Ball Python:
(Python regius)

Range: Ball pythons are native to West Africa.

Diet: Rodents like rats and mice.

Habitat: Dry, warm areas in Western Africa. Ball pythons usually inhabit savanna and grasslands. Often found on the ground even though they are capable climbers.

Identification: Small, attractive khaki-colored snake with brown spot patterns. Ball pythons usually do not exceed five feet, with many topping out at 4 feet in length.

Notes: Ball pythons are nocturnal predators from West Africa. These snakes are so named because they curl themselves into a ball when threatened. Their species name regius means royal, ball pythons are also sometimes called royal pythons (European). Ball pythons usually do not exceed five feet, with many topping out at 4 feet in length. Ball pythons reach sexual maturity between age two or three. Female ball pythons will guard their 4-9 egg clutch for a month-long gestation period. Male ball pythons have longer anal spurs (appendages near the tail on either side of the cloaca) and smaller heads than female ball pythons do. Ball pythons are constricting snakes with inward pointing teeth. Ball pythons are among the most commonly kept of the boids, and they are prized for their fairly docile temperaments, cheaper prices and smaller length. Ball pythons, like any pet (especially exotics) are a large responsibility as they require special care including a large tank with a well-affixed top, rodents for food, covered lights, parasite medication (ball pythons are often imported from Africa- and carry tiny parasites) and a hide box for security. Ball pythons should not be kept in humid areas, as too much moisture may cause them to blister or get scale rot, however some humidity is required to ensure proper shedding and to prevent dehydration.

Snakes are not cuddly pets and the novelty of having a “cool” snake will wear off long before the snake dies. Ball pythons can sometimes be skittish about eating, especially if the temperature is not right in its enclosure. Ball pythons are docile, so if you feed them live rodents make sure they are small. Sometimes a ball python will not eat its food right away and the rodent will take the opportunity to defend itself by biting your ball python. It is better to feed them fresh, dead rodents. Feeding dead rodents also helps to keep the snake mellower. Live prey often makes the snake more prone to biting, and snakes should always be fed in a separate enclosure. If snakes are fed in their environment, they often will bite whenever their cage is opened because they expect to be fed.

At The Children’s Museum: The Children’s Museum has a pair of Ball Pythons living in the UTC Wildlife Sanctuary.