Common Questions About Ball Pythons & HD Reptiles
Answers to the questions we hear most about ball python care, genetics, buying, shipping, and our closed-loop breeding program.
Care & Husbandry
What is the best enclosure for a ball python?
A front-opening PVC or sealed-wood enclosure that holds heat and humidity well is ideal. Hatchlings do well in a 20-gallon equivalent, while adults need at least 4 by 2 by 1 feet. Every enclosure should include two snug hides, a thermostat-controlled heat source, and a water bowl large enough to soak in.
How often should I feed my ball python?
Hatchlings eat every 5 to 7 days, juveniles every 7 to 10 days, and adults every 10 to 14 days. Feed appropriately sized frozen-thawed rodents; the prey item should be roughly the same girth as the widest part of the snake. Ball pythons may refuse food during winter months or after environmental changes, which is normal for healthy animals.
What temperature should a ball python enclosure be?
The warm side surface should sit at 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, with ambient temperatures of 82 to 86 degrees on the warm side and 76 to 80 degrees on the cool side. Always control heat with a quality thermostat. Nighttime temperatures should not drop below 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
What humidity does a ball python need?
Maintain ambient humidity between 55 and 65 percent during normal periods, and raise it to 70 to 80 percent during a shed cycle. Sustained humidity above 80 percent combined with poor airflow encourages scale rot and respiratory infection. A humid hide with damp sphagnum moss is useful during shed.
How often do ball pythons shed?
Young ball pythons shed every 4 to 6 weeks as they grow rapidly. Adults shed less frequently, typically every 6 to 8 weeks depending on feeding schedule, growth rate, and environmental conditions. Signs of an approaching shed include dull coloration and a milky-blue cast over the eyes.
How long do ball pythons live?
Ball pythons regularly live 25 to 30 years or more in captivity with consistent husbandry. They are a long-term commitment, and prospective owners should plan for decades of care. Proper temperature, humidity, nutrition, and veterinary access are the foundation of a long, healthy life.
Genetics & Morphs
What is a ball python morph?
A morph is a genetic variation that changes the snake's color, pattern, or both. Morphs are inherited traits that can be co-dominant, recessive, or polygenic. Breeders combine morphs through intentional pairings to produce animals with specific visual expressions and genetic potential.
What does "het" mean?
Het is short for heterozygous, meaning the snake carries one copy of a recessive gene without displaying it visually. A snake listed as het clown, for example, carries the clown gene and can pass it to offspring, but does not show the clown pattern itself. Pairing two het animals gives a statistical chance of producing visuals.
What does "pos het" mean?
Pos het is short for possible heterozygous. It means the snake may carry a recessive gene based on the genetics of its parents, but this has not been proven through breeding or genetic testing. A 66 percent pos het clown, for example, has a two-in-three statistical chance of carrying the clown gene.
What is a co-dominant gene?
A co-dominant (also called incomplete dominant) gene produces a visible effect with just one copy and a different, often more dramatic effect with two copies. Pastel is a classic example: one copy produces a brighter animal, and two copies produce a super pastel with even more reduced pattern and color. This makes co-dominant genes easier to work with in breeding projects.
What is a breeding project?
A breeding project is a multi-year plan to combine specific genetic traits through intentional pairings. Projects typically start with foundation animals, progress through holdback evaluation over multiple seasons, and aim to produce animals that meet defined genetic and structural goals. At HD Reptiles, every clutch is part of a documented project.
Buying & Shipping
Is it safe to buy a ball python online?
Yes, buying a ball python from a reputable breeder online is safe and common. Established breeders ship thousands of animals annually with live arrival guarantees, documented health histories, and proper insulated packaging. The key is verifying the breeder's track record, reading their policies in full, and preparing your enclosure before the animal ships.
How does live reptile shipping work?
HD Reptiles ships exclusively via FedEx Priority Overnight on a hub-to-hub basis. Animals are packed in insulated containers with appropriate thermal regulation for the season and route. The customer picks up the package at the destination FedEx hub, which keeps the animal in a climate-controlled facility until retrieval rather than leaving it on a doorstep.
What is a live arrival guarantee?
A live arrival guarantee means the breeder guarantees the animal will arrive alive at the destination hub. At HD Reptiles, this requires the customer to record continuous, unedited video from before opening the package through confirmation of the animal's condition, and to notify us within one hour of hub pickup if there is any issue.
How do I know if a breeder is reputable?
Look for documented lineage, clear health guarantees, a published store policy, transparent communication, and a history of positive reviews on platforms like MorphMarket. Reputable breeders will answer husbandry questions, explain their breeding methodology, and have policies that protect both the buyer and the animal.
What should I prepare before my snake arrives?
Have the enclosure fully set up and running at stable temperatures for at least 48 hours before the animal arrives. You need a thermostat-controlled heat source, two hides, a water bowl, substrate, and digital thermometers and hygrometers verified at each end. Do not handle a new snake for the first 7 to 14 days to allow acclimation.
About HD Reptiles
What does "closed-loop" mean?
Closed-loop describes our husbandry: HD Reptiles raises its own feeder rodents on-site, controls lineage across generations, and does not source feeders from outside suppliers. Snakes are either produced in-house or carefully selected from reputable breeders and dealers, with every acquired animal quarantined and documented before joining the collection. The result is full traceability over nutrition, health, and genetics from the feeder to the finished animal.
Where is HD Reptiles located?
HD Reptiles operates from Anchorage, Alaska. While Alaska may seem remote, Anchorage sits on a major FedEx Priority Overnight hub, which gives us reliable overnight shipping access to destinations across the contiguous United States. Local pickup is available in the Eagle River area by appointment.
Do you ship to all 50 states?
We ship to destinations across the contiguous United States via FedEx Priority Overnight hub-to-hub. Shipments are held when weather or route conditions pose any risk to the animal, and rescheduled to the next safe window at no additional cost. Specific state and local regulations may affect eligibility, so contact us if you have questions about your area.
How are your feeders raised?
Our feeder mice and rats are raised in-house with more space, bedding, enrichment, and handling than industry norms. We control their diet for nutritional consistency and maintain a closed flock with no outside sourcing, which eliminates the disease vectors that come with purchasing feeders from external suppliers. The feeders are treated with the same welfare standard as the snakes.