Facts and Care for Ball Pythons

Always keep in mind Proper care should be your first concern. Care sheets are a guideline for keeping healthy and happy Ball Python Snakes. Use Ball Python Care sheets as a guide to help you maintain the proper environment, and health of your snake.

Ball Pythons Snakes are a relatively small, thick-bodied species of python featuring a slender neck and well differentiated head. Common "wild-type" Ball Pythons are highly variable in color and pattern, but all feature some version of tan "blobs" on a chocolate or black background, edged with varying degrees of white, with white bellies that may or may not contain some dark speckling pattern. Thanks to the efforts of breeders and enthusiasts, however, Ball Pythons are becoming increasingly available in a wide range of brilliant colors and patterns called "morphs."

The Ball Python come from the forests of central and western Africa and typically make their homes in abandoned rodent burrows or termite mounds. Their common name "ball" comes from their tendency to curl up into a ball and hide their head within their coils when threatened. This unaggressive defense mechanism, combined with their manageable size of 4 to 5 foot range. They are an attractive looking snake and if cared for properly have very long lives (Average 25 years or more).

Please do not buy wild caught Ball Pythons as more than 50,000 Ball Pythons are imported into the U.S. every year and have put major strains on the native populations. In addition, most imported snakes tend to have health issues like parasites, etc.

The most popular and convenient methods of housing Ball Pythons are plastic tubs, or professionally built enclosures. Whether you choose one of these, or choose to make your own, any enclosure must provide the following necessities:

• adequate ventilation
• thermal gradient heat
• proper humidity levels
• sufficient space
• fresh water
• security to prevent escape

For Baby/Juvenile ball python's up to 2' a Tub Dimensions - 12" x 3" x 2" (or equivalently sized) enclosure is adequate. For adults a Tub Dimensions - 16 1/8" x23 3/4" x 6" should provide them with enough room for the duration of their lives.

PLASTIC - Use of plastic storage tubs (usually by Sterilite or Rubber maid or Iris) has become an increasingly popular option which is cost effective and very functional. Their lighter weight makes cleaning very easy, and multiple tubs can be stacked in rack systems to hold multiple animals in a relatively small space. Holes for ventilation can be made in the plastic using a small drill and can be placed strategically to allow vertical air movement and cross-ventilation.

We recommend Animal Plastics Inc. Snake Rack Systems, ideal for space efficient reptile housing.

Your choice on substrate should be something readily available and one which lends itself to easy spot cleaning and other cage maintenance chores.

• Paper Towels
• Newspaper
• Packing Paper

You should check your enclosure daily replacing the substrate when necessary.

Pros and cons of suitable substrates:

Bedding	Pros	Cons
Newspaper	Cheapest options. Easiest to find. Easiest to replace.	Least appealing visually.
Aspen shavings	Visually appealing. Readily available.	Can be a bit dusty. Harder to clean and replace than newspaper.
Cypress mulch	Readily available. Attractive. Helps increase relative humidity, if needed.	Harder to clean and replace than newspaper. Moist nature of cypress requires more frequent cleaning / maintenance.
Sphagnum Moss	Natural compounds in moss prevent it from decomposing in humid environments. Helps increase relative humidity, if needed.	Harder to clean and replace than newspaper.

 

Don't Use Cedar or Pine

Stay away from cedar and pine bedding, They should never be used for snakes. Both of these products can be toxic to snakes, and may cause illness or death if they are swallowed during feeding. Aspen or Cyprus mulch are much better choices.

A ball python will prefer a hide that is small and snug-fitting hide, so that it feels "hugged" on all side and even from above. Hides are optional but we recommend one for smaller Baby/Juvenile ball python's.

~80F (ambient temps)
~90F (basking temps)
75 or below is unhealthy and may cause repertory conditions.

A reliable thermostat (Johnson Control, Ranco, Herpstat or Helix) is best for controlling temperatures. We recommend Big Apple Herp BAH-1000SC thermostat.

50%-60%
60%-70% during a shed cycle

Providing the proper humidity required by your Ball python is important in maintaining good health, eating habits, and non-problematic sheds. Be sure to check out our Ball Python snake shedding page for more tips on preventing improper sheds.

Ball Pythons should have a readily available supply of fresh water at all times. I recommend non tip stainless steel water bowls. They are much easier to keep clean and don't spill like the plastic crock dishes do!

Ball Pythons are primarily rodent eaters. In captivity, the most common diet is either domestic mice or rats. Other rodents may be offered, but keep in mind that Ball Pythons tend to have a favorite prey item and may refuse anything else.

Live: Never leave a live rodent unattended in your snake's enclosure.

Size: As big around as the Ball Pythons widest point.

How often to Feed: Ball pythons seem to do well on a regular feeding schedule.

One aspect of keeping snakes which is easy to over look is record keeping. Record keeping is very important! By keeping proper snake records of when your snake eats and what it weighs you will be able to see how healthy you snake is.

Follow Us