How to care for your ball python

Ball python care sheet.

• Ball pythons are obligate carnivores which means they hunt and eat small mammals and birds.

Ball pythons will eat frozen rats and mice, and chicks you will just need to take the feed out of the freezer to defrost in a safe place at room temperature and there are several ways to feed your ball python;

• Feed straight to the snake without heating some snakes will take food like this and prefer it this way.
• Heat the prey feed in hot water at about 35 degrees Celsius for at least 6 minutes or you can heat the prey feed on a heat mat for about 30 minutes.
• It is illegal in the UK to feed live vertebrates to another animal.
• Proving a variety of different feed source such as chicks, quail and young rabbits will ensure your snake gets all the nutrients it needs.

Heating is an essential part of keeping a ball python, as they should have a temperature gradient which is where one end is warmer than the other. The hot end should be around 30-32 degrees Celsius, and the cooler end should be at 24-26 degrees Celsius.

Having the correct humidity for a ball python should be at about 50-60% as it is essential to keep the snake's respiratory system healthy and it also keeps their skin healthy as it allows them to shed better.

• Ball python do not require any extra vitamin or mineral supplements, but if you don’t use UVB lighting for your cage environment, adding some Vitamin D3 & Calcium would benefit your snake.