Ball Pythons are found at the edge of central and western Africa. They are comfortable on the ground and in trees. They are called Royal Pythons in Europe. In the United states they are called Ball Pythons. They earned their name because they have a habit of curling themselves into a tight ball when they are nervous, then they stick there heads out of the center. They are very gentle and curious snakes. Ball Pythons usually grow to about four feet long. When fed properly their bodies become nice and rounded.

 

Like all Pythons and Boas they have anal spurs. These single claws that appear on each side of the vent are the vestigial remains of the hind legs snakes lost during their evolution from lizard to snake millions of years ago. Males have longer spurs than females and also have smaller heads than females do.

 

Ball Pythons , like pythons and boas, devour a variety of prey in the wild including lizards, other snakes, birds and small mammals. They do not eat mice in the wild however, and do not recognize the mice we offer them as being something edible. Thus, wild caught Pythons tend to be picky eaters. Ball pythons are able to live for extended periods of time without eating any food. Wild caught ball pythons have gone a year without food until finally enticed to eat lizards or other snakes.

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Author: Michael H.

Published: 04/2006

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Sources: Sting By Melvin and Gilda Berger 557 Broadway, New York,10012 Life Science Holt, Rinehart, and Winston www.snakesans reptiles.com