How to Take Care of Ball Python Snakes

It is important to be well educated about pythons before purchasing one. These snakes are not for new pet owners; they can be difficult to keep, and they require a lot of work. The following article gives an overview on caring for a ball python.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tank
• Tank decorations
• Water dish
• Heating source
• Lock for tank
• Bedding
• Mice or Rats

How to Take Care of Ball Python Snakes

1. Decide on a home for your snake. The tank does not have to be very high but it should be wide enough for the python to stretch out. A 55 gallon fish tank would actually be an appropriate tank for a ball python.

2. Make sure that your tank has an appropriate lock on it. It is dangerous for your python to be outside of his cage, unsupervised.

3. You now need to choose a lining or bedding for your tank. Artificial turf is easy to clean and inexpensive. You can also use wood chips, alfalfa pellets or newspaper.

4. It is also important to provide hiding places for your snake. A python may easily become stressed if she does not have a place to hide within her tank. You can used hollow logs, clay pots, corkbark, or a small cardboard box to create nooks and hiding spots.

5. Maintain the proper temperature for your python. The optimum temperature is 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, be sure that the temperature does not drop below 75 degrees. Maintain a basking area for your snake at 90 degrees. This can be achieved by purchasing a heat lamp from any pet store. Heat rocks are also available so that the light doesn't need to be on throughout the night.

6. You must provide your python with the appropriate food. Adult snakes will eat about 2 to 4 large mice or 1 to 2 rats per week. It may take some time for your snake to eat the mice. Encourage your python to eat pre-killed mice to avoid injury.

7. Provide fresh water for your python at all times. The snake will use the water to both drink and soak in. Change the water often.

Tips & Warnings

• Corkbark or a hollow log is an ideal hiding place for your snake. They are attractive looking in the tank and they are more appealing to the snakes.
• It is advisable to remove your python from his tank at feeding time. Doing this will help the snake become used to being handled.
• When choosing a snake, ask the owner or breeder to feed the snake for you. If the owner refuses or makes excuses as to why the snake will not eat, do not purchase this python.
• Only feed your python pre-killed mice or rats. Live prey can be dangerous for your snake. Mice and rats have sharp teeth and claws that can actually injure your python.
• Do not use cedar as a bedding for your python because it is poisonous if swallowed.

Resources

• Ball python care sheet

[wingedwolfpsion]

on 10/6/2009 There are a lot of problems with this article. Hot rocks are not recommended by the manufacturer for use with any snake, and they're recommended by the reptile community for use AT ALL. You make no mention of proper humidity. This should be 60%, which rules out alfalfa pellets as an appropriate bedding. Pine is also toxic. Ball pythons generally shouldn't be moved to a separate container for feeding, they tend to be too shy to tolerate this. Handle them 2 days after they eat, so they have time to digest their food. Hollow logs are undesireable hides--an upturned bowl with a hole cut in the side, or hide cave JUST large enough for the snake to squeeze into will make it much more comfortable. There should be identical hides on each side of the tank, so the snake will not sacrifice thermoregulation for security. Never leave live prey alone with your snake. Rats and mice can, h...