Royal pythons aka ball pythons
Royal pythons, also known as ball pythons, are a small to medium-sized snake species native to West and Central Africa. They are named “ball” pythons because of their tendency to curl into a tight ball when stressed or threatened. Known for their calm demeanor, they make popular pets due to their manageable size (typically 3 to 5 feet long) and gentle temperament. These snakes are nocturnal and primarily feed on small mammals, such as mice and rats. With proper care, they can live for 20-30 years in captivity.
Royal Python Husbandry
Daily Chores
● Fresh water daily
● Spot clean daily
● Spray Daily (Full clean once a month)
● Use F10 Veterinary Disinfectant
Vets and Insurance
● Exotics Vets are not easy to find, here in Brighton we use Coastways in Kemptown as they have an exotic vet called Celine. It is essential you find an exotic vet.
● There is insurance you can get for your reptile through Exotic Direct.
Handling your Royal Python
When handling your Snake ensure you support its body and ensure your surroundings are safe. Do not handle your snake after feeding. They need to be left alone so they can properly digest their food. Wait a minimum of 2-3 days before handling after feeding.
Handling sessions should be no longer than 45 minutes. Snakes are really curious animals and will try to fit into small spaces so never leave the snake unattended.
Always make sure there are no pets like dogs and cats around when handling your snake.
Equipment such as Snake Hooks and Feeding tongs are needed when owning snakes.
Royal Python Diets
Royal pythons need a variety of defrosted mice and rats. You can also buy multimammate mice from reptile shops that resemble their wild prey.
Royal pythons have a reputation for going off their food, which can be stress-related. In their native range in West and Central Africa, they prefer African giant rats, black rats, grass mice, weaver birds, and rufous-nosed rats. However, their prey is not limited to these animals, they will feed on any bird or mammal small enough to be swallowed. Like all pythons, this species is an ambush predator that sits and waits for prey to come to them.
Why can I not handle my snake after feeding?
You should never handle your snake just after they’ve eaten, as they can regurgitate their food. As you can imagine, this is even more unpleasant for your snake than it is for you who has to clean up! When your snake regurgitates their food, its esophagus will be irritated by the stomach acid that they bring up with the food. Therefore, if they regurgitate their food, you’ll need to wait for two weeks before feeding again.
How to Feed a Snake
Step 1 – Defrost the prey in hot tap water, this can be in a bucket or mug etc.
Step 2 – Leave the prey to fully defrost (roughly 30 minutes). The size of the prey will affect how long you need to defrost it for.
Step 3 – Check that they prey is soft and completely thawed out.
Step 4 – Discard of the old water, reheat the prey with fresh warm water and then dry off the prey. (This is just so you do not scare the snake with wet food.
Step 5 – Offer the prey to the snake, using feeding tongs and always offer the head to the snake.
If the snake does not take after 20 minutes, leave it in the tank on the cold side. We call this drop feeding.
12 hours later if he hasn’t taken the prey, discard of the prey and try again in a week.
Young Royals – Feed every 7 days
Juvenile Royals – Feed every 7-14 days
Adult Royals – Feed every 10-14
Supplementing your Snake’s Diet
The use of high-quality reptile supplements in the correct amounts at the correct frequencies will help to ensure optimum bone health and skin health for your reptile, and help to avoid a plethora of nutrition-related illnesses such as metabolic bone disease.
Defrosted whole animal items can be offered with EarthPro-A at every feed. CaMg at the 4th within a cycle. For problem shedders, ShedSupport can be used as per the instructions on the packet. As snakes feed in longer periods the dose is built up per feed and over time. Please use as per the instructions on the packet.
Check out the feeding schedule using the link below https://www.arcadiareptile.com/earthpro/feeding-programme/herbivores/
Minimum rehoming Requirements for a Royal Python
You can source all enclosures, equipment, electrics and decor from us as we run a shop.
Young Royals only
4ft x 18inches x 18inches Vivarium
Arcadia Reptile ProT5 Shadedweller Aboreal Kit £40
50W Arcadia Reptile Deep Heat Projector £21
Dimming thermostat £55
Arcadia Reptile Ceramic bulb holder and plug £15
Habistat Heat Cage £15
Substrate and decor is up to you. We advice a Sand X Soil mix as substrate and a minimum of 2 hides and a water dish.
Young Royals only
3ft x 2ft x 2ft Vivarium
Arcadia Reptile ProT5 Shadedweller Kit £40
50W Arcadia Reptile Deep Heat Projector £21
Dimming thermostat £55
Arcadia Reptile Ceramic bulb holder and plug £15
Habistat Heat Cage £15
Substrate and decor is up to you. We advice a Sand X Soil mix as substrate and a minimum of 2 hides and a water dish.
4ft x 2ft x 2ft Vivarium
Arcadia Reptile ProT5 Shadedweller-Max Kit £40
50W Arcadia Reptile Deep Heat Projector £21
Dimming thermostat £55
Arcadia Reptile Ceramic bulb holder and plug £15
Habistat Heat Cage £15
Substrate and decor is up to you. We advice a Sand X Soil mix as substrate and a minimum of 2 hides and a water dish.
If you are getting a vivarium from us, we will set it up for you free of charge. If not, when setting up your electrics, ensure both the UVB and heating are on the same side. Fit your UVB on the top front of the viv, behind the runner and heating should centered on the warm side UVB.
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