BALL PYTHON

(Python regius)

FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 20% OFF ALL SIZES & MORPHS, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

If variety is the spice of life, it’s not hard to understand why Ball Pythons have become such popular pets. We do our best, but it’s almost impossible to keep up with all of different color and pattern morphs that are now available. Amazing new morphs arise every year, and breeders keep coming up with exciting new combinations, and we are thrilled to have the ability to bring in a seemingly endless number of unique looking Ball Pythons to make available to our customers. We want to celebrate the diversity of this species this month, and we are all very pleased to announce that May’s Animal of the Month is the Ball Python, (Python regius.)

Ball Pythons are incredibly popular pets! This is likely due to to the fact that they have a very docile nature. Unlike many other snakes that become aggressive when they perceive a threat, the Ball Python’s first reaction is to curl up into a ball. A behavior so unique that the animal was named for it! They are native to Western Africa where they are quite commonly found among the tropical grasslands and savannahs. This snake also bears the name Royal Python as it is actually quite revered by some African religions.

Scales ‘N Tails highly recommends Ball Pythons as we believe they make fantastic pets for beginners and experts alike. With an average adult size of 3 ½ to 4 ½ feet, they are the perfect size snake for most homes. Years of captive breeding has resulted in countless color and pattern morphs, giving people tons of options to choose from. They are also fairly easy to care for, and very hardy in captivity when kept properly. Just like all snakes, they can bite, but they typically have a very docile nature and are easily handled.

CARING FOR A PET BALL PYTHON

Caring for a pet Ball Python could not be easier. For most situations, we recommend keeping babies in a 10-gallon terrarium, juveniles in a 20-gallon long terrarium, and adults in a 40-gallon breeder terrarium. Zoo Med Forest Floor Bedding is a perfect substrate to use, at a depth of about 2 to 3 inches, as it will hold moisture and help maintain proper humidity levels. Add a good sized water dish and a Zoo Med Habba-Hut they can use to burrow/hide beneath, and the interior of your snake’s home is complete. Further decorative items can be added to make the setup more attractive you, but this is not necessary for the health of the animal.

You’ll want to provide it with a 90-96 degree basking spot and an ambient cage temperature between 78-80 degrees, so a supplemental heat source will be necessary. The ideal humidity level is be around 60%, which can be achieved by simply moistening the substrate regularly with a spray bottle, evaporation will take care of the rest. Please note that providing your Ball Python the proper environment is crucial to it’s health, so we strongly recommend using a Thermometer & Humidity Gauge to ensure conditions are right as it is very hard to guess these things with any accuracy. Once it’s environmental needs have been met, offer your snake an appropriately sized, pre-killed Mouse or Rat weekly, and you’ll have a happy, healthy pet.

If you provide the right environment for your Ball Python, then you’ll be able to enjoy your pet for a very long time. Captive animals can easily live 30 years or more under the proper conditions. The record age for a captive Ball Python is said to be a very long 47 years!

Finally, we wouldn’t be doing our Animal of the Month justice if we didn’t make it an affordable pet option. So for the month of May, while supplies last, we are taking 20% off all Ball Pythons, including all morphs! So if you’re interested in a new pet snake, there has never been a better time to get one!