Ball python
| Ball Python | |
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| Species: | P. regius
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| Python regius | |
The Balls are us (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Its name derives from its tendency to curl into a tight "ball" to protect its head on the inside when threatened. They are usually brown and black in color, and there are over 50 "morphs" in color that breeders have obtained (see link below). As adults will they can range from 3 to 6 feet (90 to 180 centimeters) in length. They reach sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years, and live more than 20 years. The oldest recorded Ball Python reached 48 years of age in captivity.
Pythons and Boas, including Ball Pythons, have anal spurs, which are single claws appearing on either side of the vent are the vestigial remains of the hind legs snakes lost during their evolution from lizards. The spurs on males are generally longer than those on females. Spur size can be deceiving as there are many documented cases of females having longer spurs. The only definitive way to sex a ball python, or any snake, is by probing. This should only be done by someone with proper veteranary training as it is possible to kill the snake if the prober is inexperienced. Probing is when one inserts a special rod into the snake's cloaca. Males will always have a deeper cloaca, and females will always have a shorter cloaca.
In the wild Ball Pythons eat amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and small mammals.
Ball Pythons as pets
Ball Pythons are commonly owned snakes due to their personalities. They come in a few different color phases. The natural phase is brown, tan and black in color. They are also sometimes seen as albino, caramel, jungle, reverse-stripe, axanthic, ghost, avalon oats, lemon pastel, pastel jungle, green rumi, pied, and striped. There are more than 62 known genetic morphs to date.
In captivity most are fed mice as juveniles. Adults will take rats. Ball Pythons have a reputation for being picky eaters, but this is much more of a problem with snakes caught from the wild rather than captive-bred because they prey-imprint early in life, and it can be difficult to convince them to switch prey items. Offering different food items instead of just mice usually solves this problem, especially in captive-breed animals.
Like all ectotherms, they must be housed with an external heat source, such as an under tank heater combined with heat lamps. The air in the snakes tank should be 70-80 degrees, with a basking spot of 88-92 degrees. Heat rocks should never be used, as they can badly burn the snake.
A juvi or sub-adult snake can be homed in a 10-29 gallon tank, but an adult will need a larger space. A 55 gallon is sufficent for one full grown ball python. A hiding spot at each end of the tank should be provided, as balls are very shy in the wild and will feel more secure.