#ball python husbandry

[heyyitsjayy]

Interrupted a freshly shed Yang from a night bask to hook up everyone’s day lights + UV. She immediately started to explore her enclosure as if it was brand new. And in some ways, it is! Ball pythons still have UV-sensitive cones despite being active at dusk/night.

Imagine if you were put into a new space where red wavelengths were cut off. All of the colors would appear drastically different. This is why providing UV is so important to ALL reptiles!

[omg-snakes]

Hey a neighbor just dumped a ball python on me because she didn't think they actually ate mice

So I'm trying to take care of it but it's been a long while since I had a snake and I'm not afraid to ask for help

Do you have any recommendations for substrate and in tank heating?

We currently have what the baby came with , some damp coconut husk and a single low heat bulb lamp.

We're going to update the tank tomorrow or the day after based on how much we have to travel and outfit it but substrate can change a lot based on brand

Sorry for rambling

Oh, oof. I'm so sorry that your neighbor was irresponsible and really glad that that poor snake is in a better situation already. Thank you for taking them in and giving them a chance.

I'm not a ball python expert by any means, so please take what I say with a grain of salt and double-check before you commit to anything.

When I worked in the pet industry (one million years ago!) cypress mulch was the preferred substrate and it can be mixed with coco coir. Coco husk chip on its own is also supposed to be pretty good for higher-humidity species and it's very sustainable.

For heat, I'm a big fan of under-tank heating, but a radiant heat panel or a ceramic heat emitter might be better depending on the enclosure. Light bulbs are an inefficient heat source for snakes and overnight red lights are both inefficient and affect circadian rhythms so I didn't recommend them for reptiles at all.

Just make sure whatever heat source you choose, there's a thermostat to keep it in check.

I hope the snake thrives in your care and that the two of you are fast friends!

[ritori666]

Wonderful seeing her enjoy the new plants I set up ❤

[grimtoucher]

God I should commit to getting a snake. I've been thinking about it for a while but I think owning a pet that specifically relies on me would help me with financial reaponsibility. And I need this guy in my house

[fellowshipofthenoodles]

hey! I was just wondering if you have any good suggestions for plants to add to a tank! my bp has absolutely wrecked every plant ive added (he sits on them until the stems break and then they die) so I was wondering if you knew of any... more /tolerant/ plants that you may have had success with.

(also @ the person who added the reblog about heat mats I would love to hear suggestions about better heating since I'm also doing a major upgrade soon)

hope you and the noodles are all well!!

Hello!

Okay so unfortunately we can't help much on the plant side of things because our ball pythons aren't bioactive, which is entirely because they will crush all the plants lmao. I've seen people have had quite good luck with pothos, dracaena and spider plants but we've still been quite anxious to attempt it ourselves 😭 (if a follower has recommendations for plants please let us know since I'm sure lots of people would benefit!)

For heating however, I can help there!

So the best heating you can use is an incandescent basking bulb, you'd probably want a 75-100W bulb. You'll need this on a dimming thermostat, digital dimmers are usually more accurate but they can also be pricey, so a manual one is fine too but make sure to check your temps more to get them right if you go with that option. On/off and pulse thermostats will make the bulb break sooner as well as turn on and off which isn't great for your snake and also annoying for yourself to look at too 😆 Basking bulbs provide UVA as well by producing light so this is an extra benefit for your snake, but because of the light these would have to be turned off at night to provide a day/night cycle. If the room is above 18°C (around 64.5°F) then a basking bulb may not be ideal unless you can have a second heat source at night.. which brings us to the next thing!

Alternatively the second best option would be a deep heat projector. These don't provide visible light so they're able to stay on 24/7 and ideally should also be on a dimming thermostat. If you have a digital one a lot of them come with day and night settings which allows your snake to also experience a temperature drop at night which is more natural for them - or you can change it manually at night if you don't have a digital day/night stat. To provide some UVA you can also use any other light emitting bulb alongside, so an LED would work for this.

