity.
Substrate
-Reptile carpet, aspen wood shavings, reptile bark, coconut fiber, paper towels, and newspaper can be used as substrate.
Hiding Spots
-Ball pythons will need at least one hiding spot in its home (two or three is better) They will rest in it, and hide in it when they feel threatened. Without a hiding spot, they feel exposed and vulnerable, which can lead to great stress. There are many types of hiding spots available at pet stores, but you can always make one out of cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, and napkin boxes. **Some people like to have a humid hide in their geckos' home; it will help them shed better. Just place some moist paper towels in one of the hides on the cooler side.
Decorations
-This is not necessary, but decorations can make your snake's home more nice and comfortable. You can get smooth stones, bark, and branches from your backyard; just make sure you clean it very well before using it. Plants can be used, too. Personally, I think artificial plants work better than real plants. If you use real plants you must make sure that it is not harmful to your snake, you also have to water it, and give it UV lighting.
Food and Water
Types of Food
- Babies will eat pinkies and adults eat large mice and rats.
Frozen thawed or live.
How to Feed
- -Most people will feed their ball pythons frozen thawed mice or rats. Live mice and rats can bite and scratch your snake; sometimes it can be quite fatal. If feeding thawed, place the rodent in a plastic bag, seal it, and dump the whole thing in a cup of warm water. Wait for 15 minutes, the mouse shouldn’t have any frozen parts. Use tongs to feed your snake to prevent any accidental biting. If feeding life, watch your snake until your snake is swallowing the mouse. If the rodent is biting, quickly put a chopstick or any other objects in the mouth. Feed a mouse that is the appropriate size. It should be no more than 4 times the length of the width of your snake. Feed your ball python every 10 days. Ball pythons are known to be picky eaters. If your ball python won’t eat, do not panic! Some will not eat for months and they are still fine! Some tricks are done to make your snake eat. 1. Ball pythons love gerbils; try feeding your snake a gerbil or rub .the mouse with gerbil bedding. 2. Cut the animal open; the smell of blood might make your snake want to eat. 3. Check if the heat source is still working; snakes won’t eat when they are cold. If your snake is still not eating after a long time, it might be sick. Go to a vet.
Water
-Ball pythons will need fresh water everyday. Poor water in a dish. You can use bottled water or tap water with one or two drops of dechlorinator.
Cleaning
1. Take your snake out of her tank, put her in a small container.
2. Unplug all the heat sources, take off the heat lamp. Some heat pads have to be stuck to the bottom so don't take those off.
3. Take the water dish and wash it with water, then dry it
4. Take all furnishings out and wash them well with a diluted bleach solution, and rinse it very well with water. Dry all furnishings. Don't wash anything that is made out of wood; they can be hard to dry...just give them a good shake outside.
5. Dump out old substrate. Refill with new ones.
6. When there is nothing in the aquarium, wash it using soap or a diluted bleach solution, scrub it well, and then rinse the aquarium with lots of water.
7. Dry the aquarium with paper towels.
8. Add in all the materials when the aquarium is dry, including the new substrate. 9. Put your ball python back in her home.
10. Turn on the heat source and close the lid.
Handling
Ball pythons rarely bite, and they usually bite when they think your hand is food! So when you are feeding them, use a tong just in case. Also try feeding them in a separate container; they will know that they will only get food in that container and will not mistake your hand as food when you reach in their enclosure.
All info are self-written