Size: Hatchlings
range from ten inches to 17 inches. Adults range from three to five feet.
They usualy are sexually mature in 2 1/2 years.
Longevity: They are
one of the longest living snakes with a life span of 20 to 30 years. The
longest life of a ball python on record is 47 years.
Housing: First thing
first, your cage should be built for snakes and not just a fish tank with
a screen lid. The reason for this is ball pythons are escape artist and
will remove screen tops. A Critter Cage(tm) is what I suggest, at least
a 20 long. If you are in a climate that is low humitity, I suggest cutting
plexiglass to the size of the top of the cages lid cut a hole just large
enough for light fixture.This will raise humitity levels. Provide a roomy
hide and a water dish big enough for soaking.
Substrates: Use newspaper
for all newly aquired balls . This will allow you to clean the cage easily
and to readily monitor the condition of feces for parasites. Once you are
sure your snake is free of parasites you can use aspen (recommended) or
cypress. Make sure that any substrate is free of cedar. Cedar is toxic
to snakes.
Heating: Day time
temperatures should be 80-85 with a basking spot of 90. Night time temperatures
should drop to 75-80. Make sure that you keep one side cool and one warm
to allow the snake to thermoregulate. Use under the cage heaters or heat
lights as heat sourse. Never use heat rocks without a thermostat. The rocks
sold in the pet trade without a themostat get too hot and will burn your
snake. Snakes lack the nerve endings that let it know that the rocks are
too hot.
Feeding: Feed hatchlings
every 5-7 days and adults every 7-10 days. Match its prey to the thickest
part of the snake's body, not the head. As rule of thumb, 100 to 125% the
size of thickest part of snakes girth is a good size for prey. Ball pythons
are know for fasting and can go without eating for months with no ill effects,
so don't panic if your ball python stops eating.
Recommended reading:
The Ball Python Manual; de Vosjoli, Philippe; Klingenberg, D.V.M., Roger;
Barker, David; Barker, Tracy; Advanced Vivarium Systems, 1995
Return
to Ball Pythons
