Also known as royal python, this python species is found in sub-Saharan Africa. Is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade, largely due to its size and docile temperament. They are named after their habit of curling themselves up into a tight ball. Will reach adult size in 3 years, under ideal conditions, adults do not grow to more than 5.0-6.0 ft. (152-182 cm ). Females tend to be bigger than males, maturing at an average of 4.0-4.5 ft. (122-137 cm ). Males usually grow at an average of 3.0-3.5 ft. ( 90-107 cm ).
Normal Behavior:
Its known for its defense strategy that involves coiling into a tight ball when threatened. Captive bred adults rarely bite unless severely threatened. As your snake gets ready to shed, their eyes will turn a milky blue/grey over the course of a few days and their body color will start to dull and develop a whitish sheen (may become irritable).
Grooming & Hygiene:
Snakes will regularly shed their skin; ensure humidity of habitat is at appropriate level to allow snakes to shed properly. Never try to remove eye caps by yourself.
*Thoroughly clean and disinfect habitat at least once a week.*
Feeding:
Feed juveniles once a week, adults every one to two weeks. A well-balanced ball python diet consists in appropriately sized rodents. If feeding frozen rodents do not use a microwave to defrost them just use some hot water and a hair dryer to dry them. If feeding your snake live rodents, do not leave them unattended. Live rodents can injure the snake, sometimes fatally. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times in a large enough bowl for your ball python to soak in.
Signs of Healthy Snake:
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Active and Alert
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Clear eyes (except when shedding)
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Eats regularly
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Healthy skin
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Regularly sheds skin in one complete piece
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Free of mites and ticks
Common Health Issues:
Dermatitis: Is seen in snakes kept in unhygienic conditions with excessive humidity and moisture. The disease can develop even when these animals are maintained under pristine conditions, so it is not simply a matter of excessive moisture and poor hygiene. The condition starts with hemorrhage into scales, followed by pustules that eventually lead to open and ulcerated lesions.
Respiratory disease: Labored breathing, mucus in mouth or nostrils. Can be caused by a habitat that is too cold or damp.
Stomatitis: White, cheesy substance in the mouth, loss of teeth and appetite. If untreated, can be fatal. The symptoms are swelling of the upper jaw area above the opening of the mouth causing the labial scales to protrude in an abnormal manner.
Ticks and Mites: Common external parasites, both feed on blood and severe infestations may cause anemia, leaving the snake weakened and susceptible to disease. Signs of tick infestations abnormal shedding or localize areas of irritation while the scales of snakes parasitized by the mites may be pitted or crusty with small hemorrhages. Since adult ticks and mites are visible with the naked eye, infestations are fairly easy to diagnose. They are usually found buried under the scales or near the eyes, mouth and nostrils of snakes. Mites tend to be slightly more difficult to diagnose since they are much smaller than ticks and look like tiny black or red dots.