Reptiles · Squamata · Pythonidae

Ball Python

Python regius

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the smallest of the African pythons and one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world, valued for its calm temperament.

Weight

600 g – 2 kg

Size

60 cm – 1.8 m

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Fun facts

Its English name, ball python, comes from its defence: it curls into a tight ball when threatened.
It is the smallest of the African pythons.
It is one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world, for its calm temperament.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Savannah, scrub and open woodland of West and Central Africa
Birth weight: 65 - 103 grams (average ~86 g); 25-43 cm long at hatching
Size at birth: 25-43 cm long on hatching (figures vary: 30-43 cm depending on the source)
Sexual maturity: Male: 11-18 months | Female: 20-36 months (maturity depends on weight as much as age, a minimum of ~600 g in males)
Gestation / incubation: 55-60 days
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 11 eggs per clutch (most commonly 4-6)
Lifespan in captivity: Up to 25-30 years documented in captivity