I'm not entirely new to ball pythons since I had one for two months which unfortunately died under freak circumstances and the other has been around for almost 2 months. For advice I would like to know the temp ranges for ball pythons, does it matter what kind of olive oil you use on them for mites? how do you tell if they have respiratory infections? what size tank do they prefer? can they swim? how do you prevent them from getting out of their tanks? mine has escaped a few times, he's a baby and I did not expect for him to lift half of what he has. I've been handling him every other day but his attitude hasn't seemed to mellow down so I was wondering if there was something else I could do for him. I was also wondering the best way to get a ball python off live mice. I hear it makes the snake less aggressive, or is it a myth?

right now I have him in a 20 gal tank with a snug hiding spot which is cool for him. I also have a little rock bathing tub thats just enough to cover him and a leafy green vine to provide hiding area for him. I also have one of those heat mats that lie beneath the tank and I've made sure it didn't get too warm (originally I had heat rock but deemed it evil since i burned myself with it) currently my room is usually at a average 80 temp. (many reptiles live in my room) for substrate i currently just have paper since he has been having a very persistent mite problem