Reptile & Amphibian Forums

please correct me on any mistakes or if i should add anything, thanks

Care and Breeding of:
Ball Python
(Python regius)

Size: Adults average 4 feet in length within 3-4 years of age, but occasionally reach 5-6 feet.

Housing: Hatchlings should be housed separately in 10 gallon tanks, juveniles in 20 gallon, and adults in 30 gallon. You should also provide things to hide in/under.

Heating: Ball Pythons need a basking area of 90 degrees with about 80 degrees on the cool side. Night temps should be no less than 73-75 degrees.

Substrate: Shredded aspen, cypress mulch, reptile carpet, and newspaper are all good to use; however, never use cedar or pine shavings because they are toxic to snakes.

Feeding: Hatchlings should be fed every 5-7 days, and adults every 7-10 days. Try to match the girth of the rat/mouse with the girth of the snake. They also need a water dish that is big enough for them to fit in, and the water should be cleaned daily.

Incubation: They lay 2-10 eggs per clutch, average is 6 eggs, and should hatch after about 56 days of incubation at 88-90 degrees.

Looks like you need to go a lot more indepth on most everything. Provide information about hideboxes, not just that they're neccessary. Instead of just fish tank dimensions, give actual sizes. Don't forget the humidity requirements and your temps look a little low, except for breeding. And there needs to be significantly more breeding information or none at all.

Daytime: 84-92
Nighttime: 78-84
Basking: 88-92
Humidity: 60-80%

do you know the size of a 30 gallon tank?
i'll try to find some good info on breeding to add to it, do you have anything in particular i should add?
thanks for the feedback

"Hatchlings should be housed separately in 10 gallon tanks,"

From my own experience, I believe a 10 gallon fish tank is way to big for a hatchling Regius. I would reccomend using a container no bigger than 14"l x 8"w x 4.5" tall. To the best of my knowledgea a 10 gal. is 20"l x 10"w x 12"tall.

Why not just use other keepers care sheets that are accurate?

I can't figure out why newer keepers want to make thier own.

N/P

Just added a few things.

Size: Adults average 4 feet in length within 3-4 years of age, but occasionally reach 5-6 feet.

Housing: Hatchlings should be housed separately in 10 gallon tanks, juveniles in 20 gallon, and adults in 30 gallon. You should also provide things to hide in/under. Glass tanks or rubbermaid containers are used but there are companies that make enclosures for snakes also. Rubbermaids are better for holding heat and humidity. Glass is better for display.

Heating: Ball Pythons need a gradient of heat. Set up two hide areas; one hide on the warm side with 90-95 degrees and a hide on the coolside 80-85 degrees. Night temps should be no less than 73-75 degrees. Heat mats, human heating pads, light bulbs, or ceramic heating elements are different ways to provide heat.

Humidity: Can be provided by the water bowl or various misting systems available in the reptile market. Humidity should usually be between 45-65%. However, when a snake is in shed, the humidity needs to be increased to 75-80%. This can be accomplished by adding an extra water bowl, misting, or adding a humid hide. This will help the snake shed completely.

Substrate: Shredded aspen, cypress mulch, reptile carpet, paper towels and newspaper are all good to use; however, never use cedar or pine shavings because they are toxic to snakes.

Feeding: Hatchlings should be fed every 5-7 days, and adults every 7-10 days. Try to match the girth of the rat/mouse with the girth of the snake. They also need a water dish that is big enough for them to fit in. Some snakes like to soak in the water bowl. The water bowl should be checked daily for soiling, changed and cleaned at least twice a week.

Incubation: They lay 2-10 eggs per clutch, average is 6 eggs, and should hatch after about 56 days of incubation at 88-90 degrees.