What is the best temperature for a ball python's cage? And how often is normal for them to shed?

Answer 1

Temperature:
80 - 85 F (27 - 29 C) during the day, with a basking spot of around 90 F (32 C). Night time temperatures can fall to around 75 F (23 -24 C) as long as an area of 80 F is maintained. An under the tank heating pad designed for reptiles works well for providing the cage heat, with an incandescent bulb or ceramic heating element used to provide the basking temperatures. Never use hot rocks, and the bulb or heat element should be placed or screened off to prevent contact with the snake or burns may result. Use multiple thermometers to monitor the temperatures in the cage (one at the bottom of the cage and one at the basking spot).

Lighting:
Ball Pythons are nocturnal, so have no special lighting requirements. However, they are nocturnal, so incandescent bulbs should not be used at night (to preserve the light/dark cycle the snake needs) - instead use red, blue or black bulbs.

Shedding:
A healthy snake will shed on a regular basis — generally around once a month. Normal shedding, ecdysis, is a necessary process for growth in snakes and is highly dependent on numerous factors with the most important being good nutrition and proper humidity. As a result, malnutrition and humidity that is too high or too low for your particular species, as well as the presence of mites or skin bacteria, trauma, and too much handling can all result in your snake not shedding properly. Complete shedding should always include eye caps. Retained eye caps can present serious problems for your snake and should always be removed, whether naturally or by hand with proper training. Any time you suspect problems, consult with a qualified reptile veterinarian.

Answer 2

Well, a ball python likes to have a temperature gradient. A warm side of high 80's low 90's and a cool side, high 70's to low 80's. Shedding depends on the individual snake and how quickly it grows. Also, humidity should be around 50% and when going into a shed, you could bump it up a bit to 65% to help get a clean shed. I'm sure you already know this but I'll say it just in case, make sure you have hides for your ball. On both the warm and cool sides. Also, if you keep your temps and lighting consistent, your snake should not go dormant. Neither of mine ever have! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

My guess is he was just scared because he didnt see u coming. My cornsnake is a sweet little thing but she has nipped at me if i put my hand in the cage and it startles her. For the shedding and mites try putting him in the bathtub with warm water for a lil and watch him carefully to make sure he doesnt get out. That should help with the shed and the mites. He should eat an appropriately sized thawed rodent about once a week. Dont feed live because its unnecessary and cruel to both the rodent and ur snake. The rodent may bite and injure ur snake and if that has happened in the past it may become more aggressive to sudden touches. You actually can handle ur snake almost every day. U should give them 24 hours after a feeding, and probably avoid handling as much as possible during sheds, just to the bath or other necessary things. Make sure he is on a regular feeding schedule maybe every 5 thru 7, 10-14 (if its a large snake eating larger prey) days depending on the size, activity, and temp. Prekilled is highly recommended and u just take tongs and wiggle the rodent by the tail to simulate activity. Thaw them in warm water for about 10 mins before feeding. Some people say feed in a seperate container but I place my snakes mice on top of her basking rock or something where there is no substrate she can accidentally ingest and become impacted and i watch to make sure that nothing gets stuck in her mouth either. I guess i kinda went off topic but u said ur new so thought id give some advice. To avoid nipping just move slower and make sure ur snake knows ur coming before u get too close. Also avoid doing anything that will traumatize the snake.

Answer 4

The cool side temp should be around 82 f and a basking spot around 92 F. most of my snakes shed once every 2 months. As I read in another post, * i have 2 of them and they shed at least 3-4 times in a month*.... This sounds like there is something wrong.

Answer 5

Generally speaking, you want your ball pythons in the mid to upper 80s. It's also good to have a slightly warmer spot for them to bask and a slightly cooler area for their hide box.

As for shedding, the older a snake is, the less often it will shed. Younger snakes (less than a year) may shed every 4 weeks or less. This shed cycle will get progressively longer as the snake approaches adulthood. Adult snakes may only shed 4-5 times a year.

Answer 6

the best temp for them during the day is 86-88 and at night it should be 82-84. . they will shed after every 2-3 feedings. i have 2 of them and they shed at least 3-4 times in a month. the more they shed the bigger they are getting, and that is ok. the best way to keep their heat up and stable is to get n under tank heater and a top heat light (bulb & uvb light). they should be fed every week for younger ones and every other week for the bigger ones. good luck

Answer 7

The stay active in the summer and become dormant during the winter like most reptiles. As for shedding, you might call your local vet shop where you bought it.

Answer 8

70s to 80s is good, and how often they shed depends on the humidity level and how often you feed them.

Answer 9

i think that the best temeperature is 450 degrees farenhight.......if you do that they will never shed again