Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a 1 year old Ball Python. He is georgous!! I just have a few questions.

1. How much should I keep the heat light on? What temp is good to maintain?

2. How often should I change the water bowl?

3. How often should I feed him? He is pretty big.. about 25 inches.

4. He is also making a sqeaking noise.. from time to time.. sounds like he is blowing soemthing out? Anyone know what this is?

Any other advice would be great!! Thanks all!!

1. How much should I keep the heat light on? What temp is good to maintain?
Hot side should be low 90's, low side mid to low 80's. A temp drop at night is ok, but don't let it get below the upper 70's at it's coolest. I have black lights, so I can leave them on all the time. BP's are nocturnal/crepuscular, so they HAVE to have a period of darkness. The black light doesn't affect them. They do not require any light at all, in fact, other than possibly as a heat source.

2. How often should I change the water bowl?
I clean/disinfect their water bowls once a week, depending on how much they use it. I have one that only drinks from his. I change that one about every two weeks. My female likes to soak, so that one is fresh at least once a week, sometimes more.

3. How often should I feed him? He is pretty big.. about 25 inches.
Feed him once a week, while still a baby/juvenile. As he gets older, and starts taking medium/large rats, he will eat about every 10-14 days or so.

4. He is also making a sqeaking noise.. from time to time.. sounds like he is blowing soemthing out? Anyone know what this is?
Could be nothing, or could be the beginnings of a respiratory infection. If it is infrequent, it is probably nothing. You can bump the temps up a bit, just as a precautionary measure for RI. If you are worried, take him to a vet, but RI can be cleared up with increased temp/dry conditions normally.

Any other advice would be great!! Thanks all!!
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Thanks a lot. I will look into it. The sqeaks only happen once a day. Thanks for the advice.