After giving your ball python a warm bath, you should use a towel and gently wipe your snake dry to remove the stuck skin. They aid in comprehending the connection between snake size, age, and prey and provide invaluable insight into proper herpetoculture care to ensure that your pet receives the correct amount of food in an organized way. Whats The Best Size?Continue, Breeding ball pythons for profit may have gone into your mind. #5: If your ball pythons head looks much smaller than its body, then it is overweight or even obese. Can other snakes live as long as ball pythons can? Your ball pythons spine must be somehow prominent, rather than sunken (sings of obesity). If your snake is suddenly active during the day when they normally sleep, or it goes on a food strike even with its favorite prey, then you will know something is off and look to fix it quickly. Glass aquariums and tanks are adequate for ball pythons, but the screen tops on such enclosures can make it very difficult to maintain proper humidity levels. Snakes have an incredibly slow metabolism. Also, your ball pythons head must not look much larger compared to its body. The record age for a ball python is more than 40 years so plan on a long life for your new pet snake. The water bowl should be cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis. First, keep in mind that ball pythons can live for 20-30 years in captivity, so they may continue to grow for many years. Secondly, male ball pythons tend to be larger than females, so if you have a male snake you can expect him to grow larger than a female of the same age. While a ball python will eventually starve if it does not eat, it is a very slow process. You may have heard that power-feeding will make your snake grow longer faster. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. As an owner, you are probably wondering whether or not a ball python can be bored or not. Providing vegetation, even insects can be problematic and even dangerous to their health. In addition to this, ball pythons also shed from their head first before the body area. Instead, provide your pet with its meal in the dark when it becomes active and is most likely to be interested in eating. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and it is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. How Long Can a Ball Python Safely Stay Underwater? Maintaining proper humidity will allow your ball python to shed properly. Conversely, feed sub-adult and adult ones (t to 2 years old) every 10-14 days. Some reptiles even develop adaptations to further harvest water for rehydration [3]. Tel: (714) 660-9226 Location: In general, ball pythons put their heads underwater due to: 1) shedding, 2) mite infestation, 3) thermoregulation, and 4) thirst. What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing? Power feeding should be avoided at all costs! You can easily access our privacy policy and terms of use. Temperature & Humidity Needs and Requirements, poses a serious risk to your reptile friend, 1 small rat or 1-3 adult mice (45 to 80 g), 1 medium rat, 3-5 adult mice, or 2 small rats (80 to 150 g), 4-6 adult mice or 3 small rats (85 to 150 g), 1 medium rat, 4-5 adult mice, or 2 small rats (90 to 150 g). Feeding charts are a crucial tool for all ball python owners, regardless of their experience level. Your email address will not be published. Ball pythons, one of the most popular snakes among hobbyists and seasoned herpetologists alike, rely heavily on proper diet to ensure long-term health. While it is important to scale up your ball pythons enclosure as they age, hatchlings appreciate a smaller container to live in. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important;}}if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'reptilehero_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); A post shared by Federal Way Fish and Reptile Rescue (@federalwayfishrescue). Smaller males might reach only 2-2.5 feet (61-76 cm) long. When ball pythons soak in a water bowl with their heads underwater, it can also mean that they are thermoregulating. If they keep their heads underwater, it is most probably due to shedding and mite issues. This way, you avoid having your hand linked with feeding in your reptiles mind, plus youll have extra space if the strike isnt successful. Fold and rolls will indicate excess weight. Juvenile ball pythons are also between two-six months in age. Once the prey is fully thawed, enclose it in a plastic bag for optimal safety. Our site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for our site to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affilliated sites. You must replicate a diet similar to what they would eat in the wild. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0-asloaded{max-width:580px!important;max-height:400px!important;}}if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'reptilehero_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); Ball pythons will only swim when they want to cross to the other side or if they are forced to when fleeing from a predator. Moreover, these critters can be pretty aggressive and might hurt or even instill fear in your beloved pet snake. Generally, ball pythons need food far less frequently than other pets. In general, ball pythons will bite a human due to, Read More Why Did Your Ball Python Attack and Bite You?Continue, Is enrichment really that important for ball pythons? 