#BALL PYTHON HIDE BOX UPGRADE#
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If you would like to provide lighting for viewing, make sure to allow for approximately 12-14 hours of “daylight” and 10-12 hours of “nighttime” for a proper day-night cycle. Lighting Requirements: Ball Pythons have no UV light requirements.

Never use “hot rocks” – they are NOT safe for reptiles. The surface temperature on the warm, basking side should be 90-92☏. The ambient air temperature should be about 80☏. We prefer to just raise the temperature in the room where the snake is. Heat bulbs are not very useful for providing belly heat, but can be used to help raise the ambient air temperature they usually lower humidity however, so extra measures must be taken to counter-act drying out the enclosure. Both should always be controlled by a thermostat (proportional or on-off), and temperature should be monitored by a digital thermometer with a probe over the heat source, or with a temperature gun. Your local pet store should carry under tank heat pads, and heat tape is available from online suppliers. We recommend belly-heat for Ball Pythons, accomplished either by an under tank heater or heat tape.

Getting the temperatures right can sometimes be tricky, especially for the novice reptile-keeper. There are two types of heat that are important for your Ball Python – ambient temperature and surface temperature in the “basking spot”. Simply put, this means that you will have to provide a heat source for your snake, as well as a temperature gradient so that the snake can move around and choose what temperature he or she needs. Instead, they regulate their body temperature through external means, and are reliant on environmental heat sources. Temperature: All reptiles are ectothermic or “cold-blooded”, meaning that they do not have a normal body temperature and do not regulate their body temperature themselves. With any type of loose substrate, care should be taken when feeding to prevent the snake from swallowing anything nondigestable. A natural substrate may help provide more humidity in the enclosure, and may be more absorbent of waste. Aspen shavings, cypress mulch, coconut fiber substrate (EcoEarth, etc), and repti-bark are also suitable substrates that will provide more enrichment for your snake. Cage “liners” such as newspaper or reptile-carpet are easy to clean, but will not hold humidity. Substrate: There are several suitable options for substrate in Ball Python enclosures, and each have their own pros and cons. Ball Pythons are surface-dwelling snakes, so length and width of the enclosure will be more important than height. Larger adults should be housed in 40-60 gallon tanks.

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As your snake grows, upgrade to a 20 gallon long tank or equivalent. Young snakes do best in smaller enclosures – a 10 gallon tank or equivalent-sized reptile enclosure is perfect. If you get your snake as a baby, you will need to upgrade cage sizes at least once in its life. The general rule of thumb is that the length of the enclosure should be about 2/3 the length of your snake. The size of your enclosure will depend on the size/age of your Ball Python. Sizes and styles vary – from ones that are clear like tanks to enclosed plastic or pvc cages. You can also use a commercially made reptile enclosure. A glass aquarium or tank can make a suitable home. Habitat In Captivity:Įnclosure: There are a couple different options for housing your Ball Python. Their docile nature and manageable size makes them a popular “beginner” snake.

#BALL PYTHON HIDE BOX PROFESSIONAL#

To be sure of the sex of your snake, an experienced professional can “probe” it for you.īall Pythons are very common in the pet trade. Females are usually somewhat larger than males, but external appearance is not a reliable way to guarantee gender. They are a heavy-bodied snake, and should be nice and round if properly fed. They get their common name from their tendency to ball up in a coil when frightened.

They are a docile and timid species, and naturally spend most of their day hiding in small spaces. They prefer a savanna environment and are a nocturnal species.

Like all pythons, they are non-venomous constrictors. The Ball Python, also known as the Royal Python, is a relatively small species of python found in Western and West Central Africa. Size: Hatchlings- 10-16 inches Adult Males- average 2-3 feet Adult Females- average 3-5 feet.

Ball python hide box