When selecting the proper enclosure it is important to remember that ball pythons originate from africa and as such prefer a. It is critically important to have your enclosure complete and ready for your ball python before bringing it home. Synopsis with quick and easy instructions, ball python care provides all the information you need to care for your ball python. This setup can be as basic as a ten gallon fish tank or as elaborate as a six by two custom made terrarium. Ball pythons have spurs, the vestiges leftovers of. Avoid handling your ball python until it has eaten on its own a couple of times. Your banfield veterinarian can help you ensure the health. Ball python care sheet i learn how to care for your ball. This snake is native to africa, mostly the northwestern part of the continent in countries such as togo, ghani and mali. The ball python, also known as the royal python, is a relatively small species of python found in western and west central africa. Ball pythons are great companions for keepers of any skill level. Ball pythons reach sexual maturity at 5 years of age. A complete ball python breeding guide for beginners.
Thankfully, ball pythons are very popular amongst pet owners and they are easy to find in most pet stores. Heres a glimpse of what youll find inside the care guide. To breed ball pythons, you should get the necessary equipment like an. Ball pythons are named for their habit of curling up in a tight ball with. Ball python care sheet i learn how to care for your ball python. Ultimate guide to ball python care page 3 the ball python a species profile the ball python also known as the royal python in europe is a nonvenomous constrictor thats popular within the pet trade. Table of contents snake care tips from the experts. Ball python breeding is fun, and ranks as one of the best things about having a snake as a pet. Ive had my ball python for 3 years and he still lives comfortably in a 20 gallon tank. Handle your ball python gently and deliberately taking care not drop or injure the animal. Ball pythons are generally a bit shy, but they make for ideal captives, because they are of a small size, are generally friendly, are manageable to care for, and come in a remarkable array of colors and patterns. It is listed as least concern on the iucn red list because of its wide distribution. As the snake matures, you will need to increase the size of its cage.
Ball pythons are one of the most popular snakes kept in captivity worldwide. All of those morphs are simply a combination of any of these 26 original morphs you will see below. Glass aquariums are not a good choice for ball pythons. Ball pythons can grow up to 5 feet in length, but on average reach a. Better yet, print out a copy so you can easily refer back to it. Housing for a ball python can vary from simple to elaborate. I created my pet python when i first adopted my pet snake. Pythons at amazon there is enough general information on husbandry that many owners will find it a useful general resource.
When it comes to breeding, having an albino as the parent is the best way to come about another albino. It is threatened by hunting for its meat and for the international pet trade. It was written by brandon cornett, the publisher of reptile knowledge and a 20year veteran of snake care. I know nothing about keeping them in racks or breeding snakes. Chlorinefree water should be provided in a large shallow bowl big enough for the snake to soak in. They are good beginner snakes because they are docile and easy to care. At night, switch to a nightspecific bulb so you can watch your python with minimum disturbance to your ball python. Vivariums should be secure, made from a solid material, easy to clean and free from hazards. Goherping includes as many arguments and options as possible, so you can decide whats best, and give your python superior husbandry. Will reach adult size in 3 years, under ideal conditions. This will give you the best chance of keeping your new pet healthy and happy. Adult ball pythons average in size from three to five feet life span.
In the wild, they are most often found in semiarid grasslands, forests, and near agricultural areas, sheltering in animal burrows, hollow logs, and occasionally termite mounds. Complete ball python, a comprehensive guide to care, breeding. The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. Complete ball python, a comprehensive guide to care, breeding, and genetic mutations. Bear in mind, your snakes vivarium must allow them to. Python, these snakes reach a modest size of between 4 to 5 feet in length and can live for up to 15 to 20 years. Start looking for a ball python that is right for you once you feel prepared to care for it. Royal pythons come from areas of central and western africa, where they are often found on the ground or in the trees of forest land. Python regius we have thousands of exotic ball pythons for sale from top breeders from around the world. Python regius ball python, royal python animal diversity web. Daily care replace any soiled bedding and provide fresh water every day signs of illness irregular sheds or difficulty shedding not eating bumps or spots on skin difficulty breathing vomiting white substance in the mouth ball python supply checklist 30 gallon glass tank with a screen top clips to secure the. Albino ball python the morph that arguably started the ball python morph craze. The enclosure, called a vivarium, must be secure to prevent escape and free from hazards that might cause. Ball python feeding tips reptifiles ball python care guide.
They are very easy to care for and come in ton of morphs. The ball python manual at amazon this 76page softcover book is considered by many to be the best ball python reference on the market. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. With proper care, they can live between 2040 years old. Be sure to wash your hands after handling any reptiles. While any reptile can and will bite in certain situations, these snakes are usually gentle and tolerant of human handling and care, making it a popular pet snake. Warm and thaw the rodent according to package directions, before offering it to your pet at mealtime. Keeping them can be very rewarding and on the whole, is not too difficult. The gentle nature, medium size and the vast array of colors and patterns has catapulted the ball python to becoming one of the most popular snakes kept in captivity. Ball python care sheet caging needed 20 gallonlong terrarium or larger with secure lid.
