June 1, 2009
Thinking about buying a ball python, never had a reptile before. What does it need as far as environment?
pantallica asked:
Thinking about buying a ball python, never had a reptile before. What does it need as far as environment? What should I feed it? can i use frozen mice? what should i put in its cage? Should I handle it very often? How do I care for it? I’ve been known for over thinking things but i want to make sure i have the best environment for my little guy 
Thanks
Filed under Reptile Care by Pet Lover
Comments on Thinking about buying a ball python, never had a reptile before. What does it need as far as environment?
Just basic stuff and yes you can feed it frozen mice. If you go to one of your local pet stores they have hand outs that tell you about the reptiles environment, feeding, etc. They’re very helpful. Good luck!
I would suggest reading this care guide:
Everything you need to know regarding heating, temperature, enclosure size, handling, etc. is in there.
When it comes to ball pythons, the best resource I have found is at
As for feeding, the general rule of thumb is that the food should be as big as the widest part of your snake. Some people push it to 1 1/2, but this can lead to regurgitation if it ends up being too much. Whether you feed live, pre-killed, or frozen/thawed is up to you, and many snake/reptile keepers are very passionate about one or the other; I personally feed pre-killed. One note of caution if you decide to feed live – make sure you monitor the snake the entire time the rodent is in the cage. Failure to do so may cause serious injury to your snake, and may lead to death.
Handling wise, I like to take mine out at least once a day. I do this so that he gets exercise, and use it as a tool to make sure he stays hand tame. However, when your snake goes into pre-shed (blue) or is undergoing its shed, it’s best to leave it alone. Also, please try to leave the snake alone for at LEAST a week after you get it, so that it has a chance to acclimate to its surroundings. This will help keep your snake calm, and keep it from getting stressed.