All species
reptileintermediate
Ball Python
Python regius
A shy, docile snake that spends most of its time in a hide. Needs stable warmth and humidity to thrive on a rodent diet.
4–5 ft20–30 years
Habitat
Enclosure
40 gal breeder minimum for an adult
Temperature
Warm side 88–92°F · cool side 76–80°F
Humidity / Water
50–60%, raised to ~70% during shed
Heating & lighting
Overhead halogen or deep heat projector on a thermostat; avoid heat rocks. Provide identical hides at both ends so the snake never trades security for temperature.
Diet
Feed these
- Frozen-thawed mice and rats sized to the snake's widest point
Never feed
- Live rodents — they bite and injure snakes
- Rodents not fully thawed
- Feeding during a shed cycle
Feed juveniles every 5–7 days, adults every 10–14 days. Never handle for 24–48 hours after a meal to avoid regurgitation.
Cohabitation
Can live with
No one — house this species alone.
Never house with
Other ball pythons — cohabitation causes stress and feeding refusals Any other species
Strictly solitary. Ball pythons are famously shy — a cagemate usually leads to skipped meals and disease spread.
