Royal Python
Scientific name: Python regius
Common names: Royal Python, Ball Python
Adult size: Usually 90–150 cm
Lifespan: 20–30+ years
📏 Size
- Adults usually reach 90–150 cm.
- Females are often larger than males.
🏡 Housing
- Secure, well-ventilated vivarium.
- Adult minimum around 120 × 60 × 60 cm.
- Provide hides at both the warm and cool ends.
- Add branches, cork and other cover for enrichment.
- