Our campaigns Current campaigns Don't Pet Me: wild animals are not pets Species factsheets Facts about ball pythons Did you know ball pythons can climb trees, swim, and have problem-solving abilities? Read more fascinating facts about these amazing reptiles below. Where do ball pythons live? Ball pythons, also known as royal pythons, are nocturnal animals native to the grasslands, savannas, shrublands and open forests of West and Central Africa. They are primarily terrestrial, meaning they live and hunt on the ground, sheltering in burrows during the day. However, while they are not arboreal, they can climb and, at times, can be found in trees or low branches. Likewise, while water isn’t their natural habitat, ball pythons can swim. Ball pythons typically live 10-15 years in the wild. What do ball pythons eat? Ball pythons are nonvenomous carnivorous constrictors and their diet in the wild consists mainly of small mammals, such as rats, mice and gerbils, and birds. In captivity, ball pythons are sometimes overfed due to misunderstandings about their slow metabolism. They may also be fed “feeder animals” - animals that are bred or raised specifically to be fed to other animals – that are too large, which is not only distressing to the animals being given as food, but can also cause internal injury or stress to the snake. Are ball pythons suitable as pets? No, ball pythons are wild animals whose agency, exploration, and full range of natural behaviour cannot be expressed in captivity. Therefore, they should not be bought as pets. They naturally inhabit large home ranges and yet, when kept as pets, it is common practice for snakes to be kept in kept in small plastic boxes or racks. These racks do not even provide sufficient space for the snake to extend to the full length of its body – male ball pythons typically grow up to 3.5 feet, while females reach between 4-6 feet. Other enclosures that meet legal minimum sizes and are clean and well-maintained are still too small to meet the animals’ needs and at times do not offer any type of enrichment. Snakes also have a fundamental need for a variation in body temperature so small enclosures with no temperature gradient will compromise welfare and lead to problems with shedding and refusing to eat. In the wild, juvenile ball pythons shed every 4-6 weeks, while adults shed less frequently. When bred for the ‘exotic pet’ trade, ball pythons are sometimes bred to have specific colours of patterns, known as ‘morphs’. This can lead to several genetic disorders, such as spinal and skull deformities. One example is ‘wobble head’ syndrome, a disorder of the central nervous system in royal (ball) pythons bred to have markings that look like spiders’ webs. The disorder causes muscle weakness and uncontrollable spasms. Are ball pythons social creatures? No, ball pythons are solitary creatures. Sharing space can lead to chronic stress, which affects feeding, shedding, and immune health. Are ball pythons smart? Yes, snakes have complex cognitive capacities, such as detailed spatial memory and problem-solving abilities. Ball pythons lack external ears, but they can still detect sound through vibrations. Manage Cookie Preferences