Ball pythons are one of the most popular snake pets, including for beginners and even younger people and children. If you are new to ball pythons and have different questions, you will find answers to them in this post. Ball pythons as pets – what is their lifespan, are they venomous, what do they eat and more questions answered!
Questions answered in this post
- Where do ball pythons come from?
- What do ball pythons look like? Appearance.
- What is ball python lifespan?
- What size do ball pythons grow to?
- Are ball pythons venomous or poisonous?
- Why is ball python called ball python?
- What is ball python weight?
- Are ball pythons diurnal or nocturnal?
- What do ball pythons eat?
- Are ball pythons good pets?
- What do ball pythons see?
- How often do ball pythons eat?
Where do ball pythons come from?
Ball pythons, also called Royal pythons, and scientifically Python regius, come from West and Central Africa. They are common in parts of Sudan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and further. Ball pythons inhabit grasslands, open forests and shrub lands.
What do ball pythons look like? Appearance.
There are many morphs of ball pythons that have been achieved by selective breeding. They have various colors and patterns.
Classic, or ‘normal’ ball python has a dark head and dark eyes. Their bodies are brownish in color, with various blotches and vertical lines over the body. Belly is lighter in color and can also have some blotches/lines on it.
How long do ball pythons live for?
Ball pythons have a long lifespan, which is averaging to up to 20-30 years in captivity. Some ball pythons can live for up to 40+ years with good care. Long lifespan makes ball pythons great pets, but also a long-term responsibility.
What size do ball pythons grow to?
Ball pythons hatchling size ranges from around 8 to 17 inches (20-43cm). Full adult size of ball pythons reaches 3-5 feet long (91cm-152cm), less commonly up to 5.9 feet (182 cm).
Female ball pythons are often larger than males, and some smaller specimens can reach only 2-2.5 feet (61-76cm) long. They reach their full size in about 2.5-3 years.
Are ball pythons venomous or poisonous?
No, ball pythons are non-venomous and non-poisonous snakes. They are constrictors, which means that they kill their prey by constriction, not venom or poison.
What is ball python weight?
Adult ball pythons by 2-3 years of age reach around 4-5 pounds (1.8-2.3 kg), with females often being larger and heavier. Most healthy ball pythons reach up to 1.1-2.2 pounds (500-1,000 grams) by 12-14 months of age.
Why is ball python called ball python?
Ball pythons are actually called Royal pythons. The name ball python is widely used in the USA and some other countries, due to ball pythons curling up into a ball as a defensive behavior when they feel scared or threatened.
Are ball pythons diurnal or nocturnal?
Ball pythons are not diurnal, but rather crepuscular and mainly nocturnal. That means that ball pythons get active during dusk and dawn, when they start getting more active and hunting for food/eating.
What do ball pythons eat?
Ball pythons are carnivores, meaning they need to eat small animals (mammals). They mainly consume mice/rats in captivity and don’t eat any vegetables, greens or fruit. In the wild, they eat different small animals, including rats and some other rodents, and even small birds.
Are ball pythons good pets?
Yes, ball pythons make good snake pets. They are docile, reach average sizes, don’t need huge enclosures, and are tolerant of handling. The only issue is that they might not feed regularly, but it should not pose a problem if you research about their care beforehand.
What do ball pythons see?
Ball pythons generally have bad eyesight, but they can see well in darker conditions. That’s because they have infrared heat-sensing vision. It is achieved with their heat pit organs located in their snout, which detects heat emitted from other objects/creatures.
How often do ball pythons eat?
Ball pythons will have different feeding schedules depending on age, time of the year and health. Generally, younger ball pythons between 0-18 months will need to eat once in 5-7 days. Then, you would need to reduce once in 7-10 days. Adults of over 3 years old will eat once in 1-2 weeks.
Do ball pythons need lighting?
Ball pythons become active at night, so general lighting during the day is often sufficient. If an enclosure is very dark, you might need to use a bulb during the day. UVB is not required, but might be used in a full spectrum lighting if you believe it’s really necessary.
Are ball pythons arboreal?
Ball pythons are not arboreal, but mainly terrestrial and semi-arboreal. This means that they spend most of the time on the ground, but might climb a little for hunting and generally exploring (semi-arboreal).
Are ball pythons easy to care for?
Ball pythons are rather easy to care for. They mainly need to be fed once in 1-2 weeks, and its water refreshed as often as every day. You will also have to clean the waste (they don’t poop often) and clean the enclosure from time to time.
If you would like to learn more about keeping and caring for ball pythons, you can find a range of posts on this resource page.