Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Ball Python (Python regius)

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General Information: Ball Pythons generally get three to five feet long and live around twenty to thirty years. However this all depends on how well the snake is taken care of, how much they are fed, and what type of environment they are kept in. Ball Pythons can get up to 3-5 feet. Male Ball Pythons weigh around two pounds and females weigh around three and a half pounds. The habitat they prefer are grasslands, Savannah's and sparsely wooded areas. Ball Pythons have the name "ball" because when they feel threatened or in danger they will coil in to a ball and just sit there because they feel more safe when they do this. The Ball Python is listed as near threatened not endangered yet.



Geographical Location: Ball Pythons are geographically found in Africa from Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Niger and Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic to Sudan and Uganda. Below is a map of Africa where they are found.




















Reproduction: Ball Pythons usually start to mate around November. They do not brumate however because they could possibly die. Ball Pythons reach sexual maturity between the ages two and three. Gestation period is about 60 days from ovulation till they eggs are layed. They lay eggs rather than a live birth and lay a clutch of normally about eight eggs.



Care in Captivity:
Cage Size: 10 to 20 gallon tank should be sufficient. Make sure you have a lid that makes sure they snake will stay in the cage because they are very good at escaping.


Feeding: Ball Pythons should be fed once a week a mouse depending on the age and size of the snake. They should always have fresh water.


Substrates: The substrate is the absorbent material put at the bottom of the cage. The easiest to clean up would be newspaper, you can go to any pet store and get aspen or and other material that has no smell to it.

Temperature: 80-90 degrees F.


Special Needs: None.




Subspecies:


Albino Ball Python