How to Care for a Ball Python Snake
With its docile, friendly personality, a ball python is a great choice for a first snake, or a nice addition to the collection of an experienced reptile keeper. With the proper care and maintenance, these snakes can live up to 30 years.
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Things You'll Need
- Enclosure Water dish Substrate (such as coconut bark) Hide box Heating pad Heating lamp
Instructions
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Set up a place for your snake to live. Ball pythons grow to 4 or 5 feet long, so you won't need an enclosure as big as you would use for a large snake, such as a Burmese python. It is still important to provide the proper amount of room, however. Baby snakes can live in well-ventilated plastic shoeboxes, but will eventually need to be moved into a larger space. Twenty-gallon aquariums will work well for a few years, but eventually, you will have to either buy or build an enclosure of at least 40 gallons. Ball pythons do not climb as much as boa constrictor snakes will, so the height of the cage sides is not as important as the width--though you should make sure it is at least 1 foot. You must include a water dish large enough for the snake to soak at least part of itself in, as well as including a hide box large enough for the animal to pull its entire body inside. This will make your ball python feel safe and secure within its enclosure. For proper heating, attach a heat mat to the bottom of the tank or use a heat lamp above, which will also provide lighting. Humidity is important with ball pythons, so use a substrate (such as coconut bark) that will retain moisture, make sure the water dish is always full and mist the cage lightly every day or so.
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Follow a feeding schedule. Ball pythons can be picky eaters, especially if you get an adult that was caught wild. It may be difficult to feed them dead rodents, so if it has been several weeks since you brought your snake home and he has refused any frozen mice, try to give him a live mouse and see if he will eat that. Then you will know that his prior refusal stemmed from the state of the food he was given, and not a more serious reason. But if he will accept frozen mice (that have been thawed and left to warm up to room temperature), this may be your best option, as you won't risk your snake getting hurt by a mouse that fights back. Baby snakes should be fed small, fuzzy or hopper-size mice once a week. Once they have grown large enough, you can start feeding them larger mice once every 2 weeks.
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Clean your snake's enclosure regularly to keep him healthy. Change his water every day, especially if he is defecating in it. Because you are keeping the humidity level relatively high, you run the risk of growing mold or mildew on the substrate. You need to check it often and remove any bad pieces immediately. If your ball python refuses a mouse you have put in the cage for it to eat, remove the carcass after an hour or so, as it can become rotten and soil the bedding and area around it.
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Keep an eye on your snake's health. By watching and observing your ball python, you will become aware of its normal routine and behaviors. If you notice these changing--such as your snake becoming inactive when it was normally very busy, or refusing food though it has been weeks since its last meal--seek veterinary help. Snakes can catch parasites such as ticks and mites, as well as viruses and infections such as respiratory problems. They can become sick very quickly, and if you do not pay attention and catch the problem right away, you could lose your animal.
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Decide if you want to breed your snake. Many ball python owners wish to do so at some point, for either fun or profit. This can be a lengthy and involved process, so it is important to decide as soon as possible once you buy a snake if you will one day want to breed it. If you make that decision, you will need to buy at least one other snake of the opposite sex. It often works best to have one female and two male ball pythons to initiate mating behavior. They will need to be the proper size for mating, which can take years of growth--especially for females, who need to weigh at least 1,200g. You will also need to provide separate housing for the male and female snakes, which can consist of plastic sweater boxes with ventilation holes and solid lids. Snakes breed after being put through a cooling-off and warming-up cycle, during which they need certain amounts of light and darkness each day. They must be kept at relatively cool temperatures and then raised to warmer ones. Unless you are prepared for all of the time, money and effort involved in breeding ball pythons, you may want to leave it to the experts.
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Tips & Warnings
Include something rough in the enclosure, such as a rock (with no sharp edges) or a log. Ball pythons can use these to help shed their skin.
Never use cedar bedding for a snake. Cedar contains oils that are toxic to most reptiles, and could actually kill your animal. Make sure the lid of your snake enclosure clips down firmly. Ball pythons will push along the top of their tank, and if they find a weak spot, they will sneak out.
Resources
- Photo Credit Chelydra.org
