Reptiles are ectothermic: They rely on external heat to maintain their bodies at a preferred temperature. The minimum floor space required for one adult python is about 2700 cm2 (432 in2), or the floor space in an average 114 L (30 gallon) aquarium. While these snakes are primarily terrestrial (live on the ground), in the wild they are often found climbing in trees and offering climbing opportunities in captivity helps to maintain a healthy snake.Д«all Pythons, like most reptiles, do best when housed alone because of their solitary nature. Most are made of glass with screen paneling for ventilation, but an aquarium with a securely-fastened screen lid is also a suitable enclosure. There are many suitable reptile terrariums available on the market today. There are many colour and pattern variations that have been selectively bred for. Today the vast majority of Ball Pythons in the pet trade are captive bred and are well-adapted to life as companion animals.

In the past, Ball Pythons were commonly wild caught and made poor captives, as the stress from capture and transport, and their inability to adapt to captivity lead to many health problems. They are a heavy-bodied snake averaging a body length of 1.0-1.7 m (3-5 feet) with females typically being longer and heavier than males. They are nocturnal (active predominantly at night), commonly found taking shelter in termite mounds and mammal burrows during the day. Like with all reptiles, good husbandry and preventative health care are important for a long and healthy life.Д«all Pythons are native to central and western Africa, naturally found in grasslands, savannah, and the borders of wooded habitats.

They are relatively long-lived and may easily surpass 20-30 years of age with proper care, so one must be prepared to take care of their pet for several decades. When they feel threatened, the snake will coil into a tight ball hiding its head which is where the name вЂњBall PythonвЂќ comes from. The Ball Python or Royal Python, Python regius, is a wonderful pet snake species, as they are generally very gentle and docile animals.

Snake hides for ball pythons