Ball python (Python regius)

🎨 What does a ball python look like?

🐍 Body size:

Adults typically reach 1.2–1.5m, with females being larger than males. Exceptionally, they can grow up to ~1.8m.

🧬 Body shape:

They have a robust, muscular body with smooth scales and a relatively smaller head compared to some other snakes.

🎨 Color and pattern:

In the wild, their typical color is dark brown to black with gold or brownish spots, which helps them camouflage in savannas and forest edges.

In captivity, thousands of color and pattern variations (morphs) have been created through selective breeding — for example, albino, piebald, pastel, banana, axanthic, and many others. However, some morphs may have genetically determined health problems (more below).

🧠 Nature and Behavior

🐢 Temperament:

Ball pythons are generally calm, peaceful, and rarely aggressive. When they feel threatened, they often curl their bodies into a ball with their heads hidden — hence the name ball python.

🦎 Activity:

They are nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dusk and at night).

🤲 Handling:

Suitable for handling when handled properly and gently. Young individuals may be more nervous at first, but they will get used to it with age.

🏡 Terrarium and environment requirements
📏 Terrarium size

A terrarium measuring at least 120 × 60 × 60cm, or larger, is common for an adult python. Escapes must be minimized — these snakes are great escapers.

🌡️ Temperature

Temperature gradient is key:
• cooler side: ~24–26°C
• warmer side with basking spot: ~30–32°C

Beyond 32°C it can be harmful.

💧 Humidity

Ideal humidity 50–60%, slightly higher during molting. Too low humidity leads to molting problems, too high to respiratory infections.

🪵 Substrate and hiding places

Safe substrate such as paper towels, terrarium carpet or aspen; avoid aromatic woods such as pine/cedar.

Provide at least two hiding places (on both the warm and cool sides) to make the snake feel safe.

💦 Water

A shallow bowl of water, large enough for the snake to stand in or occasionally bathe in, should always be available.

🍽️ Feeding and Nutrition

🐁 Food: Mainly mice and rats of appropriate size — frozen/thawed food is recommended in captivity (prevents injuries from live rats).

🗓️ Frequency:
• young: approximately every 7–10 days,
• adults: approximately every 10–14 days (or longer if the snake is calm and healthy).

📏 Prey size: the size of the prey should be approximately the same as the widest part of the snake's body.

➡️ Note: Pythons can go on a "hunger strike", i.e. periods when they refuse food — especially during the winter months or when molting. This is largely normal and does not necessarily indicate illness unless the body condition deteriorates.

🩺 Health and Common Problems

Ball pythons are generally hardy and robust snakes, but various problems can arise if kept improperly:

🩹 Respiratory Infections

A problem resulting from improper temperature or humidity, manifested by wheezing, mucus, or open breathing.

🦠 Mouth rot (stomatitis)

A bacterial infection in the oral cavity, often in individuals with other injuries or stress.

🐜 Mites (parasites)

An external parasite that causes stress and can transmit infections; often spread in poorly disinfected areas or after contact with infected individuals.

🚿 Retained shed (retention of old skin)

A common problem in low humidity, especially around the head and eyes.

🚧 Scale rot / Dermatitis

A skin infection caused by a constantly wet or dirty substrate.

🧬 Genetic and morphological problems in morphs

Some morphs, most notably the Spider, may have neurological symptoms ("wobble syndrome") — impaired coordination of movements and balance.

Intensive breeding can lead to other congenital anomalies, so check the genetic background and potential problems of the given morph before purchasing.

🩺 Veterinary care:

An annual examination by a veterinarian specializing in reptiles is recommended, especially if signs of illness appear or if the snake is new to the aquarium.

🎨 What species and morphs do we know?

The Royal Python is one species (Python regius), but there are an enormous number of morphs in the breeding community:

📌 Common morphs:

Normal (wild-type) — natural pattern and color

Albino — yellowish-white body without dark pigment

Piebald — parts of the body without pigment create "white patches"

Pastel, Mojave, Banana, Fire, Axanthic — more subtle color/pattern changes

Designer morphs and combinations — genetic combinations of different traits 🎨

🧠 Caution: Some morphs may carry genetic risks (e.g. "wobble" in Spider or problems with the structure of the scales in scaleless morphs).

⚖️ Advantages and disadvantages of breeding
✅ Advantages

✔ Calm and tolerant nature - most individuals are also suitable for handling.
✔ Relatively small size - suitable for households with limited space.
✔ Long lifespan - can live 20–30 years under good conditions.
✔ Huge variability of morphs – aesthetic and breeding interest.