Ball Python Care Sheet

Life Span: 20 to 40 years. The longest living ball python on record lived for 48 years.

Size:  4' to 5' 

Weight:  3 to 5 pounds or more.

Range:  Grasslands or on the edge of the forests. Mostly ground-oriented snakes of Western and West-Central Africa

Temperament: Docile species. Ball pythons are naturally shy when they are nervous normal reaction is to curl themselves up into a tight ball with their head hiding in the center.

Housing: Good caging means you can provide correct heat/light cycles and escape proof enclosure for your snake. It can be simple like a Rubbermaid or Tupperware brand sweater or shoe box with air holes in it. More popular cages are usually modified aquariums. A good starter tank for a hatchling is a 10 gallon tank. A young adult requires a 20 gallon tank, and full adult may require a 30 gallon tank. For a substrate you can use ground cover such as commercially prepared shredded cypress, aspen or fir bark; do not use orchid bark. Pine, cedar and redwood shavings should not be used due to the oils causing respiratory infections and other problems. Paper towels, newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpet make good ground cover too. Enclosure must be monitored closely and all soil pulled out to prevent bacteria and fungus growths. Hollow log or a wooden box can be used for the hide spot. No special lighting is needed.

Temperatures: 80-85F during the day, with a basking area kept at 90F and 73-75F at night. Humidity shouldn't be too high - the ambient humidity should be 60%. Keeping the overall environment damp leads to conditions such as blister disease. Low humidity can cause incomplete shedding, dehydration, and sometimes a lack of appetite. Avoid hot Rocks as they provide a centralized heat that will not adequately heat the enclosure, and they will burn your snake if it lays against it.

Water: Provide a bowl of fresh water at all times for both drinking and soaking. The water will need to be changed frequently.

Feeding: Hatchlings can be fed pinky or fuzzy mice, moving up to hoppers, mice and small rats to medium when adult (feed prey pre-killed to avoid snake's injury). The prey should be no larger than the the widest part of the snake's body. Ball Pythons would eat prey that is too large for their size but, they will regurgitate the prey item after a day or two. Hatchlings can be fed 1-2 times a week but adult snakes only need to be fed every 1 or 2 weeks. Just feed enough to keep it healthy, not obese. Care must be taken not to overfeed or you will end up with an obese snake.

Breeding: Ball Pythons will reach sexual maturity in three to five years. Female ball pythons lay four to ten eggs, remaining with then from the time they are laid until they hatch. The female will not leave the eggs and will not eat. Optimal incubation temperature is 88 - 90F.