Using a heat mat or heat tape ensures a safe method for heating the floor in your ball python’s enclosure, without excessively heating the air in the enclosure along with it. Increase hot side temperature, sometimes being at 85 is not enough.In general, this is the best option to use. Move the enclosure to a room with less “human traffic” Give them a break from handling until they start eating When a ball python stops eating (after following the steps above), here are a couple additional suggestions: If possible bring the rodent(s) into the room near their enclosure for 30 minutes to an hour before feeding, this will help prepare them for feeding. Once they are in a routine of eating, it is easier to switch them to frozen/thawed. Once the animal has started eating try offering frozen/thawed around the same time. Live feed is the most natural for the snake, although most will switch to frozen/thawed, and have eaten them in the past, when an animal has gone off feed bringing them back to their instincts can be helpful Moving them to a different enclosure (normally completely different from their normal habitat, cold and without decor/hiding spaces) will only make them more stressed.įeed at night, offer live rodents and leave the room for 30 minutes to an hour with the rodent.īall python’s primary feeding time is at night, leaving the room in the dark will avoid any distractions for the animal as well. Please keep in mind that there is no guarantee these steps will make the animal eat, this is simply our suggested starting point.Īdditionally, even though these are suggestions for animals that have eaten in the past, but have been refusing meals, we do suggest that first time owners follow these suggestions from the very start of receiving a new animal, regardless of the animal refusing meals.Ī ball python that has stopped eating needs to have a little stress as possible, the focus of getting them to eat is to make them feel as secure and relaxed as possible. Below are a few first steps and guidelines we have found effective in getting ball pythons to start eating after recent arrival to a new home. Most of the questions we get from customers is about feeding because of this. Also other decor is good to give them places to feel secure but not necessarily be hidden.īall pythons are known in the reptile industry for their finicky feeding response. Feeding issues in ball pythons occur most often when they are unable to feel secure in a tight space. Ball pythons generally live in burrows and rodent holes in the wild and do not like to be out in the open. This allows the animal to move to where they need to be to regulate their body temperature.Īdd at least 1 hide box (this can be decorative) on each side of the enclosure, larger enclosures may need additional hide boxes so the animal can still thermal-regulate between the hot and cold side and feel secure in a hide box. The cold side of the enclosure should stay above 75 with the other heat elements present. If the hot side (on the bedding) is still under 85, add a daytime heat lamp on the same side of the enclosure. Avoid using heat rocks or other ceramic heating elements inside the aquarium as it can burn the animal. Since ball pythons are nocturnal, and do not tend to bask unless they need to, we recommend using a heat pad under the aquarium on one side. As long as the animal is able to move off of the heat source of the enclosure, to be able to regulate their temperature, the enclosure is big enough.īall pythons require a hot side between 85 and 90 degrees (Fahrenheit), and a cold side no lower than 75. There is no maximum size enclosure for a ball pythons, however we have found that they prefer to be in smaller enclosures as they live in burrows and tight spaces in the wild. Repti Chip is the preferred bedding at Spaid’s Reptiles, however Cyprus, Aspen and other Coconut based beddings are recommended as well.įor young ball pythons, a smaller aquarium around 10 gal is preferred as the animals feel more secure in smaller surroundings. No Cedar bedding as it is toxic to all snakes) Substrate (No Pine or Sand as it will not hold moisture. Multiple Hide boxes, preferably on both ends of the enclosure. When designing an aquarium, some areas of personal preference is suitable, however some areas of the setup are not and the purpose of this sheet is to cover the essentials for the animal to thrive. This care sheet is designed to cover the care of a ball python in an Aquarium display setup.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |