ENCLOSURE

A <2 YEARLING BALL PYTHON IS GOING TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM FLOOR SPACE OF 30X12.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO BIG OF AN ENCLOSURE, THEREFORE WE RECOMMEND STARTING OFF WITH AN ENCLOSURE THAT WILL SUIT YOUR SNAKE AT ITS ADULT SIZE.

AN ADULT BALL PYTHON WILL REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 36X18 OR 40 GALLONS, BUT WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND A 4X2X2 FOOT ENCLOSURE TO ACCOMMODATE  FOR DECORATIONS AND ENRICHMENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT BALL PYTHONS CAN REACH UP TO 6 FEET IN LENGTH AND WEIGHT UPWARDS OF 15 POUNDS!

SUBSTRATE

PICKING THE RIGHT SUBSTRATE FOR YOUR BALL PYTHON IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF GENERAL HEALTH, HUMIDITY, AND HEAT RETENTION.

OUR LOOSE EARTHY SUBSTRATES LIKE REPTISOIL AND FOREST FLOOR WORK GREAT BY THEMSELVES, BUT WE RECOMMEND MIXING THE TWO TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT WHAT THEY WOULD EXHIBIT IN THE WILD!

FEEDING

LIKE MOST YOUNG ANIMALS, BALL PYTHONS WILL EAT MORE FREQUENTLY AS A JUVENILE, BE PREPARED TO FEED YOUR SNAKE WEEKLY UNTIL THEY REACH MATURITY, BY WHICH THEN THEY SHOULD BE OFFERED AN APPROPRIATE SIZED FEEDER EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. 

MAKE SURE TO NEVER OFFER YOUR SNAKE ANYTHING LARGER THAN THE THICKEST PART OF ITS BODY. SMALLER PREY IS OK, BUT TRY TO KEEP IT A 1:1 RATIO AND NEVER ANYTHING LARGER.

ADULT BALL PYTHONS CAN AND WILL OVEREAT, WHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO MONITOR THE PHYSIQUE OF YOU SNAKE.

THE SHAPE OF THEIR BODY SHOULD BE OF A ROUNDED TRIANGLE WHERE YOU CAN STILL MAKE OUT THEIR SPINE.

HEATING / HUMIDITY

BALL PYTHONS ARE TROPICAL REPTILES THAT THRIVE IN A WARM AND HUMID ENVIRONMENT. ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT WILL LEAD TO STRESS AND CAN EVEN CAUSE ILLNESS.

DURING THE DAY, YOU WILL WANT TO CREATE A HEAT GRADIENT; THE COOL SIDE STAYING MID 70°-80° RANGE AND A WARM SIDE STAYING IN THE 80°-90° RANGE. A BASKING AREA IN THE HIGH 90°-95° RANGE WILL BE APPRECIATED, BUT IS NOT ALWAYS USED BY BALL PYTHONS. AT NIGHT, HEATING IS NOT NECESSARY UNLESS YOUR ROOM TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 70°.

A HEAT LAMP IS THE BEST WAY TO PROPERLY HEAT AN ENCLOSURE, BUT CAN BE QUITE TRICKY. WE RECOMMEND OUR CERAMIC AND DEEP HEAT PROJECTING BULBS UNDER REGULATION OF A REPTILE THERMOSTAT, BUT HALOGEN BULBS WORK GREAT TOO. UNDER-TANK HEATER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT IN ACHIEVING AN APPROPRIATE GRADIENT, BUT CAN BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE WARM SIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE.

A HUMIDITY OF 60-80% IS NEEDED TO ENSURE YOUR SNAKE CAN SHED PROPERLY AND STAYS HYDRATED. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY USING A HAND HELD SPRAY BOTTLE, BUT WE RECOMMEND AN AUTOMATIC MISTER/FOGGER AS IT WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND SAFE YOU FROM CONSISTENTLY MISTING THE ENCLOSURE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

ENRICHMENT

BEING NOCTURNAL, YOUR BALL PYTHON WILL SPEND MOST OF ITS TIME EXPLORING ITS ENCLOSURE AT NIGHT. THAT'S WHY ITS

IMPORTANT TO ADD DECORATIONS AND HIDES TO KEEP THEM BUSY.

THINGS LIKE CORK BARK, SPIDER WOOD, AND GRAPEVINE PROVIDE A NICE REALISTIC ELEMENT TO THE ENCLOSURE AND WILL MAKE YOUR PYTHON FEEL AT HOME!

CLEANING

IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 1 WEEK FOR A MEAL TO FULLY PASS THROUGH A BALL PYTHON'S BODY AND OUT THE OTHER END.

SCOOP OUT WASTE AS IT IS DEPOSITED INTO THE SUBSTRATE, AND THOROUGHLY REPLACE ALL SUBSTRATE MONTHLY.

ASK US HOW THE ADDITION OF A CLEAN UP CREW AND LIVE PLANTS CAN GREATLY EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR SUBSTRATE.