If you are more inclined to reptilian pets, Ball Pythons are one of the best pets to start with. Some might think these reptiles are brought directly from the forests, but that’s not true. In many parts of the world, they are set out for sales after going through a process called “Captive Breeding”.
It is mandatory for everyone to go through Ball Python care guide. Moreover, you can use Best Kennel software for the grooming of your pet.
Here, they are kept in a controlled domestic environment. This way, they are potentially less harmful, and they make perfect pets, even for young reptile keepers.
Table of Contents
A Guide On How To Take Care Of Ball Pythons At Home
This is a beginner’s Ball Python care guide which will include basic care and knowledge you need to have before getting a ball python. One more thing you need to do is question yourself: are you willing to take the responsibility to care for a living thing other than yourself? If you are sure about your choice, then you’re good to go!
What are interesting facts of Ball Pythons?
These interesting creatures have so much to know about! Following are a few essential facts you should know about ball pythons so that you can prepare yourself before getting one:
What is the cost of buying a pet Ball python?
Standard ball pythons can cost you about $50. While ball python morphs (mutated variants) can cost you as much as $200 as their colour and appearance are quite different from the regular ones.
What is length size of a Ball Python?
Female ball pythons are usually bigger and heavier than males. Females can measure from 90 cm to 150 cm while males being smaller, measure from 60 cm to 90 cm.
When Ball Pythons are active in a day?
Ball pythons are nocturnal reptiles and mostly active after sunset. They are also active during the day, but that is pretty occasional to happen.
Must check- Dangers of keeping Ball python as pet?
What is life span of a ball python?
Their life span ranges from 25 to 40 years.
Does Ball Python require heating?
Yes, As these are cold-blooded reptiles, they require heating in their environment.
All points cannot be discussed in this section as they need a lot more detailing. But yes, this is pretty much all you need to know about ball pythons to start with.
Ball Python Behaviour, Temperament and Body Language
Ball pythons in wild habitats are known to live underground and come out only several times a month to find prey. There are facts related to Ball Python’s behaviour and body language, which will help you to understand your pet better.
Do Ball Pythons feel shy?
Ball pythons are a shy breed of snakes and therefore require less human attention.
How to know if my ball python is stressed?
When they are stressed, they curl up into a ball. They even stop feeding for a while.
A Ball python coming out often during the day is not a good sign, and it is possibly stressed.
Stress can even trigger regurgitation in ball pythons, which can be dangerous for them and might require a vet to check them up.
How to know, if Ball is not comfortable with you?
If your ball is not accustomed to its new home yet, don’t try to handle it too much. Doing so will agitate them and make them bite you as they see you as a threat. (This also happens in the case baby ball pythons or hatchlings).
What it means when my Ball hide?
If your ball python often hides in the mulch, it is probably a sign that it is in a good state. They usually come out when people are either not around or asleep.
When idle, ball pythons move around but not much, They will remain in the same position when hungry.
What it means when Ball soaks itself in water?
If your ball is soaking itself in the water for several hours just indicates they are trying to shed properly.
What are signs of a healthy Ball python?
You surely do want to make sure your cute pet is healthy and doing great. Here are a few signs which imply that the ball python is robust and nothing to worry about:
- They will eat once or twice in 14 days.
- They will roll into a ball when they do not wish to be handled.
- Ball pythons can shed once in a month or even twice in a year, both of which are healthy.
- They shift to fasting mode during winters.
How often do ball pythons poop?
The equation is quite simple: the number of times they eat = number of times they poop. If they eat once in 14 days, they will poop once or sometimes twice. If they eat twice in 14 days, they will poop twice or even some more. They poop one week after feeding.
What if my Ball Python is not pooped?
If they haven’t pooped even after two weeks of feeding, soak them in warm water. A ball python’s poop is light brown to black. The urea cap is often coloured white and nothing to worry about.
They will not come out during the daylight.
What are important caring tips for Ball Pythons?
Although ball pythons require less attention and maintenance, there are a few tips that you need to understand your pet well. Given below are the Ball Python care guide and tips to follow during ball python husbandry.
1. Ball Pythons feeding tips
* Feeding them when it’s dark is preferable.
* Give them privacy while they feed as they are not very sociable reptiles.
* Rodents like mice or rats (feed them fresh) are the best prey for ball pythons.
* Make sure the prey is as wide as the snake.
* How Often you feed your ball python?, Feeding your baby ball once a week until they turn three years old is a good practice.
* Gradually increase the size of the prey as they grow.
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* Adults should be fed once in a week or two weeks.
* What if ball is not eating for days?, A newly brought ball will take some time to accommodate to its new environment. Hence it will not eat for a few weeks.
* Baby balls can be picky eaters sometimes and will not eat when newly hatched as they are still full from the nutrition they received in the egg.
* Do not touch them for 24 to 48 hours after feeding.
* If regurgitation happens, wait for a week and a half before feeding it again and switch to smaller prey for some time. Visiting a vet is highly recommended.
* Adult male ball pythons start fasting during winters.
* Adult female ball pythons don’t feed during the brooding period.
* They also go into fasting mode when they haven’t received a prey for a long time.
