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Ball Python Care Guide: Size, Diet, Habitat

Ball Pythons (Python regius) are carnivorous snakes that typically grow to 4-6 feet and can live 20-30 years. They require specific housing conditions, including a minimum cage size of 30" x 12" x 12", proper temperature regulation, and a suitable substrate for burrowing. Feeding practices involve providing appropriate prey sizes and frequencies, with adults typically fed weekly and babies 1-2 times a week.

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9 views1 page

Ball Python Care Guide: Size, Diet, Habitat

Ball Pythons (Python regius) are carnivorous snakes that typically grow to 4-6 feet and can live 20-30 years. They require specific housing conditions, including a minimum cage size of 30" x 12" x 12", proper temperature regulation, and a suitable substrate for burrowing. Feeding practices involve providing appropriate prey sizes and frequencies, with adults typically fed weekly and babies 1-2 times a week.

Uploaded by

6v0isret5
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ball Python

Python regius

E S HE E T
CA R
Average Size 4 - 6 feet long Average Life Span
[Link]
20 - 30 years
Diet Ball Pythons are strict carnivores. They can eat either frozen or live prey items. Babies
will start with weaned mice. A full grown adult will eat medium to large rats. When
feeding frozen prey, be sure the prey is thawed thoroughly. When feeding live prey, be
sure to monitor the feeding to prevent the prey from attacking the snake.

Feeding Feed babies 1 - 2 times a week. At 2 - 3 months of age you can reduce to once weekly.
Adults can eat weekly, although some keepers feed every other week. The prey size
should equal the largest part of the snakes body in girth.

Housing Ball Pythons may be kept alone or in groups. Breeders generally keep Ball Pythons in
separate enclosures until breeding time. At that point, the breeder will house the snakes
together.

Size - An adult must have a minimum cage size of 30” Long x 12” Deep x 12” High,
although many keepers prefer a larger cage. Babies can start in 10 gallon tanks.

Substrate - Shredded aspen by ZooMed is a perfect substrate. Ball Pythons love to


burrow. Shredded aspen provides a fluffy substrate easy for burrowing and cleaning.
Provide 3-6 inches of substrate.

Habitat - Ball Pythons come from Central to West Africa. In the wild they are found in
heavily forested areas. Keep the cage warm and humid and provide plenty of places for
hiding.

Temperature - Ball Pythons require a basking spot of 90° - 95°F. The cool end of the
tank can be as cool as 75° - 80°F. Proper temperature is extremely important with this
species. If a Ball Python becomes to cool for an extended period of time, they will
quickly develop respiratory infections.

Watering - Provide fresh drinking water daily. Ball Pythons like to soak their body in
water. Provide a bowl of water large enough so that the snake can fully submerge its
body.

Lighting - Since this is a nocturnal species, it requires only one light bulb. This is the
heat lamp which also emits UVA. There is no current proof that the animal requires
UVB light, although some keepers prefer to provide UVB.

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