Ball pythons can be considered to be one of the most popular snakes to keep for children. They require minimal maintenance, tough and have an gentle, easygoing temperament.
Although they are a wonderful pet snake Ball Pythons have certain requirements for their enclosure’s layout. It is important to maintain a high humidity, heat gradient and a basking spot. For some beginners, it is difficult to control the humidity within a tank. They struggle to keep a comfortable ambient temperature for 24 hours.
If the temperature is not right and there isn’t enough humidity, ball pythons could develop illness. The most common health problems include respiratory issues.
This article we’ll discuss their temperature and humidity specifications. We will also explain the steps to set up and maintain a great aquarium climate…
Ball Python Humidity
Snakes in the wild have no control over their environment.
Humidity is a proportional measure of the quantity of water vapor that is present in the air. The higher the humidity it is, the more wet the air will appear. Humidity is crucial to the health of snakes. Incorrect humidity levels could cause your ball python to become sick or lead to a stuck shed.
Ball pythons are natives to Central as well as West Africa, they are subject to intense temperatures and high levels of humidity. In their native habitat, humidity can range from 55% and 70 percent and can increase to more than 80 percent in the morning.
To keep your pet ball snakes healthy,, you need to maintain humidity at a level between 55 percent and 60 percent. This lets pythons maintain their skin’s moisture so that they can shed without problems and to prevent respiratory illnesses. Additionally, it’s not enough that their skin is always humid.
If you can maintain a 60 percent humidity in their enclosures It is possible to prolong the lifespan of a ball Python well beyond their normal 10 year life span. Some pets have lived longer than 25 years.
Low Humidity
The humidity should never fall below 45 percent, even at night when the temperature is cooling. Anything less than 45% humidity for a prolonged period of time may cause shed problems (e.g. trapped shed). If a ball python is unable to effectively shed skin it could lead to health problems:
- This can lead to areas of shed that are stuck particularly around the eyes, which could cause vision problems. If it is left for long enough it could cause blindness.
- It could cause damage to the newly-installed scales. New scales may be damaged and exposed to bacteria and dirt which could cause infection.
Maintaining a humidity of less than 40 percent for longer than a couple of weeks is very damaging for a ball Python, especially when it is shed. It is possible to observe some of the issues in the above. The speed at which this occurs is contingent on how low the humidity is and also the individual snake. Certain individuals are more resilient than others. A lower humidity level is more hazardous for snakes that are young, as they shed more often when they mature.
The most effective guideline is to maintain the humidity at or above 50%, and ideally between 55% and 60 percent.
High Humidity
At the opposite extreme is a tank that has very high levels of humidity. Health issues can also pop when you allow your snake to stay too damp.
A humidity level of more than 60% is not an issue, as long as there aren’t pools of water that are forming inside the cage. Normally , you’ll start to observe the formation of pools of water at about 75 percent or 80% of humidity.
A humidity level of more than 20% can result in the environment to be continuously damp. It could also result in the temperature becoming excessively hot. A high level of humidity holds heat and creates an ideal atmosphere for the growth of mold and bacteria. There are also harmful substances that your snake shouldn’t be in contact with.
A frequent bacterial infection that affects ball pythons is called infectious stomatitis (i.e. mouth decay). Mouth rot symptoms are a decreased appetite, dehydration, swelling of gums, mucus bubbles within the mouth. breathing that is open.
Respiratory infections can be a serious health issue and could lead to death in the event of not being treated.
A high level of humidity can also hold heat inside the tank. This is a particular issue in tubs made of plastic that are great at capturing moisture. The high humidity of a plastic tub could result in your snake suffering heat exhaustion. This is among the main reasons reptile terrariums should be made of glass.
These health concerns can be frightening for new snake owners.
However, if you keep an eye on the humidity in the enclosure, all the problems are easily solved.
The most effective setup is to consist of two Hygrometers. Hygrometers are tiny devices that measure the humidity.
Two hygrometers make it easier to determine how the level of humidity changes in relation to the gradient of heat.
Ideally, put one on the cool side , and another on the heated side. Then, place them about a couple of inches above the substrate, but ideally between the halfway and the bottom points on the cage. You’ll want to make sure that both Hygrometers read between 55-60 percent.
If the humidity of your ball python is in the range of 55%-60 percentage, you’re doing great! Your humidity level is ideal.
Keep track of the humidity with a hygrometer particularly during seasons when the humidity of your home will alter.
If you’re having difficulty read on to find out the best way to reduce or increase humidity.
How to Increase Humidity In Ball Python Tank
Ball python sitting on a rock in enclosure.
The most frequent issue faced by novices is raising the humidity to a level of 55%-60 percent. This is due to the fact that the enclosure is usually located inside an area where the air is drying. The air inside an enclosed space typically is an average humidity of 30 percent to 50 percent according to the time of year.
Fortunately, regulating the humidity levels inside a ball python’s enclosure is quite easy.
Misting
One of the easiest ways to rapidly boost humidity is misting your enclosure on a daily basis. The best way to do this is to lightly mist sides of your tank, as well as the substrate.
The tank must be misted in a way that it dampens the water, yet not totally fill it up.
Begin in the morning by spraying your tank ambient temperature water in the early morning. After misting, the humidity will gradually rise to around 65 percent. Be cautious not to increase the humidity to levels that exceed 70% since this could result in respiratory issues.
You can spray it every day, or at least once whenever you need to. Make sure you monitor the substrate for signs of rot or mold. If you spot this, it could be because you are misting too much.
Certain owners opt to automatize misting with the reptile mister. But, this isn’t required for Ball Pythons.
Change the Substratrate
Another method to increase humidity in tanks is to alter the substrate you are using.
A lot of people make use of newspaper or paper towels since it’s inexpensive and simple to replace. However, it does not perform well in keeping the moisture.
A good option for ball pythons’ substrate is aspen or cypress shavings.
Both are fairly inexpensive and do a great job of retaining humidity. The Cypress mulch option is your most suitable option since Aspen shavings are known for decay or growing mold when the water spills onto it.
Tank Setup
In the end, you can alter the tank’s humidity by moving the tank or changing the setting.
In the event that the enclosure located right under an air vent or next to windows that receive the sun’s rays, this may make the enclosure dry. The humidity will begin to decrease. The animal’s enclosure into a corner not near an open window or radiator.
Let’s discuss tank set-up.
There are many methods to increase humidity from a setting viewpoint:
- Install a water bowl of 6 inches inside the enclosure and put the addition of a heating pad beneath it. The heat pad will result in the water vaporizing and raise the humidity levels in the tank.
- Make use of a glass or solid top instead of screen-top. Alternately, protect 75 percent of the screen with aluminum foil. Screen lids permit an abundance of air circulation, which can decrease the humidity within the cage.
In the event that you notice large pools of water surrounding the enclosure, the ball python’s moisture is excessive. A humidity of more than 70% could quickly cause respiratory illness.
To decrease the humidity, improve the ventilation of the tank.
Increased ventilation can be accomplished by either changing the enclosure’s top for screen lids or by drilling holes into the walls of your enclosure. The easiest method is to simply swap the glass top with an screen top.
It is also possible to increase the tank temperature , and then temporarily take off the lid. However, this is only a temporary solution to extreme levels of humidity over 80 percent.
Ball Python Temperature
Snakes are Ectotherms This means Ball Pythons are unable to regulate their body’s temperature. They depend on their environment to heat to generate energy in order to move around and digest food.
Since ball pythons aren’t able to regulate their body temperatures. They have to control the temperature by shifting between cooler and warmer regions. They are able to accomplish this if the enclosure is properly designed and has the proper temperature gradient. If they get excessively cold, they could simply relocate to the spot where they can bask, or in reverse, move into a cold hiding area to get a cooling down.
This is the reason why having a gradient of heat in the tank of your ball python is crucial.
