i already have a water dish, tank heater light and hiding place if theres anything else i need please tell me. also should i add any branches for climbing?
2007-03-21 13:15:38 · 14 answers · asked by destineers14 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Ball pythons are NOT tree dwelling snakes. They are thick bodied ambush predators that spend the majority of their lives in abandoned termite mounds. They may use a branch while they're young or if you have a heat lamp if the cage floor temps are too cold, but it isn't necessary.
Anyway, the best investment you can make for your Ball Python is a quality thermostat and an under tank heater (UTH). It's important that they have consistent temperatures in their cage from the low 80s to the low 90s all the time.
Please read my care sheet on a proper setup: http://www.superiorserpents.com/Caresheet.htm
Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Good luck! I'm sure you'll love your new snake.
2007-03-21 17:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by xyz_gd 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To be hassle-free with you they're the two super pest. although i might recomend getting some thing extremely much less easy that way if in 10 years you're able to desire to sell it for some reason you will get a shopper. I certainly have a Dumeril floor Boa correct now and he's gorgeous! and not too easy.... cant only pass to pestmart and purchase one such as you could a corn snake or ball python. in case you will save it between the two concepts you provided i might pass with the corn snake. besides the actuality that they are comparable in cost the corn snake won't get as vast on the python which will make your inital expenses for the abode and such much less. you will prefer some 30gal tank for the corn snake and that would desire to be good invariably-- provided it would not get too vast. then you prefer a conceal or 2, a sprint tree or some thing, a easy, a easy bulb, a water dish and your floor textile. you're finding at approximately $75-a hundred twenty five (relies upon on the place you pass and in case you detect the final expenses) for each and each of the components devoid of the cost of the snake.... which isn't that undesirable. only undergo in concepts that procuring a snake is like having a baby... they are going to be with you for 10-20 years.
2016-10-01 07:27:11 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up care sheets online, they did me so much good. =D Yeah get some branches and make sure you have 2 hides. What are you using for the bottom of the cage? AstroTurf is cheap and easy to clean. Don't handle for a week or two and don't worry if it doesn't eat the first time you try to feed it. Have fun with your new ball python!
2007-03-22 09:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would use reptile carpet . Have an extra piece so you can put a clean one in the cage while you wash the other one .Buy frozen , dead mice ,then thoroughly thaw before feeding . Do not feed live mice or your snake will end up with worms and could get bitten .Plus if you ever need to give medication to your snake it is much easier to put it into the mouse and then feed it to your snake . Do not hold the snake for a few days so it has time to adjust to the new cage . Make sure you have a very tight lid , they are good at escaping .
2007-03-28 13:07:14 · answer #4 · answered by darsow@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Make sure the temp is at 85 degrees, and buy shed-ease not only will it help him shed, it'll help keep his environment nice and humid. If you don't have one I'd recommend getting a thermometer in his cage. And also a feeding tank, unless you're going to feed him in a box. Try not to feed him in his habitat because there's too much stuff in the way. What type of bedding do you have? We use the wood chips you get at the pet store specifically for reptiles. They help keep him warm. Our ball python was having trouble shedding, but ever since we spray his cage with that shed-ease stuff he's been doing better. Make sure you take the water dish out when you spray it though, you don't need him drinking it. It's safe enough that he can stay in there though, you don't have to worry about hurting his eyes. Buying branches is a great idea, they love to climb, buy some plastic leaves too. You can't use stuff from outside because of any type of bacteria, or germs, or insects it could have on it. If you see a rock that looks really pretty and you know he'd love it, I would boil it in hot water for about half an hour to an hour, wash it with soap and water then boil it again.
2007-03-21 15:53:53 · answer #5 · answered by Danielle 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Branches are a great idea--these are tree dwelling snakes and they enjoy basking in the sun while sitting on a branch--or basking in its heat lamp while sitting on a limb same difference
Here are a few other things---
Generally ball pythons will not eat unless they are hungry--I have one that is between 1-2 years and she eats 1 rat every 2 weeks--when she was younger she received 2 mice every week--the older they get the less often that you have to feed them...I do want you to know that even in captivity these snakes will hibernate--they usually do this the end of winter--when i say hibernate i don't mean sleep and be come uninterested in anything-but they usually will not eat and they tend to be less active--our snake is still in hibernation mode right now and has been that way for over 6 weeks--we bought a rat and she refuses to eat right now so needless to say we have a pet rat right now too...
they often times will not feed when they are getting close to shedding time (you will know when this is because the eyes will cloud over-they will stay that way for a few days and then they will become clear again--after they clear the shedding usually starts with in 2-3 days-give or take)--
One more thing-if you have a female when she gets close to shedding time after she has reached sexual maturity her belly will also have a pinkish color to it when she gets ready to shed--(we thought ours was getting a skin rash or infection of some sort-so we were keeping her very clean and rubbed down with beta dine-we took her to the vet and come to find out our snake was a little girl who just happened to be getting ready to shed-as this was our first ball python we were unaware of the fact that the stomach would become pink--just thought i would save you some confusion if you do have a female...)
Best of luck!!
2007-03-21 13:23:09 · answer #6 · answered by Ayden's Mommy 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
you could add a place for them to climb but its not that big of a deal alot of them just crawl into a corner and curl up into a ball most of the time.
2007-03-26 15:13:18 · answer #7 · answered by Alyssa's Mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes y ou should always have something in the tank for them to slither on they love it. I have plants in the bottom and a fake plant hanging across the top and my ball never leaves the greenery unless he is eating or cooling down.
2007-03-27 04:53:59 · answer #8 · answered by angel200086334 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best advice you were given was from xyz_gd. We breed balls as well, and he covered all the bases.
They Are NOT arborial (climbing) but our young ones seem to enjoy having a branch...
2007-03-25 15:46:36 · answer #9 · answered by Darla G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
be very careful where you take it. my snakes got mites just from climbing around my house outside under my supervision for about 10 mins. they are very hard to get rid of. make sure the cage is moist enough but not too much, if it's not enough, the eyes will get dents in them(don't worry! it's not permenant! just moisturize a bit more.) Feed live prey so you reduce the risk of being bitten and before you feed the snake its dinner, feed the mouse or rat some fruits/veggies and multi grain cheerios if the mouse or rat is old enough to consume these. this will improve the health and sheen of your snake giving them vitamins they don't usually get. make sure you feed it at least once a week. if you don't it could stunt its growth, that's waht happened to my first for a while. good luck with ur new bp!!!
2007-03-21 14:53:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