How to Groom a Pet Python

Among snake owners the python is increasingly becoming the pet of choice. Pythons are a popular choice because they are mainly non-agressive in nature and feature striking patterned skins. Like all other captive snakes pet pythons need proper grooming to reduce the risk of illness or injury.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lukewarm water
• Kiddy pool or large water dish
• Cotton swaps
• Mineral oil

Grooming the Terraium

1. Clean out the pet python's cage weekly. Remove food leftovers, feces and shedded skin whenever they appear.

2. Move the python and place in a separate terrarium. Take out other items from the terrarium including the water dish. Floor coverings such as newspaper should be thrown away. Disinfect any items that were in the cage with hot boiling water.

3. Clean the terrarium with a mild detergent or boiling hot water. Once a month clean the terrarium with a mixture of mild detergent, water and a 5% bleach solution.

4. Put down fresh newspaper or floor coverings. Replace items in the terrarium, fill up the water dish and place the snake back in the terrarium.

Grooming your Python

5. Look for signs of shedding. Pythons take between 7-14 days to shed their skin. Signs a python is ready to shed its skin include cloudy eyes a dull appearance of the skin and a pink underbelly.

6. Turn up the temperate and increase the humidity of the terrarium. For pythons problems with shedding are often the result of environmental factors changing the environment should make it easier to shed the skin.

7. Let your pet python soak. Soaking in lukewarm water can help your python loosen up shedded skin. Provide a kiddy pool or water dish big enough for your python to fit in and fill up halfway.

8. Using a warm damp cloth rub over the skin. Use a cotton swap covered in mineral oil to assist shedding around the eye area.

9. Check your pet python's skin for signs of mites, ticks and other parasites. Look for signs of infection and mouth rot.

Tips & Warnings

• If any parasites or infections are found on your snake seek veterinary assistance to determine the best course of action.
• Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after touching your pet python.
• Snakes carry the bacterial disease Salmonella. Snakes should not come into contact with children under 5 or be allowed in a home with people with compromised immune systems.
• When shedding pythons have trouble seeing and should not be handled during this time.