Umeå University's logo

Ball pythons are one of the most common snakes to own as a pet in Sweden. According to Swedish animal protection laws, all animals must have their natural behaviors accommodated. However, today's precepts may be deficient and in need of development. This study has explored the factors present in today’s legislation regarding the design of terrariums for ball pythons. The study included two living environments with different settings. One was a plastic box containing two paper mugs, a one-centimeter-deep layer of peat as ground material, a water dish large enough for the snake to bathe in, heat from the bottom of the box and a led list as illumination. The other was a larger terrarium with four different caves, a five-centimeter-deep layer of peat as ground material, a water dish large enough for the snake to bathe in, heat from the bottom and from a basking spot that also generated light and UVB radiation. The result from a paired t-test showed that the ball pythons favored exo terra caves over paper mugs as resting places (p<0.05). Otherwise, there was no difference in behavior between the two settings. This study concludes that there is a need to clarify what needs ball pythons have regarding places to rest, but otherwise there is no need for any more environmental enrichment than is required by Swedish law. However, future studies using other designs and larger sizes of terraria, over a longer time frame, should test if these conclusions hold.