Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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"Ball Python Manual"

Here's Aragorn's digs....

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

so basicly all you need in there is a few hides, and a big water dish? and does that repti carpet work for your snake pretty well?

The carpet works well for me. I love the look of a BPs colors against the green. Since BPs don't defecate as much as colubrids (my guy goes 1xweek) it's fairly easy to clean. Just have to have at least 2 pieces so you can put a clean piece in while the dirty one is being cleaned.

You need a minimum of 1 hide per side-the bigger the cage/tank the more hides you need. They must be low and snug.

A water dish big enough to soak in if your snake want to - again snug.

My BP loves to climb that's why I have the branches.

You need a heat source (human heating pad or reptile heating pad) that covers 25-50% of the cage providing warm side temps of 90-95. Cool side temps 80-85. Night time drop in temps not required, but if they do drop maintain a difference of 5-10 degrees between your warm and cool side and make sure the cool side does not go below 75.

Lights are optional and only for your benefit. I have a UV light for daylight cycles, etc. I also have a red heat lamp on the cool side because my cool side temps get too low without it.

You need a good thermometer and hygrometer. Stick ons are crap. Get a digital with probes.

You need substrate. I use carpet. There's also newspaper, shredded aspen, aspen chips, Bed-a-Beast....Just no cedar.

Any deco you want to add and of course the cage. If you go with a glass tank expect problems maintaining the correct temps and humidity; therefore, expect to probably spend even more time, money and using up some more of your patience to get it fixed. Rubbermaids are easier and a lot cheaper to house them in.

And finally feeding tongs, food and patience.

BPs are great, but a bit higher maintence than some of your other 'beginner snakes' (cornsnakes, kingsnakes, etc). It is extremely important to (1) have your setup together and running correctly before bringing your BP home. Also (2) make sure it's captive bred and (3) eating (ask to see it eat). If it's already eating F/T that's great. If 1-3 are clear than you will save yourself a LOT of stress, worry, money and problems.

Email me for a caresheet with more info: tigergenesis@comcast.net

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I also think the ball python manual is great. Also check out vpi.com and proexotics.com they have good care sheets on ball pythons.