Reptile · Python regius · typical adult weight 1.00–2.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM once in ball pythons, per James LE, Williams CJ.A, Bertelsen MF, et al. Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in the ball python (Python regius): dose response and effect of injection site. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45:329-337. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Alfaxalone is used in ball pythons for Sedation, Anesthetic induction. Routes documented in ball pythons: IM, IV. A typical adult ball python weighs 1.00–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Alfaxalone in ball pythons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–20 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation |
| James LE, Williams CJ.A, Bertelsen MF, et al. Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in the ball python (Python regius): dose response and effect of injection site. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45:329-337. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| IV | 5–15 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Anesthetic induction | Moderate | James LE, Williams CJ.A, Bertelsen MF, et al. Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in the ball python (Python regius): dose response and effect of injection site. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45:329-337.; Yaw TJ, Mans C, Johnson SM, et al. Effect of injection site on alfaxalone-induced sedation in ball pythons (Python regius). J Sm Anim Pract. 2018. doi:10.1111/jsap.12918 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–9 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 5-9 mg/kg i.v., intraosseous for induction (light sedation) up to 30 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaest |
| 30 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | /kg i.v., intraosseous for induction (light sedation) up to 30 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaesthesia. Effects are dependent on species and temperature |
| 10–30 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 10-30 mg/kg i.m. |
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Neuroactive steroid that modulates GABA-A receptors, producing dose-dependent sedation to general anesthesia.
Apnea with rapid IV injection — titrate slowly. No analgesic properties. Short shelf life once broached (use within 6 hours unless preserved formulation). Good safety profile in exotic species.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ball pythons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose ranges in ball pythons, with cited source references: IM 10–20 mg/kg once; IV 5–15 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in ball pythons: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in ball pythons include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Alfaxalone is indicated in ball pythons for: Sedation, Anesthetic induction.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the ball python dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Apnea with rapid IV injection — titrate slowly. No analgesic properties. Short shelf life once broached (use within 6 hours unless preserved formulation). Good safety profile in exotic species.
Why a species-specific page? Alfaxalone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ball pythons — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 9 |
| IV |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 |
| 9 mg/kg IV |
| 5 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 5 mg/kg SC |
| 10–30 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 10-30 mg/kg IM |
| 30 | ICE | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 30 mg/kg ICe |
| 3 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 3 mg/kg IV |
| 6–9 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9- 15 mg/kg IM |
| 9–15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9- 15 mg/kg IM |
| 6–15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-15 mg/kg IM, IV |
| 6–9 | IV | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9-15 mg/kg IM182 Most species/good muscle relaxation; variable results; drug requires more evaluation; may have violent recovery;198don’t use within 10 days of DMS |
| 9–15 | IV | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9-15 mg/kg IM182 Most species/good muscle relaxation; variable results; drug requires more evaluation; may have violent recovery;198don’t use within 10 days of DMS |
| 6–15 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-15 mg/kg IM, IV298 Most species |
| 9 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 9 mg/kg IV290 Snakes, lizards/induction; not effective for blotched blue-tongued skinks |
| 3 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 3 mg/kg IV252 Crocodilians/induction, but unpredictable results |
| 5–25 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 5-25 mg/kg IM (Lennox, Proc ARAV, 2013, pp 66-68) Most species/recommend starting at lower dose (5-10 mg/kg) and titrating up |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.