Ball pythons are short-sighted, so they cant see far away. You sit there as often as you can because you like the chair or the view from the window, or its quiet. Your bodys temperature is much hotter than the pythons, which means they will use your body as a way to stay warm when their body is too cold; thus, giving off the impression that Albino Ball pythons like Although most experts find this unlikely. Even in complete darkness, ball pythons have adaptations to hunt at night. However, some snakes are quite content to be stroked and pet and will remain relaxed while being pet. They need higher humidity (60%) They like to hide during the day. The Ball Python body is thick and sturdy with a small flat head. How do ball pythons live? If it feels threatened, instead of biting, it will tangle itself into a ball, hiding its head beneath its body. If you do go with a ball python as your next pet, then make sure youre ready to care for your pet for a long time to come. On average, they measure around 4 feet. Even wild caught ball pythons rarely bite. Yes, in the wild ball pythons love to climb. Ball Pythons are considered sacred in the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, the story tells that as long time ago this snake helped the people of the Igbo tribe. Ball Pythons are constrictor snakes; therefore, they are naturally sturdy and thick. In the wild, Ball Pythons hide in dark caves or under rocks. The male body is more slender and the head is smaller than that of the female of the species; still, physical features alone are not enough to differentiate the gender. This article helps you choose the right one. Humidity is the key to helping the shedding process; still, a damp setting is not recommendable for a snake at all. Feeding is one of those things that people often overlook when first getting a pet snake. It tends to have pink or red eyes. Male Ball Pythons grow till they reach 3.0-3.5 ft. A ball python is a very docile, quiet, good-natured reptile but there are always some possible dangers to be aware of if you wish to welcome a wild animal in your home and make it live in a different society than theirs. Therefore, before jumping to the next reptile expo, investigate all the necessities of having a Ball Python. A heat lamp or heating mat monitored with a temperature gauge can give your banana ball snake an ideal 90 to 95-degree heating area. The docile nature of a ball python snake makes them a good first pet. However, the oldest ball python recorded had a lifespan of 48 years in 1991 at the Philadelphia Zoo. In the wild, female ball pythons (larger and heavier than males) prefer to live a more terrestrial (on the ground) lifestyle. These tiny parasites feed on the snakes blood provoking physical distress in the snake. Yes, snakes can be fat too! but ball pythons are calm snake and will wrap around your arm or neck and just sit there so you can carry them around. The acres of grasslands form perfect habitats for these reptiles. Copyright 2018 | Pet Comments | Privacy Policy | About. Ball pythons are relatively docile and like to be handled in small doses; a few minutes a day at most. See the Feeding Frozen/Thawed Foods Care Sheet for more information. Questions around the size a ball python will get are among some of the most commonly asked. Majorly, Ball pythons are night creatures and do not really need a UVB light to live during captivity. All rights reserved. This is one of the reasons I like to keep ball pythons as pets -- and snakes in general. Ball pythons can be injured by mice and rats, which have been known to cause scale damage as well as chewing on snakes tails, in some cases even gnawing the snake down to its bone. I would not they are friendly in any way but they do not mind human interaction once they get used to it. Ball python hatching are just 16 to 18 inch long. 2. They will roam all night long. These snakes can be fed frozen-thawed rodents. Constrictor snakes arent venomous; they kill their prey by literally squeezing the life out of it. It is threatened by hunting for its meat and for the international pet trade. Its possible that they do, just on a much more basic level. Additional to them being one of the most tolerant snakes (if not the most tolerant one), they are relatively low maintenance Could I keep an eye out? Ball pythons tend to not eat very much and may do fine being fed as little as once a week and may, in some cases, fast for extended periods of time. Do ball pythons need a day night cycle? If a Ball Python is killed in an incident, they will make a simple funeral for the animal. They are called 'ball' pythons because they coil around their head and form a ball. Like other animals, the Ball Python