1.0 Orange Ghost 450g. They are conveniently prepackaged and fit nicely into a freezer at home. Our website is compliant with GDPR and adverstising laws of United States. The most common foods to feed your snake include gerbils, chicks, mice, and rats. Why Did Your Ball Python Attack and Bite You? If you are bitten, will it cause problems for you or the snake? If your snake has lost its appetite and you cant figure out why, dont hesitate to get them to your vet. In most cases, stand-alone tubs can be used as a, Read More Can You Use Tubs as a Ball Python Enclosure? Captive ball pythons typically reach a length of 4 to 5 feet, although 6-ft wild specimens have been found. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-leader-3-0-asloaded{max-width:468px!important;max-height:60px!important;}}if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'reptilehero_com-leader-3','ezslot_9',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptilehero_com-leader-3-0'); For injuries, ball pythons need to be brought immediately to a veterinarian for assessment and possible prescription of antibiotics. So do not worry too much if you find them in this scenario, they would not drown themselves for fun you know. Avoid feeding any wild-captured rats or mice to your ball python, as they could spread fleas and ticks. WebBall pythons are non-venomous snakes. Your Snake Could Be Dehydrated Your Snake Could Be Too Hot Your Snake Might Need A Soak Final Thoughts Are Ball Pythons Good Swimmers? They are Please note, it must be gradual. The correct enclosure is one of the most debated parts of ball python care, so what can you use for your beloved pet? Featured Image Credit: anythings, Shutterstock. 19/04/2022 by Sean B. Healthy weight ball python must gradual tapering down of fat deposits from the mid-top and up to the tip of the tail. We recommend asking a licensed veterinarian if your question is urgent and involves your pets health. Some ball pythons may try to hide when handled and occasionally there are ones that may even bite due to excessive fear. Adult ball pythons do not require exceptionally large or elaborate enclosures either. Then youve probably considered using a huge plastic tub! Then sign up right now and you'll start receiving our daily newsletter absolutely free. Although this is a very rare scenario, most cases typically happen with smaller-sized ball pythons. reptilehero.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. Adult ball pythons of over 3 years of age can reach 3-5 feet (91-152 cm). Female ball pythons are capable of having babies well into their old age. Soaking ball pythons through water can be done but it is not as effective as the following methods: Ball pythons that have a bump on their tail areas due to fecal build-up can be a sign of constipation. How Long Can Ball Pythons Go Without Eating? Fascinating Answer Ball pythons live very long lives in captivity. Furthermore, it is not recommended to bathe them unless the snake has injuries, mites, constipation, and stuck shed. Scratches/bites can lead to open wounds that risk infection. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. The size and frequency of feedings depends on their life stage. Husbandry Genetics With proper care and maintenance of these factors, ball pythons can reach an adult size of 2-6 feet in length and weigh between 1-6 pounds. This breed of snake doesnt require nighttime temperature drops, they like it to be around 80-83 F when they eat. Continue reading until the end to know more! Krisda Ponchaipulltawee/Shutterstock.com. For breeding males, mating is the only activity that requires energy. Questions around the size a ball python will get are among some of the most commonly asked. You can find ball python weight and feeding sizes chart in this post (new tab). Adult ball pythons of over 3 years of age can reach 3-5 feet (91-152 cm). There are even reports from some ball python snake owners who claim that their snake hasnt eaten for up to a month! Moreover, it is advised that you feed dead mice/rats to your snake. Thus, a slight adjustment in their feeding schedule may be necessary to provide them with sufficient sustenance for these activities. Some snakes may not eat for several hours or longer after being handled, so avoid handling if you plan to feed. WebAdult female ball pythons average 3 to 5 feet long, and adult male ball pythons average 2 to 3 feet in size. Once your snake has done its work, give it some privacy. If your ball python is refusing to eat, this is a huge red flag. Thirsty ball pythons tend to drink and soak in a body of water to rehydrate. Ball pythons are the most well-studied of snakes, but it is still unclear what we need to look for in their long-term health.
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