Hello everyone, Sophie here with this month's cold blooded creature and my favorite reptile, the ball python. These snakes are native to West and Central Africa but are now being found in just a few places in Florida. They are known for their gentle behavior, manageable size, and beautiful patterns. Ball pythons are harmless to humans and make excellent pets, especially for beginner reptile keepers. The one I'm holding in the photo is named Bella. She was my very first pet snake and I've had her for almost 6 years now.
Ball pythons get their name from the way they curl into a tight ball when they feel threatened or scared. Instead of striking out, they protect themselves by tucking their heads into their coils, forming a ball shape. This defensive behavior is one of the reasons they are considered so calm and non-aggressive.
In the wild, ball pythons live in grasslands, savannas, and forests. They are mostly nocturnal and spend much of their time hiding in burrows or under logs. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as mice and rats, and sometimes birds. Like all pythons, they are non-venomous constrictors. This means they kill their prey by wrapping around it and squeezing, which cuts off the blood flow and stops the animal's breathing. Afterward, they swallow the prey whole and usually headfirst. This can take a few minutes and is actually not that bad to watch.
One of the best things about ball pythons is their size. Adults usually grow to be about 3 to 5 feet long, with females typically being larger than males. This makes them large enough to be interesting, but not so big that they are difficult to keep. Ball pythons also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, known as “morphs.”
These morphs are the result of selective breeding. Some popular morphs include the albino, piebald, and pastel. Each morph has unique colors and markings, making every snake look a little different. Breeders have developed hundreds of morphs, which adds to their popularity. I also have a male ball python named Mojo who is an ultra-mel morph. He looks albino but he's much more yellow.
Feeding a ball python is usually easy. Most pet snakes eat pre-killed or frozen-thawed mice or rats about once every two weeks, depending on their size.
Sometimes, ball pythons can be picky eaters, especially during shedding or breeding seasons. However, they usually return to regular eating habits. Bella stopped eating for some reason after Christmas last year and didn't eat again for 6 months. It didn't bother her at all.
Ball pythons can live a long time—20 to 30 years in captivity with proper care. This means owning one is a long-term commitment. Like all pets, they require attention and responsible ownership. Some people don't understand this and turn them loose, which is illegal and why we have invasive reptiles in Florida. Ball pythons are not big enough to become a problem like the Burmese pythons down in the Everglades.
You'll probably never see a ball python in the wild here in Florida. They might be breeding in some spots but nobody is sure about that. If you do come across one, don't hurt it. It's probably an escaped pet and Fish and Wildlife will come get it. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next month with another cold blooded creature.
Sophie Mckee
Oasis High School, Cape Coral