* Make sure the water is always clean, and the tub is large enough for them to fit inside entirely while soaking.
* DO NOT FORCE FEED
2. Ball Pythons Heating tips
* As these creatures originate in West Africa, warm and tropical conditions are suitable for ball pythons.
* What is Ideal temperature for ball Pythons?, The ideal temperature range suitable for ball pythons is 90 to 105 degree Fahrenheit during the day and about 75 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
* Humidity also plays a vital role to maintain the health of ball pythons.
* Heating equipment like heating pads/mats and ceramic heat emitters for basking are enough for the snake.
* Heat rocks can also be added as accessories.
* Keep an eye on the temperature and humidity in their home. Use thermometer and hygrometer as uncomfortably hot conditions are not suitable for ball pythons.
* Make sure you are using good quality heating equipment. If they are not of standard quality, they can overheat and burn the snake.
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* Lighting other than illuminating purpose is not necessarily required. The ball python care guide also include other tips as well.
3. Ball Pythons Handling tips
* Do not handle them often as this can make them go off feeding.
* Handle them with clean hands or make use of feeding tongs, or if some rodent stench is left behind on your hands, the ball will misconceive you as prey and bite you.
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* In case of kids handling ball pythons, always keep an eye.
* Do not handle them for 24 to 48 hours after feeding as the stress can set off regurgitation, which is very painful.
* If they start curling up when you handle them, leave them alone.
* Do not handle them during shedding periods.
4. Ball Pythons Veterinary Care tips
* Your ball needs an appropriate vet. A Herp veterinary is specialized in treating reptiles and amphibians. You can find a vet on www.arav.com
* Regurgitation is not a good sign for your ball, and it can be deadly.
* Stomatitis (aka the mouth rot) is a pretty common disease in ball pythons. Swollen gums and mouth characterize this infection. Mucus starts to deposit on the gums, later on forming into pus. Bleeding occurs too. It usually happens when its natural environment is disturbed, e.g. overcrowding or increased humidity.
* Mite infestation is another common in ball pythons and can be treated with a spray (preferable) to remove the mites.
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* Internal parasites can also infect ball pythons.
* Respiratory Infections (RI) in ball pythons is caused due to several bacteria, viruses and fungi. Your ball has a Respiratory Infection if it shows any of the following symptoms:
- Excess mucus dripping from their mouth
- Nasal discharge
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Breathing through mouth or difficulty in breathing
* You should immediately consult a vet if these signs persist.
- Skin infections occur when their environment is not clean.
- Septicemia is a bacterial infection in which toxins produced by the bacteria enter the bloodstream. The snake becomes very ill. This infection often results in death.
- Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) is a fatal disease which can spread among snakes, i.e. it is contagious. This disease targets the nervous system of the snake.
Veterinary expenses are quite minimal as yearly check-ups are enough for your ball. Try not to visit the vet often as it can make the ball anxious.
What is average cost ball pythons vet charges?
Overall, vet cost can range from $40 to $200 depending on the purpose of the visit.
5. Ball Pythons Hatchling Care tips
* After they hatch out of the egg, wash them with clean water to rinse off the goo they’re covered with.
* A hatchling when born is about 24 to 43 centimetres long.
* Do not put them directly in an enclosure. Instead, put them in tubs lined with towels soaked in warm water.
* The hatchlings will shed after a week or two (post-birth).
* Do not touch them before shedding.
* They can be quite tempered, so do not bother them a lot.
* Do not force-feed them as they might be still full from the nutrition they received inside the egg.
* Add some more towels so that they can hide and feed in solitude. (they might not be feeding because they don’t have enough privacy).
6. Ball Python Maintenance tips
You need to buy some essentials before getting a ball python. Overall, all the items should cost you around $300. This might be a great deal of money, but, ball pythons do not require further maintenance and can thrive on their own, without much attention.
Ball Python care tips and guide involves some of the items and products too.
Next to the item, there is a link to buy that item. The items are standard, reliable and budget-friendly. They have an excellent rating and many positive reviews too.
* A terrarium with a capacity of no less than 30 gallons. The best terrarium available online is given below. The terrarium is not required to replace frequently; hence it is a significant investment to make.
* A water dish for the snake to soak in. Your best buy will be Exo Terra Water Dish. They have different sizes, but the large size will be perfect.
* Exo Terra Forest Plume Moss and Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding are ideal for comfortable bedding for your ball snake.
* As ball pythons are shy reptiles, they need places to hide during the day.
Zilla Reptile Habitat Décor Hideouts Bark Bends and Exo Terra Reptile Cave are very suitable for ball pythons.
* All the heating equipment required to keep your ball python warm and cosy are listed below:
* iPower Reptile Heat Pad Under Tank Terrarium Warmer Heat Mat
* Fluker’s Ceramic Heat Emitter for Reptiles 60 Watt
* Zoo Med Repticare Rock Heaters, Standard
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* Along with heating equipment, buying thermometers and hygrometers is a must. This Thermometer and Hygrometer is a 2-in-1 device which can measure both temperature and humidity inside the terrarium.
I hope above Ball Python care Guide and tips will help your python to live life happily.