Ball Python Care
This is a simplified care for Ball Pythons. This is how we have been caring for these animals at Lovera Exotics. There are other ways to be successful. So please do more research.
Basics
Hatchlings (50 - 200 grams)
• 6qt tub or 5-10 gallon tank (we only use tubs) • 90 degree hot spot • 75-80 degree cool side • 55-60% humidity • Fresh water always available (we change every 3-4 days) • Coconut or paper bedding • Rat pup or Hopper Mouse weekly (we feed rats) Sub-Adults (200 – 500 grams for males and 200 – 1000 grams for females) • V-35 or 20 gallon long tank • 88-90 degree hot spot • 75-80 degree cool side • 55-60% humidity • Fresh water always available (we change every 3-4 days) • Coconut bedding • Weaned – Small rats weekly Adult Males (500+ grams) • 35 qt tubs or 20 gallon long tank • 88 degree hot spot • 75-80 degree cool side • 55-60% humidity • Fresh water always available (we change every 3-4 days) • Coconut bedding • Small rat weekly • Breeding size between 450 – 800 grams (depends on the boy) Adult Females (1000+ grams) • Cb-70 tubs or 40 gallon breeder tank • 88-90 degree hot spot • 75-80 degree cool side • 55-60% humidity • Fresh water always available (we change every 3-4 days) • Coconut bedding • Medium rat weekly or biweekly (dependent on breeding) • Breeding size between 1200 – 1800 grams (depends on the girl) |
Basic Breeding
When your male and female(s) are ready for breeding you can start to plan out breeding your snakes. Males need to be at least 450 grams and your female(s) need to be at least 1250 grams. We start breeding when they tell us they want to. Our males will usually start trying to get out of their tubs around October or November. Our females will start to show interest at the same time. You will notice females never having enough to eat. At this point it is time to introduce males and females.
We introduce males into the females cages when the barometric pressures change. We will typically see locks within a few hours. The male stays in the cage until he is finished locking or on day 3. We repeat this process every 30-45 days until the female ovulates.
Now that the female has ovulated she will lay eggs in roughly 50-60 days. About 20-30 days after the ovulation she will shed (pre-lay shed). After this shed the female will lay in about 30 days. Now you have eggs!!
We introduce males into the females cages when the barometric pressures change. We will typically see locks within a few hours. The male stays in the cage until he is finished locking or on day 3. We repeat this process every 30-45 days until the female ovulates.
Now that the female has ovulated she will lay eggs in roughly 50-60 days. About 20-30 days after the ovulation she will shed (pre-lay shed). After this shed the female will lay in about 30 days. Now you have eggs!!
Incubation
You can incubate your eggs maternally or artificially. We only incubate artificially, so we will focus on that. The first part to incubating is having an incubator. We have used mini-fridges in the past but have a HotBox Incubator now. Both these methods work the same. Your incubator must be running between 87.5 and 90 degrees. Our incubator usually runs around 89 degrees.
We setup our incubation boxes with a vermiculite and perlite mix with 2 layers of light diffuser panels. Then we put the eggs in one box and put press-and-seal paper over the box and put the lid on. Then it goes in the incubator for about 54-56 days. On day 55 or when we see the first pip we cut the eggs. Once the babies crawl out on their own we rinse them and put them all together in a 6 quart tub with wet paper towel bedding. Once they have their first shed they get their own tubs.
We setup our incubation boxes with a vermiculite and perlite mix with 2 layers of light diffuser panels. Then we put the eggs in one box and put press-and-seal paper over the box and put the lid on. Then it goes in the incubator for about 54-56 days. On day 55 or when we see the first pip we cut the eggs. Once the babies crawl out on their own we rinse them and put them all together in a 6 quart tub with wet paper towel bedding. Once they have their first shed they get their own tubs.