Reptile & Amphibian Forums

any recommendations/tips would be greatly appreciated.

I'm especially interested in trying to find out the minimum cage and tub size for both as well as whether ringed pythons burrow, climb, etc.

Thanks!
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Here is a link to a care sheet for children's pythons from a friend of mine that has dealt with them for a few years, and produced several good looking clutches of babies.

http://cc.usu.edu/~jgjulander/ChildrensCare.html

If you are able to find a good care sheet on ringed pythons I would be intrested in hearing about it as well.

Ben

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"
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"Indigo"
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0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa
"Arwen"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

The most extensive care sheet I have found for ringed pythons is an article from the old "The Vivarium" Magazine that was swallowed up by "Reptiles". I have a copy of it, but unfortunately, I don't have the info on what issue it came from.

I can tell you about how I keep my ringed python. I have an almost 4-year-old male. They are burrowers, so I keep him in several inches deep layer of moist (not sopping wet) coconut pith fiber (like bed-a-beast). He loves to burrow in this and it eliminates the need for a hide box, since he just makes his own tunnels and holes to sleep and hide in. You can also allow the substrate to dry out completely for short intervals if you are worried about mold, though, I have never had a problem with it. Allowing him to burrow in the moist substrate also seems to eliminate skin problems often reported with ringed pythons and he usually has no problem with his sheds. This substrate is also easy to spot clean.

They like to soak, so a large water bowl is good. They are usually great feeders and are rarely a problem. Mine has a weird habit of striking and letting go with his mouth after coiling his prey, keeping hold if it only with the coils.

Be aware that ringed pythons "cast". That is, they regurgitate fur pellets a day or two after a meal, because for some reason, their digestive systems cannot handle fur. They are one of only 2 python species known to do that, so don't get upset and think he is regurgitating his food if you see (or hear) your ring do this. It is normal for them.

Good temps for them are mid 80's with a warmer basking spot and a 10-15 degree night drop.

I keep mine in a 40 gallon screen top reptile tank. I know, some people say snakes don't need that much space, but it allows him at least a little exercise and good space for a real temperature gradient, so he can adjust as needed. He does use all of the space.

Hope this helps. I don't claim to be any kind of expert, but this seems to work for me. Dave and Tracy Barker at VPI pythons are a great resource. They ARE experts, and they have a mailbag feature on their web site www.VPI.com where you can submit questions. I have always gotten good advice and information from them.

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa
"Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa
"Arwen"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I have owned Ringeds for awhile and have NEVER seen or heard of them casting until now. Its amazing how I learn something new all the time about my herps. I keep mine on paper towel substrate with a hidebox and a super large water bowl and they do just fine. I don't find their care to be any extra work. I kinda feel they are similar to brazilian rainbow boas a little but with less liklihood of dehydrating to death. All four of my ringed pythons eat like crazy. I've heard they grow faster if you feed them two slender sized meals vs. one large meal. I feed mine once a week or once every two weeks. IMHO, they are a forgiving species if you are prone to making mistakes with them. I also find that everyone's experience with them is so different. Mine are tame while others say theirs are nasty and bite like crazy. Oh well! I like them and hope to successfully breed them in a few more years.
-Jason
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