Ball Python tank

Python regius

Royal Pythons are calm, gentle and curious, making them an ideal beginners snake. You should be aware of their adult size, reaching up to 5 foot (1.5m) in length.

What does a Royal Python look like?

Royal Pythons are also known as Ball Pythons due to them rolling into a ball in defence. This species of Python grows to an average length of 4 foot (1.2 m), with the females being the large of the two. Some specimens have been known to reach more than 5 foot (1.5m) in length.

Royal Pythons have a distinctive head, slender neck and a wide body. The body colour is black with yellow, gold or brown markings. The patterns may be banded, broken or reduced in some specimens and some may have a dorsal stripe.

Where are Royal Pythons from?

Royal Pythons are found within Central and Western Africa. They inhabit forests and are equally comfortable on the ground or in trees. These Pythons are active during dawn and dusk and hide away during the day.

Are Royal Pythons easy to keep?

Royal Pythons have to be one of the easiest species of snake to own, as long as the basic requirements are met.

Although these Pythons do grow big, they prefer a smaller enclosure then you would think. If the enclosure is too large, this could cause stress to the Python. There are a number of different enclosures you can use from vivariums, glass tanks and plastic containers. Young Pythons can be housed in plastic containers measuring approx. 20x10” (LxW), sub and fully-grown adults in a 36x15” vivarium.

You need provide your Royal Python with an ambient air temperature of 27-29C (80-85F) throughout the enclosure with a basking spot of 32.5C (90F) during the day. At night, allow the ambient air temperature to drop down to no lower than 23-24C (73-75F), with a basking area of 27C (80F). No additional UV lighting is required for your Royal Python. You can maintain the temperatures by using either a basking lamp with a guard or a heat mat, a thermostat should control both these.