Ball pythons are popular pets due to their docile nature and manageable size. Native to temperate to arid regions of Africa, these snakes require specific care to thrive in captivity. This article provides a detailed guide to ensure your ball python lives a long and healthy life.
Housing
All ball pythons need escape-proof cages. There are many nice glass cages with sliding tops that lock securely.
Cage Size:
- A young ball python will do well in a 10-gallon size cage, around 12" wide by 20" long.
- An adult ball python can live its whole life in a 20- to 30-gallon size cage, around 15" wide by 36" long.
- An adult ball python should be housed in a breeder tank 40 gallons or larger.
Bigger is not always better, at least for babies, since some ball pythons feel more secure in smaller cages. Many breeders keep their ball pythons in plastic sweater boxes in large rack systems.
It should be alert to its surroundings with the combination fixed screen/hinged glass top.
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Substrate:
Paper-based bedding, reptile carpet, cypress mulch, coconut husk, and aspen wood shavings are all suitable choices for substrate. Arizona is much drier than other parts of the country and what works well in damp Florida or muggy east Texas may not work well here. Cypress mulch is a good choice as it retains moisture well but also dries out quickly on its surface. A layer of this cypress mulch about 1" deep will give the ball python a chance to burrow if it desires. The cypress mulch should be damp, but not dripping wet, at the bottom of the cage, and you should mist the cage daily so that the cage stays humid.
If aspen is used as a substrate, it must be replaced weekly to prevent the substrate from getting excessively wet, soiled, or molded. If wood shavings, mulch, or coconut husk bedding of any kind is used, the snake should be fed in a separate enclosure without loose substrate.
Even with this effort, some cages may still be too dry which results in shedding difficulties. A water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in when it wants, or may be enough during part of the year.
Hiding Areas:
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Pet parents should provide their ball pythons with at least two hiding areas-one kept on the warmer side of the enclosure and one on the cooler side. Synthetic or natural wood hiding logs are recommended. Hiding logs should always be large enough for the snake to fit inside comfortably. Add moistened sphagnum moss to the inside of a hideout box kept on the warm side of a ball python’s enclosure to create a humid hide.
Plants and Terrarium Background:
Adding plants and a terrarium background to a snake’s enclosure can enrich the snake’s environment and add some aesthetic flair.
Temperature and Humidity
Pet parents must check the temperatures of their ball python’s habitat daily. Two thermometers-one in the warm area and one in the cool area-should be placed in the enclosure so that both zones can be checked at once. Ball pythons need a thermal gradient in their enclosure so they can warm up and cool down as needed.
Pet parents should install an over-the-tank basking lamp with a heat bulb to supply radiant heat in their snake’s habitat. The wattage needed for the bulb depends on the size of the enclosure, the distance of the bulb from the snake, and the ambient temperature of the room where the enclosure is kept. In addition to over-tank heating bulbs, under-tank heating pads may also be added to maintain appropriate tank temperatures.
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Heating:
- A thermal gradient range is essential to keeping your snake healthy.
- Maintain a gradient of 80-85F (26.5-29.5 C) on the cool end of the cage during the day, with a basking area kept at 90F (32.5 C).
- Do not use a hot rock.
Lighting:
Note: Some light bulbs provide not only light to the tank but also heat and/or ultraviolet (UV) light. Although ball pythons are nocturnal animals, studies show that daily exposure to UV light can benefit their overall health. UVA/UVB light can improve the immune system function and promote normal behavior in all reptiles. White lights should not be left on continuously, as they will disrupt the snake’s natural sleep cycle and negatively affect their health.
Humidity:
Ball pythons need humidity in their environment to stay hydrated, support their respiratory systems, and encourage healthy shed cycles. The ideal humidity range for a ball python’s habitat is 40% to 60%. During shedding cycles, increase the enclosure’s humidity to around 70%.
Feeding
Ball pythons feed on whole, thawed frozen rodents, such as mice and rats.
Feeding Schedule:
A ball python’s ideal feeding schedule will depend on its age, size, and activity level. Juvenile ball pythons should be fed once a week, while adults only need to be fed every 1-2 weeks. Start juvenile snakes on a diet of “pinkies,” or young and nearly hairless mice. Prey should be around the same size as the snake’s width at mid-body.
Important Feeding Tips:
- Do not feed your ball python live prey.
- Ideally, feeding sessions should take place in a separate enclosure. That way, the snake will learn not to associate its pet parent’s hand or the opening of its usual habitat with feeding.
- Put the frozen food in a sealed plastic bag and place it in a thawing container filled with cold water. Keep the food in the water until it thaws.
- Place the thawed prey, still in the sealed plastic bag, in the warm water. Using feeding tongs, offer the food to the pet immediately.
- Never use a microwave to thaw or warm frozen rodents, and never offer food that's still frozen to a pet.
- Avoid preparing frozen rodents in the same area that used to prepare food.
Always provide a bowl of fresh water at all times. The snake may soak, and may defecate, in it. Check it daily and change when soiled.
Ball Python Setup for Beginners
Handling
Most ball pythons are docile and tolerant of handling once they’re socialized. But, like all snakes, they may strike if they feel ill, stressed, or threatened. On occasion, snakes may mistake human hands as a food source.
After giving your new ball python a couple of days to settle in, begin picking it up and handling it gently. Be gentle but persistent.
Handling Tips:
- Always be gentle, and try to avoid sudden movements.
- Be very careful about handling it soon after they have eaten.
- Don't get overconfident!
Health and Hygiene
A ball python’s habitat needs to be cleaned and disinfected at least once a week with either a commercially available habitat cleaner or a 3% bleach solution. Move the snake to a secure environment. Scrub the empty tank and any furnishings with a reptile habitat cleaner or 3% bleach solution. The bleach solution should stay on the habitat for at least 10 minutes to ensure that the surfaces are disinfected properly.
All reptiles are potential carriers of infectious diseases including Salmonella bacteria, which is a zoonotic (transmittable to people) disease.
Care for newly acquired snakes is essential. Check it for mites and the condition of the feces.
Common Health Issues:
Common problems seen in captivity include retained eye shed (spectacles) and mites.
Veterinary Care:
Ball pythons should be seen by a veterinarian once annually. They can be transported using a ventilated plastic lidded bin, with or without a snake bag.
Ball Python FAQs
How big do ball pythons get?
The average size of an adult ball python is 4-5 feet long.
How long do ball pythons live?
Ball pythons can live up to 30 years with proper care.
Are ball pythons venomous?
Ball pythons are not venomous.
Is a ball python snake a friendly pet?
Though these animals are very comfortable with solitary living and may not seek out attention, socialized ball pythons are often affectionate and friendly with their family.
Are ball pythons good pets?
Generally, ball pythons make great pets. They require a bit of experience and come with a learning curve as they are prone to a couple health issues that can necessitate troubleshooting, like chronic anorexia or issues with parasites.
How much is a ball python?
Cost for a ball python can vary. A traditional ball python can cost about $20 but specific morphs often cost at least a couple hundred dollars and rarer varieties can cost several thousand dollars.