Tank Temperature
| Ball Python Temperature Band | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basking Spot | Ambient | Cool Side | Night | |
| Min | 88degF | 81degF | 76degF | 75degF |
| Max | 92degF | 83degF | 80degF | – |
We typically discuss the heat gradient in three categories:
- Hot spot for basking (i.e. Hot spot).
- Ambient temperature.
- Cool side.
Hot spot: This is where the part of the enclosure that your snake uses to heat up and to bask. The basking spot must be between 88-92degF as it’s the one area of the tank that you must be heating. The basking area should not exceed 95 degrees F as it could cause the snake to overheat.
Ambient temperature refers to the temperature in center of tank which is between both the hot and the cool spot. It should be at least 82degF. A one or two degrees above or below is fine. The most important thing to remember is that the temperature must always be lower than the temperature of the hot spot, and it shouldn’t fall below 75degF.
The cool part of your enclosure is the place where your snake goes to cool down. The cool area should be between 76 and 80 degrees F.
The temperature of the tank will drop in the evening as you switch off the lighting and heating. It happens naturally in nature too. A temperature drop of 5 degrees is acceptable, however, you should not let the temperature drop below 75degF. The use of deliberate temperature drops are only recommended if you plan to breed a ball python.
Hide Temperature
You may have seen the article in our ball python’s care guide the snake will require two hides.
Set two hides on each side of the heat and the other on the cool side.
The temperature of your hot spot should range from 90degF. Your cool hide should range from 80-78degF. Ball Pythons in the wild are rarely often seen in open areas. Be sure that your hides are securely tucked away in the tank as well.
Once you have figured out the temperature gradient that should be, let’s talk about ways to get it.
Sources of Heat
To attain the proper temperature for a ball Python, you must establish the heat gradient as well as a the night and day cycle. Also, you should only be heating the part of the enclosure that the basking area is.
The most commonly used heating options for novices are heating pads under tanks and ceramic lamps.
Heating Pad Under Tank
Under tank heating pads (i.e. heating mats) should be put under one-third in the bottom of the tank. This will result in an upward temperature gradient since the hot air naturally cool when it gets to the cooler part in the tank.
Place the mat on the tank’s bottom and not in the tank. The enclosure’s bottom and the substrate will create enough of a barrier to prevent burning the snake. If you choose to install heating mats be sure to carefully examine your snake’s belly in the first few days for regions of extreme redness.
The alternative is to opt for ceramic bulbs.
Ceramic Bulb
The main problem in ceramic lighting is they can heat the air, as well as the ground. It is possible for the tank to become overheated therefore you must ensure that it only heats about one-third in the entire tank. This is particularly difficult for ball pythons that are kept in smaller tanks of 20-gallon capacity.
If you are using ceramic bulbs that is a ceramic bulb, you should connect it to the fixture which hangs above the tank. Do not place any source of heat directly in the tank. This can increase the chance of the snake becoming burned.
If you’re using a heat source, make sure you connect it to the thermostat. The thermostat will control the temperature of the tank, and shut off the source of heat if it malfunctions or increases the temperature over a specified.
In order to ensure that a temperature gradient is correctly established within the tank, you must prepare your enclosure to last at minimum two nights prior to introducing your ball Python.
Summary
The enclosure for your ball python’s ball is among the most vital aspects of its care to ensure its well-being and happiness. A properly designed enclosure could increase the lifespan of your snake’s life span.
Whatever the nature of the, Ball Python humidity will be between 55% to 60%..
If you’re looking to increase the humidity in your tank The best way to do this is misting the tank every day by moving the snake’s bowl onto the heating mat beneath the tank and switching the tank’s substrate into cypress or covering 75 percent of the screen using the foil of tin. If you want to reduce humidity, it is recommended to boost the airflow in the tank by replacing an old glass top for screen top.
Ball Pythons are at home in humid, warm habitats. Their preferred spot for basking should be between 88-92 degF, and the cooler part will range from 76 to 80degF. A gradient of heat permits them to regulate their temperature just like they do in nature. Heating mats are great for tanks with smaller sizes to create the temperature gradient.
What is the best method to warm your tank? Tell us via the comment section!