And of course, while it's not heat related, I'd 100% invest in a UVB bulb if you haven't got one already. They do need to be replaced every 1-2 years but they're so beneficial. Many people try to say that ball pythons are nocturnal so they don't need UVB and especially will say not to give albino animals UVB, but we see Second Breakfast the albino ball python openly basking under her UVB during the day on a regular basis! Arcadia T5 Shadedweller is our usual but there are other brands like Reptisun and Reptile Systems that have good options too! Sorry if you didn't need the UVB bit but I figured even if it isn't needed for you then it could help someone reading ❤️

All of us over here are doing great! We've got exciting upgrade plans coming up so things are going to be fun around here! Hope you and your noodle are also good!

[gods-no-longer-tread-here]

hey uh reptblr how do I tell my friend that keeping her pregnant ball python in a plastic drawer was a bad idea? as is keeping all of the babies together in said drawer? I'm pretty sure she has tanks but I don't know which snakes are kept where.

I don't have any pets but it seems truly awful to keep a snake--an animal about a foot long that requires a controlled environment--in essentially a mail slot with a lid. (I've seen photos and video of the drawers. I own the exact same ones, and the only things I put in them are paper and markers because nothing else fits.)

[pair-of-snakes]

welcome to my blog!!!

this is a new sideblog focused on my snakes

my fandom account is @pearlsdefenseattorny

here we have franz mesmer:

and odysseus of ithaca

we'll be doing reptile husbandry nerd stuff over here

[bun-parade]

Just dropped a other $100 on a misting system for Butter Bean's tank since I had to switch him to a ceramic heat emitter instead of an under tank heater 😮‍💨 CHE destroys all the humidity in the tank unfortunately. That brings the grand total of his tank upgrade to close to $300.

[whynotfabulous]

Luka Update

I've had Luka since November and I've been very nervous about being a good snake mom.

Obviously there is a lot that goes on to keeping a pet, but two signs that I was looking for to show that he was thriving are

#1 he eats (Ball Pythons are well known to refuse food if their husbandry isn't perfect)

#2 he sheds in one large piece

The first one was immediate and easy. *Lightly pats snake belly* this bad boy can hold so many rats in it. He's never refused a meal and is enthusiastic (if very stupid. Took him an hour to figure out how to eat his meal once. Never gave up though so that was actually really encouraging)

I'd been waiting for sign #2. He was in shed when we got him in his insufficient setup so that doesn't count.

But TODAY!!! Today I found his perfect, unbroken shed (rolled up for me with a nice big poop inside of it. Thanks, bud)

I can finally call myself a good snake mom 😊

[ceratosaurtalks]

I know my posts about my Dominican Red Mountain Boas are more popular than my Dumeril's Ground Boa posts. But still, I wanted to take a moment just to talk about this species and my experience with the Dumeril's thus far. Because I do think they're a fantastic animal to keep. Some basic information before I talk about the pros and cons of my individual; My Dumeril's ground Boa is a male and he is three years, almost four years old and only about four feet. These animals grow very slowly! But they get decently sizable. Nothing unreasonably huge, but they aren't a 'small' snake either. The one above is NOT a full sized individual, or close to a full sized individual. That being said, I do think this is probably one of the most fun sp. I've gotten into. I do have a lot of appreciation for this animal, and our interactions. Of course not every individual behaves the same, but this ones been a absolute joy to work with. I've found the Dumeril's ground boa to be one of the more inquisitive species I've kept, who actively wants to get in your business and see whats going on. I do enjoy that when I walk by this animals enclosure, this usually gets a reaction from them, where they will come out to watch me. I've noticed this individual spends a lot of time basking as well in the open, I mostly find this animal curled up on his hide and using the elevation to survey his surroundings. He also tends to move a lot, which is enjoying to watch him go about his buisness. The behavior of this animal and the temperament has been. Incredible. He's very relaxed, very laid back to handle, and prefers to climb up on the shoulder/head area where he has the most coverage under him to sit. He also tends to be much more relaxed when sitting. DGBs are terrestrial snakes- so trying to actively hold him while he's moving in your hands/arms off the ground is more like trying to keep yourself under him. Like my favorite sp. Of python, the Blood Python, this animal is incredibly clumsy and isn't the best with balancing themselves and prefer more contact under them when handling. The feeding response of my DGB has been above and beyond as well. The DGB I have has a insane feeding response, and, despite being raised on live, was able to be switched to F/T withing the first feeding coming into my collection. I have them on a diet of Quail, Chicken, Iguana links(From Reptilinks), Rat, and the occasional once-in-a-blue-moon feeder fish, and he has never rejected a meal for me. Infact, when my other specialized eaters pass a meal, he's my trashbin I feed the feeders too so they don't get wasted. Of course, your individual may vary in temperament and confidence. But this animal is extraordinarily fun to me and if you're considering something thats bigger than a Ball Python but not unreasonable, and also has a fantastic temperament? I would suggest looking into a Dumeril's ground Boa. You will need a larger enclosure for an adult Dumeril, which would be the downside of this Sp. Their heating is pretty simple, they don't like it too hot- I have my basking area set to a nice 88F, and they do well in a good range of humidity from 40-60%. I like to spike this with occasional misting, to aid with shed and to aid with the animals respiratory system. Their care is pretty simple overall, the only thing Id say you really need to look out for is overfeeding them. They have a pretty slow Metabolism and it is hard for them to shed weight. Overweight/Obese DGBs like, a lot of reptiles, can be prone to things like Fatty liver and muscle atrophy- the latter being one of the biggest and most common thing most Boas end up developing based on outdated husbandry and care. Always do your research!