can become the prey of bigger predators like bigger snakes, carnivorous mammals, big birds and so on. Do snakes like to be pet? That is far longer than any mammal species kept as pets. Ball Pythons Making Good Pets: Final Thoughts. While it is possible that a ball python could lash out, it is very rare for this to happen. Do Male Or Female Ball Pythons Make Better Pets? Ball pythons make great pets for a vast number of reasons. This process takes me about 20 minutes per snake, because I use frozen / thawed rodents. A Ball Python with a respiratory infection will have labored breathing, make unusual breathing sounds. The Ball Python, scientific name Python regius, also known as Royal Python is a non-venomous constrictor snake. And many turtles love to have their shells scratched or rubbed, she says. Well, I decided to do a little research to help you out a little. Lets take a closer look. Feeding: I feed my ball pythons once every 7 - 10 days. Also unlike hamsters and other rodents, ball pythons do not smell. They only get 3ft to 5ft. The pet industry has produced other Ball Python colors like albino (that are completely white and yellow), pastel, lesser, and so on. Iguanas liked to be stroked on the top of the head. Albino Ball Python As the name suggests, this is a pale snake, typically bright white with yellow markings, although it can be completely yellow. Although ball pythons are natural adaptive creatures, they prefer to live in savannas, grasslands, and sparsely wooded areas. And not just for beginning snake owners, but for expert snake handlers as well. That Cleopatra used to wear this python species around her wrists like bracelets may be a bit too far-fetched, but there do exist some interesting facts about the ball python, which make it one of the most desirable exotic pets in the world. The ball python average life span is about 50 years and generally live for 20 to 30 years in the wild. Lays Eggs in Abandoned Mammal Burrows. Estivation is like hibernation, with the animal being inactive with a lowered metabolic rate, except this behavior happens in hot dry seasons, not cold. Do not use a microwave to defrost frozen rodents and do not prepare them in the same area that you prepare food. If it is unavoidable, be sure to thoroughly disinfect the area. One of the things that make the Ball Python so popular among pet lovers is how calm and well-behaved their demeanor is towards their human owners. He had stopped by to warn me that his pet python had escaped the tank in which he kept him confined and was now on the loose. Ball Pythons reach sexual maturity when they are five years old and female Ball Pythons breed every two or three years. Yes, Ball pythons are nocturnal they need a day\night cycle. The ball python can live a complete lifespan of 20-30 years on an average in a controlled environment. Like many other animals and even people, snakes can catch a cold from time to time. Ball Pythons raised in captivity rarely bite their owners but even if they do is not a mortal bite, just cleaning and disinfecting the wound is enough. The ball python is a good snake for a beginning snake owner.They typically grow between 2 to 5 feet (though some can grow to 6 feet), ball pythons are not as large as many of the other constricting snakes that are kept as pets, are quite docile, and are easy to handle. When captured, the sudden change in temperature and environment can quickly result in the death of a snake. Their patterns provide them camouflage, but when disturbed, they may bluff, flee, or threaten to bite. Ball pythons like to bask, so youll need a warm area in the cage. This is the most common reason for them to be aggressive. To start with, theyre extremely calm animals. Its like they enjoy your body heat and like being outside, not cooped up in a tank, she says. Of course, these are not dogs you can pet all the time and young Ball Pythons (called hatchlings) will bite out of fear. One of the most common types of these exotic pet that people are buying is the ball python. Over the course of their life, a ball python requires a number of different sizes of enclosure in order to meet its needs as it grows; their enclosures can consist of designated reptile terrariums, plastic tubs, or aquarium tanks. Sadly, these parasites are common and difficult to eradicate. Do Ball Pythons Like To Climb? Both from very different parts of the world, but very similar in temperament as well as requirements for housing, lets analyze the Ball Python vs Corn Snake as a pet to figure out which one will be the perfect new addition to your home. I have experience with mostly mammals, and I prefer to give him attention. 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