Care Sheet for:

Ball Pythons (Python Regius)

 

Difficulty Care Rating: 8(good for beginner’s) Imports are rated at 3( moderate experienced)Due to the reluctant feeding habits of Wild Caught specimens.

 

Range/Habitat: Western and Central Africa. A semi-arid grassland species.

 

Sexing: Best sexed by probing. However, most specimens can be sexed by light pressure to evert the hemipenes. Males have larger spurs.(Pelvic girdle)

 

Size: A moderately sized heavy snake. Reaches 6 feet.

 

Husbandry: Young animals can be kept in a 10 gallon tank with a heat source. I.E. under tank heater. Temperatures in the 80’s. Humidity relatively low. 60%. Adults require more room. Rodent and bird feeders. Wild ball pythons feed on gerbil’s and jerboas in the wild and may be difficult to feed. Captive borns are one of the easiest and most docile species of snakes available. Live up to 30 years. Best kept singly. Not vitamin supplements necessary since they feed on whole animals. Basking lamp helpful. Hide box a must.

 

Breeding: Ball pythons usually breed in the late fall/early winter in the U.S. Photoperiod and Temperature cycling a must. Females lay 6-12 very large eggs.

 

 

*This care sheet is for general information purposes only.

 

 

Provided as a courtesy by:

Herpetological Breeding Research

Ft. Pierce, Florida