[转帖]球蟒初级读本

HIDE

来源:http://bobclark.com/aAN_02.asp

翻译：太阳帆
从昨天起我就想翻译这篇文章,主要是想自己留作参考。但手上的简易的翻译软件显然不行，不得已从昨天下午开始就连夜下载翻译软件。晚中打雷，幸好没把我的正在自己运转的微机搞掉。今天一早，开始翻译时才发现，我的英语水平比较差,又遇到了许多模糊的概念,加上本文作者的美语水平也不怎么高(我这么认为),所以翻译起来简直太费劲了。直到下午六点多，终于搞出了三个专题，还有两个没有翻译完。

看看大家反应吧，如果顶的不多，我就懒得动了。我发现我自己看原文还可，但要发到网上来让大家看就要有些责任心了。

译文肯定有不少错误，请大家指出来吧。


2002 Annual - Ball Python Primer
Answers to your keeping, feeding and breeding questions
By: Bob Clark



2002年刊

球蟒初级读本

关于如何看管、饲养和繁殖的问题

作者： Bob Clark




In the last several years, the popularity of ball pythons (Python regius) has skyrocketed. It's not surprising; the snakes have broad appeal. Their color, pattern, proportions and disposition make them one of the most commonly kept reptiles, and tens of thousands of them are exported every year from Africa. The snakes can endure some husbandry mistakes, and any first-time snake keeper should be successful with them.

在过去若干年里，球蟒的普及如烟花般绚烂。这不必惊奇，这种蛇有着显著的吸引力。因为它们的体色、斑纹、体型和性情，使它们成为最普及的爬宠之一，以至于每年都从非洲出口好几万条。这种蛇可以忍耐一些饲养者的错误养护，同时任何的初级饲养者都可能在它们身上取得成功。



Choose Your Captive
选择你的CB（人工繁殖的个体）个体



Ideally, ball pythons should be purchased as captive-born hatchlings from breeders. As a breeder, myself, its a little self serving for me to say this, but it is still the best course of action. Animals produced in captivity do not deplete the wild populations and disrupt the natural system from which they were taken. Captive-born animals do not have the acclimation problems that wild animals often have. This transition can be especially difficult for adult ball pythons. Captive-born animals are free from parasites and the scars and injuries that come from living in the wild. They have avoided time in the care of exporters, importers and dealers that may not have given them proper care.

理想状态，应当购买饲养者繁殖的CB（人工繁殖的个体）球蟒。我自己做为一个饲养者，这么说多少有点儿私心，但这仍是最好的做法。笼养的动物买卖不会耗尽本已脆弱的野生的自然系统。CB（人工繁殖的个体）个体没有适应问题但野生个体就经常存在这种问题。这种适应力的转变对成年球蟒尤其困难。CB（人工繁殖的个体）个体可以避免在野生条件下带来的寄生虫、伤疤和伤害，它们可以避免在出口商、进口商和经销商之间倒手时所不能不给与的不适当的照顾。



Baby ball pythons are one of the most available reptiles in the market today and most of these are bred in the wild. In late April and May, babies are hatched from eggs collected from wild females in Ghana, Togo and Benin. These babies are exported in huge numbers. Even though they are bred in the wild, the eggs are hatched in captivity. Most are exported within days of birth. If they have been well cared for, they make perfectly good pets. The first-time snake buyer is most likely to encounter these snakes.

小球蟒现在已经是市场上最普及的爬宠之一，它们大多从野外出生。在四月底至五月份，小球蟒会从蛋里孵化出来，这些蛋是从野生母球蟒那儿采集来的，地点在加纳、多哥和贝宁湾。这些小球蟒的出口数量是巨大的。虽然它们在野外出生，但这些蛋是在受控的状态下孵化的。它们出生没几天就被出口出去。如果它们被很好地照顾，它们会成为绝佳的宠物。玩蛇新手最有可能与这些蛇不期而遇。



When selecting a baby ball python, the snake should have good body weight and muscle tone. It should appear well hydrated and be free of remnants of the last shed. If possible, confirm that the snake has been feeding. Ball pythons are tremendously undervalued in the market today and, as such, are not always treated with the care and respect they deserve. If it's not possible to get a snake that has been properly cared for, at least get one that is "fresh."

