Ball Pythons as Pets

Python regius or royal python commonly known as ball pythons are native to western and west-central Africa. These snakes are very small in size and absolutely docile. They are called 'ball' pythons because they coil around their head and form a ball. They are constrictors like all the other members of the boa and python family. Ball python hatching are just 16 to 18 inch long. Mature adults can grow up to 3 to 5 feet in size. The ball python average life span is about 50 years and generally live for 20 to 30 years in the wild. Many exotic pets enthusiast often wonder if keeping ball pythons as pets is an easy job. The following ball python care sheet will cover some information that will help you take care of these exotic pets.

Ball Python Care Sheet

If you are a beginner, keeping ball pythons as pets will prove to be a good exotic pet choice for you. After you refer to the following ball python care sheet, you can read snakes as pets for some more interesting tips.

Bringing Home Ball Pythons as Pets
If you are looking forward to bring home a ball python as pet, you need to make sure it is a captive bred snake. You should look for a young snake with a well-rounded body. He should have clean and clear eyes and vent. The vent should show no respiratory problems like wheezing or bubbles around the nostrils. You should make sure the ball python is healthy and active. There should be no sign of stress or parasites on their body. When you hold one in your hand, it should readily form a grip on your arm. You should ask the breeder to give you a live demonstration of the snake having his meal. If he readily eats up his meal without showing any signs of lethargy, you can adopt him as a pet.

Housing Ball Pythons as Pets
When you bring home a ball python, you need to make sure he is given comfortable living environment. A small snake will require 10 to 20 gallon tank and an adult will need a 30 gallon tank. You should fit the tank with a tight-fitting lid with proper ventilation. This is because they are great escape artists and it won't take long for them to figure a way out.

They love to burrow and hide themselves under the substrate. Thus, use shredded bark, newspaper bits, Astroturf, etc. as substrate. The substrate should not be very hard as it may injury the snake. If you use Astroturf as substrate, you can clean it as and when necessary. The soiled pieces need to be soaked in 2 tablespoons bleach added to 1 gallon water. Rinse well and reuse.

Place a nice wooden branch in the tank for the snake to climb over it. Ball pythons are nocturnal creatures and therefore, do not have any special lighting requirements. You can use blue, black or red bulbs at night as it helps maintain the light and dark cycle of the snake. You can keep a large tray of water that allows the snake to soak in it. This will help maintain the humidity requirements of the snake.

The temperature of the tank should be around 80º F to 85ºF at day time. At one end of the tank, provide a basking spot with temperature of about 92ºF. At night, the temperature needs to be maintained around 75º F. You can use incandescent bulbs for providing a basking spot and an under tank heating pad for maintaining the temperature. Use at least two thermometers to monitor the tank temperature. One thermometer should be kept at the bottom of the tank and one should be placed near the basking spot.

Feeding Ball Pythons as Pets
Food is the most important part of ball pythons care. Mice or medium-sized rats according to the size of the snake should be considered as the staple food for these reptiles. You need to feed the snake just once a week. About 5 to 7 mice once a week are enough for a young ball python. As the snake grows larger, you should start feeding them large-sized rats once every 10 to 14 days. You can give your snake a gerbil or hamster as a treat once a month.

You should handle the snake carefully and move him to a new enclosure when you clean his regular cage. Handling the ball python with care will help you with the taming session. Captive bred ball pythons are used to human touch and therefore it won't pose to be a problem. Ball pythons come in a variety of attractive colors as well as patterns. Proper ball pythons care will ensure, you have a healthy and long-lasting companionship with this beautiful creature. They are not very huge in size and easy to handle. They are not aggressive and very docile pets. If you are thinking of keeping ball pythons as pets, make sure you speak to a few experts for some ball python facts. This will help you in taking care of your pet, the ball python.