[aquadraco20]

The social lives of reptiles, I feel, is an under explored topic in captive husbandry. Most seasoned keepers will strongly warn against cohabitation, and for good reason! Many enclosures are arguably too small for a single individual, and to add a second or third is a recipe for disaster. Many keepers will start off their reptile journey with the question, "what is the minimum size enclosure for [x]?" And go from there.

However, there is so much to learn from reptiles if we give them as much space, and furnish it as naturally as possible. Multiple hides, textures, elevations, plants, wind, water, and the closest approximation of sunlight available, and natural fluctuations of each, all work together to encourage a wide range of natural behaviors, and likely biological needs that we may not be fully aware of.

One of those behaviors is how these animals might interact with not only members of their own species, but other animals that are native to their natural habitat. No reptile lives in isolation for its entire life, of course it will come together to breed, but what do they do when meeting another individual out of mating season? Is it always a battle for territory? Are they cannibalistic? Or do they learn from each other and share resources like burrows? Do they communicate in ways that we cant see or hear?

The YouTube channel Reptiles and Research has made a few videos on the topic of cohabitation, and I will be the first to admit these videos can have a bit of a argumentative narrative to them. However they are well researched and cite studies on wild individuals as well as those kept in zoos.

Reptiles and Research recently put out a video on cohabitating ball pythons, and if you're curious about the topic, I highly recommend giving it a watch!

[i-m-snek]

Hey there,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for being such an incredible resource and support to me. I actually have been a longtime viewer of you- I had a photo set of Leliana dedicated way back in 2017. I remember you having Pharoh at the start of COVID. You’re an amazing person, always helpful and compassionate to others. Your guidance and kindness have meant so much, I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve shared.

On a sad note, I wanted to let you know that my pet ball Python, Velli, passed away two days ago. It’s been rough, but he was peaceful and gentle and I can’t think of any other way it should have went. I am comforted in an odd way by telling you this- almost 8 years ago you were the one to talk to me about husbandry and ball pythons. I feel that you have contributed so much although we have never met. You have brought me so many amazing memories, and I want to thank you for the joy you and he brought into my life.

Your updates and general life have been a steady light in my life, your support has left an indelible mark on my heart, even as I navigate back to the very start to the very person who started the mere thought of getting my friend. Thank you, sincerely, for all the love you have made.

(I hope its alright that I'm posting publicly, if it's not let me know and I can take it down ❤️) I am so, so sorry to hear about Velli. He was a beautiful little soul and had a wonderful life with you. It's so hard to lose these guys because they become such a big part of our heart. But it really means so much to me to hear this, to know I'm helping make a difference for both people and animals out there. Much love from us ❤️

[cobragardens]

Yeah if you keep your ball pythons like this you don't just look like an animal abuser.

This is the standard of keeping ball pythons. Its the most common technique, and it IS widly spread.

We can do better than this. This kind of stuff doesnt allow for a range of natural behaviors. It makes us look like animal abusers. Yes, the animals survive, but they cannot thrive in this setting. There’s literally not enough room for even one of them to stretch all the way out.

We can do better. We have to do better because this isn’t good for the animals health wise, or even mentally. It also gives HSUS and PETA more grounds to ban reptiles as pets.

