Hello! I'm a Royal Python, a calm snake who loves warm, cosy spots. I'm not venomous, and many people call me a ball python. This page is for families, teachers, and anyone curious about snakes. You will learn where I live, what I eat, and why I curl into a tight ball. These facts help you stay safe and treat snakes kindly. They matter whether you meet one at a session or think about keeping one.
Fast Facts About Royal Pythons
- Scientific name: Python regius
- Home: West and Central Africa
- Habitat: grassland and open forests
- Size: about 5 feet (150 cm)
- Lifespan: 20 to 30 years in captivity
- Diet: small mammals and birds
- Status: Near Threatened
Royal Pythons, Ball Pythons and Python Regius: One Snake, Many Names
Royal pythons and ball pythons are the same snake species. My scientific name is Python regius, and regius means royal in Latin. This page covers my natural history. In the UK, people say royal python. In America, they say ball python.
Where Royal Pythons Live in West Africa
I come from West Africa and Central Africa. My home stretches from Senegal in the west to Uganda in the east. I live in grassland and open forests, and I hide in a burrow or termite mound by day.”
Evening and night are when I am most active. As a cold-blooded animal, I rely on warm spots to control my body temperature.
What I Look Like
I am dark brown with lighter brown blotches on my back and sides. My belly is creamy white. Adult females are usually bigger than males, and I can reach about 5 feet. Keepers have bred many colours and patterns, called morphs.
What Do I Eat?
My diet in Africa is small mammals and birds. Young snakes may also eat lizards. I am a constrictor, so I squeeze my prey until it stops moving. In captivity, keepers feed frozen rodents that have been thawed. Prey should be slightly wider than the widest part of my body. Young snakes eat every five to six days. Adult pythons eat every one to two weeks.
My Life and Family
The breeding season runs from mid-September to mid-November. Females lay eggs a few months later. A mother coils around her eggs to keep them warm. The eggs hatch after about two months. The hatchlings can look after themselves straight away.
Why I Curl Into a Tight Ball
When I feel scared, I tuck my head into the middle of my coils. This protects my head and neck from predators. I would much rather hide than bite. That is why people find me gentle to handle. Hatchlings may strike more often, but this usually stops as they grow.
Why Royal Pythons Are Near Threatened
The IUCN lists me as Near Threatened. People hunted me for meat and skin, and the pet trade takes many snakes from Africa too. Losing my habitat makes things harder. Royal pythons kept in the UK are usually captive-bred.
Meet Me With Wild Science
I may visit schools, parties, and events with the Wild Science team. Our team shows everyone how to handle a snake gently. We support the whole body, with one hand near the head and one near the tail. We never grab. Our team confirms which animals attend when you book.
You can see more reptiles on our animal pages. Meet my cousin the corn snake, the bearded dragon or the leopard gecko. Read our corn snake guide for more snake facts. You can also learn about a reptile encounter in the UK or find reptile petting zoos near you.
Thinking of Keeping a Royal Python?
A royal python is a long commitment, because we live for 20 to 30 years in captivity. We need correct care and housing from the start. Our enclosure must let us stretch out fully. For a 120 cm snake, the RSPCA suggests 120 cm long, 40 cm wide and 40 cm deep. The RSPCA also advises a low-output UVB tube, with a UV Index of 1.0 at the basking spot. It also suggests a basking spot of 30 to 32°C and a cool end of 24 to 26°C. Humidity should stay around 50 to 60% at the cool end. Baby snakes may use a heat mat on a thermostat. Read the RSPCA royal python advice before you decide.
You can also download our royal python care sheet. Signs of illness include weight loss, diarrhoea, a whistling sound when breathing and gasping for breath. Mites, respiratory infections and metabolic bone disease can also affect pythons. Ask an exotic vet for health advice. Keep one snake per enclosure, because we live alone.
Book a Reptile Experience
Want to meet a snake in your classroom or at your party? Call 03301131136, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 16:30 or Saturday 9:00 to 15:00. You can also use our contact form. Find out what to expect at a session. Browse our school workshops and children's parties too.
