Ball Python Care Guide / Shopping List / Tips and Tricks

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Care Guide

Here are a few things to know about your new companion.

First of all, Ball Pythons make great pets but you have to know what you are getting into and be willing to commit for 30 years or more and provide adequate husbandry, food, and vet care when necessary.

Average Size: Hatchlings 10+ inches, adults 3 to 5 feet. (6 feet is not impossible but rare).

Temperatures

You will need to provide your Ball Python with a warm side between 88-90 F degrees and a cool side between 78-80 degrees.

Humidity

You should provide your Ball Python with a constant 50%-60% humidity level. This level can be increased to 70% during the shedding period if necessary.
Feeding

Young BP can be fed a prey slightly smaller than the girth size once every 5 to 7 days.

Adults can be fed a small/medium rat (4 to 6 weeks old / 65-175 grams) or 3 to 5 mice (whichever work best and/or is more convenient for the keeper) once a week.

Food size will depends on the animal size and sex with males requiring less food than females.

Feeding Recommendations



Remember if you chose to feed live you must always supervise feeding and never leave a prey unattended with your snake.

Do not handle your Ball Python for the next 48 hours following feeding. If handle to soon after a meal this could lead to regurgitation.

Supply Check list

1 Enclosure

Your enclosure should not be too big, the bigger the enclosure the more stress you will cause to your Ball Python, remember that in their natural environment they spend 80% to 90% of their time in a tight termite mount.

You can use a glass tank; keep in mind that is you do it will be harder to control temperatures and humidity.

If you get a baby you will only need a 5 to 10 gallons tank to start with and if you chose an adult a 30/40 gallons tank is all you will ever need. Use the rule of thumb: The enclosure should be 2/3 of the length of your Ball Python.

A lot of people choose plastic tubs (Sterilite or Rubbermaid), which allow an easier control of the temperatures and humidity and make Ball Pythons feel secure.

When it comes to plastic tubs here are the sizes you will need according to your Ball Python's size

• Hatchling - 6 Quarts (14 1/2"L x 8"W x 4 5/8"H)
• Juvies - 15 Quarts (17"L x 11 1/8"W x 6 3/8"H)  Adult Males - 32 Quarts (23 1/2"L x 16 1/4"W x 6 3/8"H)
• Adult Females - 41 Quarts (34-3/4-Inch 16-1/2-by-6-Inch)

(Remember you will need a drill or soldering wand to make holes for airflow)

No matter which enclosure you choose remember to secure the lid as Ball Pythons are real escape artists.

1 UTH (Under Tank Heater)

Here are some products that will allow you to provide belly heat and achieve the required gradient temperatures in your enclosure: Ultratherm Heat Pads, T Rex Cobra Pads and Flexwatt Heat Tape (Unlike some others they do not stick permanently to the enclosure).

1 Thermostat

Regardless of the device you choose to provide heat you will need a thermostat, this will allow you to maintain proper temperatures and avoid over-heating.

I would highly recommend you to invest in a digital thermostat such as Ranco ETC-111000 or Johnson on the lower end, or Herpstat Digital Proportional Thermostat, Vivarium Electronics or Helix on the higher end, they might seem expensive but they are worth it. Keep in mind that if you get a cheap thermostat like the ESU 1 outlet or 3 outlets starting at 25 dollars you will get what you paid for, considering how long your BP will live, you will want to invest in something durable, reliable and safe.

2 Hides

Provide one hide on each side of the enclosure. Ideal hides must be dark, tight (All sides touching your Ball Python's body) and identical so your Ball Python does not choose between security and thermo- regulation. In my opinion the best hides are ESU/Zilla Creature Cubbyholes.

1 Water Dish

Contrary to what many believe the water dish does not have to be big enough for your Ball Python to soak (Healthy, mite free BP rarely soak).

1 Thermometer/Hygrometer

When it comes to temperatures and humidity you cannot guess, you MUST know. (Avoid stick and dial devices as they are not accurate). To get an accurate reading I would recommend a digital device such as Acu-Rite Hygrometer/Thermometer that can be found at Walmart for 12$ or Zilla Terrarium Hygrometer/Thermometer, the purchase of a temp gun is also highly recommended.

Substrate

Here are some substrates that can be used in your BP's enclosure: Newspaper - Paper Towel – Aspen - Repti-bark - Cypress Mulch etc. DO NOT cedar bedding as they contain phenols that can be toxic to your snake.

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