Enrichment provides animals with an outlet for natural behaviors and promotes healthy animals. There are tons of studies on the benefits of enrichment- it’s not an extra step- it’s necessary for the good of the animal and is part of proper husbandry.

Dont be like this picture; dare to do more.

(image source purposely withheld)

[fellowshipofthenoodles]

hey so i need some advice about snakes. i dont have like a massive fear of them but it’s still big and makes me skin crawl a little bit. do you have any suggestions on how to get past this and improve? (same with spiders)

Hello!

So, even as a snake lover, I can understand that a fear of snakes is a normal, natural response. Same with spiders and other things that are common phobias! So for my first step, I want to stress this to you: don’t beat yourself up over it!

Next two steps are a do together thing; learn some stuff and exposure.

- If you can, find somewhere that you can be around snakes in a controlled environment. This can be places like museums, all the way to breeders, reputable pet stores, reptile enthusiasts, friends who would be patient and let you be in the room with and maybe eventually hold them when you feel comfy etc. There’s a lot of YouTube and TikTok accounts that are dedicated to things like advanced husbandry, where you can see the care that goes into caring for animals without the focus being directly on the animals themselves.

- Follow blogs on tumblr (👀👋🏻) where you can see people talking about their pets and the love they give to them. Even seeing the videos and pictures will gradually help to desensitise you. There’s tons of good reptiblrs (too many for me to remember right now sorry!) that can give you some good insight into the day to day lives of our little weird creatures.

- Once you’re comfortable enough, learn about them. Did you know that ball pythons are called that in the US because they curl into a ball when they’re spooked? When tarantulas are scared, they sometimes pull their legs over their eyes to hide them too.

Also remember: you’re way bigger and way scarier than they are!

Small snakes like hognoses will thrash around and inflate themselves and HISS and bonk themselves at you and sometimes flip themselves upside down to pretend to play dead, and that’s because you’re big and spooky.

Tarantulas will do something called “kicking hairs” where they stick their little booties up in the air and smack them with their back feet to kick specialised hair to make you leave them alone by making you itchy. That’s because you’re HUUUUGE and they’re just little guys.

While ball pythons aren’t a beginner species to keep necessarily due to their husbandry, they are a pretty good species to be introduced to as a first snake; they’re slow moving, hefty little curious creatures with the silliest puppy dog faces and well socialised balls are extremely handleable.

If for whatever reason you do get bitten by a small snake that’s a constrictor (like a ball python, or corn snake) then it’s very easy to get them off by smearing hand sanitizer on their mouths. It doesn’t hurt the snake (just tastes gross), and the bite doesn’t hurt you either too much - it feels a lot like you’ve been attacked by angry Velcro.

I hope you get past your fears, anon - please be patient with yourself! ❤️

Tonka the ball python is wishing you luck from his hide!

[chaifootsteps]

...yeah no you dont want foxes as pets i promise you. even if you miraculously were a millionaire it is impossible to care for a totally wild animal as well as a domesticated one and thats a dangerous idea to promote

Exotics are fine to keep as long as they weren't taken out of the wild and as long as you can meet their husbandry needs. I hope for the sake of consistency that you go around leaving this same comment on the blogs of people who keep sugar gliders, ball pythons, and bison ranches.

2. Marble foxes are domesticated.

[deerglitter]

rant abt animals cuz i keep seeing tiktoks and this subject never fails to pmo

i hate when somebody posts a “just bought a new pet come set it up w me” video and then gets mad when people call out their horrible husbandry in the comments. like it takes so little effort to research an animal you’re buying. they’re clear impulse purchase pets too, like no you can’t just get a single rat and expect him to live in a critter carrier. it’s always w the small animals nobody seems to care abt and it pmo sooooo bad. why do you have your leopard gecko on calcium sand. or your bearded dragon on repticarpet. or have an electronic heat rock in your ball pythons enclosure. why are you cohabitating solitary animals, duh they’re going to fight or be miserable. it’s just so stupid like these ppl r okay spending time on their phones recording tiktoks of their animals but can’t be bothered to open google and read for 10 minutes? or even watch a youtube video, it’s that easy. like i’m 16 and know more than grown ass people because i took the time to research the animals i take under my care, and it was not difficult at all. literally just don’t buy an animal if you don’t know what you’re doing why isn’t this common sense