Ball Of Snakes!
Ball Pythons have the scientific name Python Regius. These snakes are originally found in the Central as well as Western part of Africa. They are named for the defensive mechanism of rolling into a very tight ball and having their head located in the centre. They are known to have the longest life span.
Ball Pythons have the scientific name Python Regius. These snakes are originally found in the Central as well as Western part of Africa. They are named for the defensive mechanism of rolling into a very tight ball and having their head located in the centre. They are known to have the longest life span. They can usually stay alive in captivity for many years. They are also called Royal Python in some countries like Europe.
Ball pythons usually grow to about 3 until 5 feet in length. Their markings on their skin are usually large dark brown with light-brown spots and combined with other dark spots. Their belly part is usually white or pale grey in colour. Their body also contain anal spurs similar to all other pythons. And the single claws found on their vent are remains of their hind legs, which they have lost during the evolution of being a lizard, turned into snake way back millions of years ago.
To differentiate a male from a female python, the male python contains much longer spurs as compared to females. In addition, females have bigger heads as compared to males.
Regarding their food preference, ball pythons they can eat anything such as lizards, amphibians, birds, small mammals, as well as other snakes. Furthermore, once fed, they can go for a long time without food. Some ball pythons can sustain themselves with no food for more than a year until they are tempted to eat again.
When a young python is held in captivity, it can grow in length to about a foot within a year. This is for the first three periods of years. As for their sexual maturity, pythons attain it when they reach the age of three up to five years. To protect their young, once the female has hatched their eggs, they secure it by encircling them with their body until they are hatched. Females can lay four up to ten eggs per clutch. For the three-month waiting period of egg hatching, they will not eat nor leave their eggs.
For the housing requirement of your pet ball python, it is important to bear in mind that snakes are experts when it comes to finding means for escape. With this information, you should use an escape proof enclosure. A good size would be a 30-gallon escape-proof aquarium. This means that even if your python grows into adulthood, it will not get cramped up.
Another thing to consider is its temperature and humidity. During daytime, the temperature of your enclosure should be between 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit with its highest temperature ranging from 90 up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the best temperature would be 75 up to 80 degree Fahrenheit.
In addition, ball pythons are used to warm temperature not like the hot and dry areas found in Africa. Most people commit the mistake of keeping them in a very humid environment. This is by putting damp moss or spraying mist in their enclosure during the course of the day. What leads to this kind of environment is that it usually affects their skin. Due to very humid conditions, they develop blisters, usually in their belly, which could then lead to infection because of bacteria. Such disease can then lead to more serious complications.
What your python really needs is a place that has a dry environment that contains within it an area that has higher humidity. To have this, one can set a bowl of water, which is large enough for the snake to submerge in. This way, your python will feel comfortable.
When it comes to the enclosure
