Monty, like most Pythons, is a solitary species, so we keep Monty living on his own.

Ball Pythons are obligate carnivores, meaning they need to eat the whole animal in order to get the right nutrition.

They feed al­most ex­clu­sively on ro­dents and eat in­fre­quently. In­fre­quent feed­ers have adapted by hav­ing the capac­ity to widely reg­u­late gas­troin­testi­nal func­tion­ing with feed­ing and fast­ing.

Monty should be fed a large rat that is usually 10-15% of his body weight every two – three weeks (he can / may go longer than this, up to five weeks). He can also be fed on jumbo mice, but being smaller, may need to have increased the frequency of feed.

For example, if Monty weighs 1500g, he will require a 150g meal (rat or very large mouse), which he can have every 4-6 weeks. If he eats a smaller mouse of around 80g, he may need another in 2-3 weeks.

Vivarium
Monty lives in a 152 x 60 x 60cm wooden vivarium with glass sliding doors.

Heat & Lighting
Luminez UVB Shadedweller Lighting (7%) for Fergusson Zone 1/1.5, with a solar meter reading of 0.8-1.2 (average) with a maximum of 3. – on a 12 hour day / night cycle

Luminez LED Bar on a 12 hours day / night cycle

White Python Light (Ceramic Heat emitter) with a temperature range of:
Basking surface temperature: 95-104°F (35-40°C)
Warm hide temperature (ambient): 86-90°F (30-32°C)
Cool hide temperature (ambient): 72-81°F (22-27°C)
Nighttime temperature (ambient): 70-79°F (21-26°C)

Note:
General air temperatures (ambient temps) in a ball python’s enclosure should never exceed 95°F (35°C)!

Substrate
Coir / Husk or Organic top soil with Coarse Orchid Bark, in places deep enough for Monty to fully burrow
Sphagnum moss mixed into substrate and / or in hides to hold moisture

Monty loves to hide when resting, but to climb and explore when not. He has hides at both the cool end and the hot end of his vivarium, with low level fake plants to cover the majority of the enclosures for a sense of security.

He has a large cork piece in the middle of his enclosure (one of his favourite spots), and a large water bowl (washing up bowl). Platforms, such as his dolls chair, wooden platform and tree branch enable climbing and exercise at height. Monty’s hides vary in texture to help with shedding, or heat absorption – i.e. a terracotta hide in the hot end enables Monty to rest under the hide, or on top.

– Check all doors are closed and secure
– Check lights have come on
– Check temperature is in range (30°C / 86°F at the hot end)
– Check humidity is in range (60-80%)
– Water change (use reptisafe)

Daily
Spot clean, when faeces are seen

Weekly
This includes checking all through the enclosure and removing any faeces, plus re-mixing / agitating and aerating the substrate with warm water as a cleaning and refreshing strategy. His water bowl should be thoroughly washed and disinfected using F10. Glass doors should be cleaned inside and out (inside with white wine vinegar)

Quarterly
Deep clean (unless the vivarium has been changed to bio active)
This includes removing all of the old substrate and disposing, fully clean the bottom and sides of the vivarium and disinfect. Remove all hides and enrichment when appropriate and disinfect using F10 (not for wood!). Refill substrate, ensuring adequate depth/ moisture.