在选一条小球蟒时，这条蛇应该有好的体重和伸缩自如的肌肉感。感觉它不脱水并且屁股上没有残留物。如果可能的话，确认这条蛇已经开食。球蟒在现如今的市场上其价格被严重低估，因此，也没有得到它们应得的照顾和尊敬。如果没有可能得到一只被好好照顾的球蟒，那至少也要弄个还活蹦乱跳的。



Feeding Time
喂养时间



Some adult ball pythons imported from the wild have a difficult time acclimating to captivity. Often, they refuse food for extended periods. Ball pythons are long-lived animals. Their longevity record in captivity is nearly 50 years. This may or may not be typical, but it is possible that some of the wild-caught adults in the pet trade may be very old. The transition can be long and difficult for these animals. It is not hard to imagine the shock of a wild snake that finds itself in an aquarium in the bedroom of a 13-yearold in Cincinnati.

许多从野生环境进口的成体球蟒需要一段困难的时光去适应笼养生活。经常会出现的情况是它们会长期拒食。球蟒是长寿动物，它们的笼养长寿记录是接近50年。这种记录可能是也可能不是具有典型意义的，但有一种可能就是，某些在宠物交易中的野生个体可能已经非常老了。对于这些老球，去适应笼养可能是漫长而又困难的。不难想象，如果一只野球发现自己被关在辛辛那提市一个13岁小破孩的卧室的玻璃缸里，那种打击是什么样的。



Nearly every one of these stubborn snakes eventually feeds. Several things can be done to help the snake acclimate. First, make sure the temperature and humidity are within an acceptable range. Next, give the snake a place to hide. Remember, these animals live in burrows in the wild. The ideal hide box should have a fairly small opening, be dark and allow the snake to feel hidden. This will reduce much of the stress in its life. The container should be small enough that the snake can feel the sides of it when inside.

几乎每一只象这么难对付的蛇最终都会吃食的。可以通过几件事帮助这些蛇去适应新环境。首先，确保温湿度保持在可接受的范围内；其次，给蛇一个隐蔽所。请记住，这些蛇在野外是生活在洞穴里的。理想的藏身盒应该有一个恰当的小开口，黑暗得让蛇感觉它已经藏好了，这会使它的生活减少大量的压力。这个容器应该足够小，以便于蛇藏进去时可以发觉它的边缘。



Understand that in the wild the snake would rarely be seen out in the open, where it is vulnerable to predators. In the snake's mind, you are a predator! Do not handle the snake until it has begun to feed regularly. Handling will extend the period of adjustment.

我们了解到在野外蛇很少在开阔地被发现，在那儿它容易受到捕食者的攻击。在蛇的心中，你就是一个捕食者！在它有规律地进食以前，不要把它抓在手里玩。把玩它只会延长调整适应的时间。



If the snake wont eat a mouse, try offering a rat. If a rat doesn't work, gerbils seem to entice many stubborn feeders. Remember that although the snake may have been feeding on mice and rats in the wild, our rodents are different species and might seem totally foreign. Many captive snakes learn to eat dead food, but it is rarely encountered in the wild. You will achieve the best results with live prey items. Try to feed the snake weekly; more often is counterproductive. Be patient. Some snakes may fast for a year or more.

如果蛇想吃小白鼠，可以试着给它老鼠，如果喂老鼠玩不转，沙鼠可能对那些倔强的饲养者更有诱惑力。请记住虽然蛇可能已经在野外被喂了白鼠或者老鼠，我们的这些啮齿类仍属异类，看起来特象彻头彻尾的洋快餐。许多的笼养蛇学着去吃死食，但这在野外是很少发生的。你可以让它们过着掠食生活以达到最好的结果。试着每周喂蛇一次，太勤快效果正相反。请保持耐心，有些蛇会绝食一年甚至更长。



Baby ball pythons will feed readily on half-grown mice. The hatchling pythons are small and many first time keepers feel that smaller food items are appropriate. Although some will eat pinkie mice, a larger more active mouse is more likely to trigger a feeding response in a snake that has never eaten. Larger snakes can take larger mice, two mice, small rats and eventually adult rats. I have one large ball python that eats small rabbits on occasion. Never leave a live food item in the cage unattended. If left uneaten, a live rodent can injure the snake.

