BALL PYTHONS

• By Rose McVaugh

WHY I WANT A BALL PYTHON

• You may be thinking, “She already has a corn snake, why does she want another snake?

• Ball pythons and corn snakes are two completely different animals, while I love them both equally.

• Ball pythons are the exact opposite of corn snakes. • Ball pythons are active at night, get fatter instead of longer, are

very calm and easy to handle, and prefer to climb rather than burrow. They do not come in much of a variety in colors, most are made up of browns, blacks, and yellows.

• Corn snakes are active during the day, get longer rather than fatter, are hyper and difficult to handle, and love to burrow rather than climb. They come in a variety of colors, including everything from purple to red to orange to black.

• Both snakes, however, are extremely docile, and great pets, despite the bad reputation for the name “python”.

PICTURES OF BALL PYTHONS

SIZE

• Typically reach 4 feet long

• Their average weight when they are full grown is 2,000 grams (4.5 lbs.)

P I C T U R E O F A F U L L G R O W N B A L L P Y T H O N ( S O U R C E : H T T P : / /W W W. LY L E P U B L I S H I N G . C O M / W E B S I T E / N A V B A R S / 9 8 0 1 1 4 - 0 1 8 . J P G )

SIZE

HABITAT

• Fairly large Rubbermaid bin with locking lid• 80-90°• 50-70% Humidity• At least one hide• Water bowl • Substrate/terrarium carpet

HABITAT

• A= Sliding mesh screen top

• B=Dome light with ceramic heather and black or red heat bulbs

• C=Fluorescent Strip light with UV light on a timer

• D= Thermometers and Hygrometers

• E= Artificial plants for cover

• F= Hide• G= Water Bowl• H= Climbing Branches• I= Terrarium Carpet • J= Under Tank Heater

CAN BALL PYTHONS BE HOUSED WITH CORN SNAKES?

Corn Snakes• 80-90° Basking Spot• 70-80° Cool Spot• 10-20gal tank• Needs hides and leaves to hide in and

branches to climb on• Active during day, likes light• Gets along with other snakes• Likes to burrow• Needs 50% humidity

Ball Pythons• 80-90° tank all around• Can be kept in large plastic

Rubbermaid bin• Needs hides and leaves to hide in and

branches to climb on• Active during night, don’t like light• Gets along with other snakes• Does not like to burrow• Needs 50-70% humidity

CAN BALL PYTHONS BE HOUSED WITH CORN SNAKES?

Even though they seem to have extremely similar needs, housing corn snakes and ball pythons together is NOT recommended. The reason for this is because corn snakes and ball pythons are two completely different species. They come from two completely different areas (corn snakes are from corn fields in North America, while ball pythons are from deserts in Africa), and of course, survival of the fittest. Neither corn snakes or ball pythons are aggressive, but because of their superior size and strength to corn snakes, they may not get along.

CAN BALL PYTHONS BE HOUSED WITH CORN SNAKES?

•In conclusion, it is not a good idea. While it is possible, for the safety and stress of the two animals, it is best to allow them to have their own terrariums.

BALL PYTHON HABITAT

20gal. Terrarium (or Rubbermaid storage container)

Leaves for cover

One water bowl

(At least) one hide

Heat source- UVB lights like this one are NOT good for ball pythons.

Substrate

(Habitat should be kept at 80-90 degrees)

COMPARED TO MY CORN SNAKE’S HABITAT….

20gal. tank

Light/heat source

One hide on warm side

One hide on cool side

Leaves for cover

One water bowl

Burrowing areasTerrarium carpetClimbing branchessecondary heat source

(Habitat kept at 70-80

degrees)

PRICES

• The total of everything in my Corn Snake habitat plus the snake itself was around $250.

• The total of everything in a Ball Python habitat, including the snake itself, can be as cheap as $100 or less.

PRICES

Petsmart

• Ball python- $80

BHB Reptiles• Ball Python- $100+

(depending on morph, plus at

least $35 shipping)

In this case, Petsmart actually has the better deals, even though $80 is STILL ridiculous for a ball python.

PRICES

• Another heat pad: $20 (Optional- corn snake has unnecessary heat pad)• Fuzzie mice: $12 per 6 pack

• Total besides snake: $12• Total with snake: $92

FEEDING

•Ball pythons start off eating fuzzy mice. •Fuzzy mice are slightly larger than pinkie mice, but slightly smaller than hopper mice.

MONTHLY TOTAL

• Corn snake and ball python need to be fed once every 5 days. • Corn snakes eat pinkies ($12/6pack) and ball

pythons eat fuzzies ($12/6pack) • Need to buy a new pack of pinkies and fuzzies

once a month• 1 pack of 6 pinkies= $12• 1 pack of 6 fuzzies= $12• Monthly total= $24 (Rounded to $25)

YEARLY TOTAL

• Monthly total= $25• Every 3 months buy aspen bedding for $15• 1st month= 25• 2nd month=25• 3rd month=40• 4th month=25• 5th month=25• 6th month= 40• 7th month= 25• 8th month= 25• 9th month= 40• 10th month=25• 11th month=25• 12th month=40

• Yearly total= $360 (Approximately)

• (Yearly total does not include expenses of snake, or heating sources, etc.)

LIFESPAN

• The longest living ball python was recorded to be over 48 years old when it died. • The average lifespan, however, is 15-20 years. On

VERY rare occasions, 30 years.

VIDEOS OF BALL PYTHONS

• Behavior: http://youtu.be/6XZ-t0Rlu08• Bathing: http://youtu.be/QcDE0ZQCzZI

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING MY PRESENTATION

• I hope you consider allowing me to get a ball python. Please keep in mind that Zenkaikon is coming up, and I will not be getting it until AFTER Zenkaikon, because I will need to separately save up money for Zenkaikon. I will need to save up a good $92 before I can buy it.

• 5 weeks of chores added up to about $130 recorded on my last chore sheet, but I will need that for Zenkaikon.

• Easter money will also help me save up. • I will assume that I will be getting the actual snake

around late March to mid-April.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO VIEW THIS OBNOXIOUSLY LONG

PRESENTATION

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO VIEW THIS OBNOXIOUSLY LONG PRESENTATION

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO VIEW THIS OBNOXIOUSLY LONG PRESENTATION

Thank you