Ball pythons also known as royal pythons are a terrestrial species of constricting snake native to regions of eastern, central, and western africa. The ball python is a good snake for a beginning snake owner. Ball pythons have spurs, the vestiges leftovers of ancestral legs. They then shed their skin about 1 month before laying the eggs. Whether it is the vibrant colors calling to the avid snake collector or the docile temperament appealing to a family, the ball python has. Ball python feeding tips wild animals rarely eat consistently, and they have evolved to survive this. They are native to the sudanese subprovince west of the nile, in southern sudan, the bahrel ghazal and nuba mountains region, from senegal to sierra leone in west africa, and in the ivory coast and some parts of central africa. If you are thinking of getting a ball python, this is the first book you. This setup can be as basic as a ten gallon fish tank or as elaborate as a. When gravid pregnant the females color darkens, perhaps so basking will warm them more. Ball pythons will initially ball up or, less frequently, bite if frightened. Ball python python regius the ball python is quite simply the most popular pet python in the world. This morph naturally occurs through the breeding of two normal ball pythons, although that occurrence is quite rare. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Ball python care sheet enclosure when selecting the proper enclosure it is important to remember that ball pythons originate from africa and as such prefer a warm, humid environment. If you are looking for blue eyed leucistic ball pythons for sale or any of the other combos in this complex then you have come to the right place. Complete ball python, a comprehensive guide to care, breeding, and genetic mutations kevin mccurley on. Growing to a maximum size of 3 to 5 feet, ball pythons are not as large as many of the other constricting snakes that are kept as pets, are quite docile, and are easy to handle. Ball python care sheet avian and exotic animal care. Most individuals only reach 34 feet in length as adults. The most important thing is that you follow several rules and check in on your pet often to ensure it. It might take your new ball python a little bit of time to adjust to its new surroundings.
This is the first proven recessive ball python mutation. This number doesnt include the thousands of subspecies of morphs. Appropriately sized frozen rodents, thawedwarmed to above room temperature. Ball pythons are among the most popular pet snakes. They grow to around 150cm, but size can differ between males and females. If you are thinking of getting a ball python, this is the first book you should read. Ball python care and information as well as community driven content covering all manner of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from boas to ball and blood pythons to bearded dragons and brachys. Zilla provides expert care sheets for reptile and amphibian owners and those interested in purchasing a pet reptile. Complete ball python, a comprehensive guide to care. If you do not plan on breeding them, this could be the only book youll ever need to.
The most important thing is that you follow several rules and check in on your pet often to ensure it appears to look and act healthy. Feed your snake once a week at nighttime, using tongs. Leucistic ball python for sale leucistic ball python. Try browsing the ball pythons index if youre looking for something specific. Come join our unique community and create your own photo gallery, compete in monthly contests, classifieds, calendared events and so much more. The ball python python regius, also called the royal python, is a python species native to west and central africa, where it lives in grasslands and shrublands. We carry a variety of bels made from a combination of mochas, mojaves, lessers, butters, russos and more. Ball python care guide tips from home to health to food and fun. Ball python care sheet housing, heating, feeding, etc. Ball pythons are named for their habit of curling themselves up into a tight ball. Daily care replace any soiled bedding and provide fresh water every day signs of illness irregular sheds or difficulty shedding not eating bumps or spots on skin difficulty breathing vomiting white substance in the mouth ball python supply checklist 30 gallon glass tank with. Philippe also confirms that, yes, even large snakes can fit in surprisingly small tanks. Ball pythons are carnivores and should primarily be fed frozen rodents.
From this page, you can find resources on every aspect of husbandry for ball pythons, very popular pet snakes. Yellowfooted tortoise care sheet yellowspotted river turtle care sheet edit module show tags. If a hatchling is placed in too large of a container, it may become insecure in its surroundings and refuse to feed. He even writes about the famous ball python that was known to live 47 years and some days and even then, they still dont know how old the python is. They are very docile and not fastmoving like most snakes, which makes them easy to handle. Ball python care information ball pythons are one of the most popular snakes being kept and bred in captivity. If you select an enclosure that has too much ventilation such as an aquarium with a mesh top it will be very difficult to maintain the proper heat and humidity. If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate. Most ball pythons will become more tolerant and accustomed to handling as they become older. Our captive bred baby blue eyed leucistic ball python for sale are bred for vivid color and fed a top quality diet to ensure proper growth, raised with the proper humidity, and handled often our blue eye leucistic ball pythons for sale are some of the most docile and friendliest ball pythons for sale online anywhere. This nonvenomous constrictor is the smallest of the african pythons. How to choose a healthy snake from the start 14 pages how to create a proper cage environment for your snake 35 pages how to properly hold. Python regius royal python ball python quick reference diet. It is not unusual for these pythons to live 20 30 years in captivity.
For help looking after your royal python, download our royal python care sheet pdf 321kb. This comprehensive ebook offers 112 pages of helpful advice, on. How to choose a healthy snake from the start 14 pages how to create a proper cage environment for your snake 35 pages how to properly hold handle a ball python 10 pages. The most basic ball python setup that still meets all the animals needs is a glass terrarium with a screen locking lid. A comprehensive guide on caring for your ball python. Before purchasing a ball python for your next pet, study this ball python care sheet pdf so you understand how to provide the best habitat and appropriate food for your pet. May 31, 2017 ball pythons need 812 hours of light a day. The record age for a ball python is more than 40 years so plan on a long life for your new pet snake. But if youre completely inexperienced with breeding pet snakes, you might not know where to start. Once youve decided that you can provide proper care for a ball python its time to go find your new friend. How to care for your ball python with pictures wikihow. This video has some basic information for caring for your ball python. However there is a significant gap between surviving and thriving, and so as snake keepers we must find a happy medium between respecting the way an animals body has evolved and providing adequate nutrition.
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