小球蟒愿意吃半大老鼠。人工孵化的球蟒很小，许多拥有者认为较小的食物是合适的。虽然有些蛇吃小手指粗细的老鼠，但一只从没吃过的较大的活跃的白鼠可能更能引起食欲。大一点的蛇可以提供给它大一点的白鼠，或者两只小白，或者小老鼠或者就喂它成年的老鼠。我有一只大球有时吃小兔子。绝不要把一只活食仍进笼里不管，如果留下了没吃完的活食，那么活鼠可能会伤害到蛇。



Feed the snake once a week. A little more or less is also good. I keep records of each snake's activities, noting feeding, shedding and breeding activity. These kinds of records can be used to help better understand or illustrate the snake's behavior over a period of time.

每周喂蛇一次，频率稍快或稍慢也不错。我坚持记录每条蛇的活跃度，记下它们吃食、退皮和繁殖情况。一段时间以来，这几种记录帮助我更好地了解和明了了蛇的行为。



Some ball pythons, especially wild caught animals, will fast from time to time even though they had been feeding regularly. This is not usually cause for alarm. Make sure all the cage parameters are correct, continue to offer food weekly, and be patient. Most resume feeding after a while.

有些球蟒，特别是那些野外抓的，尽管已经开始有规律地进食，仍然会时不时地绝食。个别情况是因为恐吓引起的。请确保饲养笼的各项参数都正确，坚持每周喂食，并保持耐心，大多数会在一段时间后重新开食。



Breeding Basics
繁殖基础



Most captive-raised ball pythons are willing breeders. Breeding can be encouraged by allowing the nighttime temperatures to drop into the 70s in the fall. Pairs will often breed soon after this temperature drop. Copulation occurs over a period of several weeks. Females develop follicles, ovulate and lay eggs over the next three to four months. Clutch sizes range from three to 12 eggs, and average about seven. Eggs can be incubated by the female or artificially in an incubator. At 90 degrees Fahrenheit, eggs will hatch after about 55 days.

大多数CR球蟒将会生育。在秋天来临时，将夜间温度控制在21摄氏度将会促进其生殖性能。在这个温度下，不久后它们就会经常交配，交配将会在好几个星期里均有发生。雌蟒在随后的3到4个月里将会排卵下蛋。下的蛋大约有3到12只，平均下来大约有7只。蛋可以由雌蟒或者人工用孵蛋器孵化。在32摄氏度时，这些蛋大约需55天左右孵出。



There is little variation in the color and pattern of wild ball pythons, although there are some notable exceptions. Several of these have proven to be genetic. These traits are now bred and available to collectors. Many are highly sought after and carry high prices. Most have been bred from one, or just a few, wild-caught individuals. Because ball pythons have small numbers of offspring and breed once a year at most, it takes a long time for these new traits to become established and readily available. Several interesting types are currently available, and new ones continue to occur, although infrequently.

虽然野生球蟒中有些个别现象，但它们的体色和斑纹几乎没有差别。有几种体色和斑纹已被证明可以遗传。现在这些特征已经被大玩家利用于繁殖。在花了较大代价后，许多效果有了很好的显示。大多数的好球是一只或几只野生球蟒生育而来的。因为球蟒每年大多数只生育一次而且每次生育的也不多，所以得花很长时间来确定这些遗传特征并能较容易地加以利用。一些引人注意的种类已经普遍被人掌握，一些新的种类也在不断出现，虽然不是很频繁。



The ball python, because of its appeal, availability and price, has become one of the most commonly kept reptile pets today. They are docile, undemanding and thrive in captivity. In fact, I've been keeping ball pythons for nearly 30 years, and they are still one of my favorites.

今天，球蟒已经因为它的吸引力、便于购置以及价格，而成为最普及的爬宠之一。它们易被驯化、对饲养条件要求不高并且在宠中也能较好地生长发育。事实上，我已经饲养球蟒超过30年了，到现在它们仍是我的最爱之一。

HIDE

中外结合

5561

学习~~~

lennon

呵呵，大家正好一起来学习英语。

抽刀

辛苦了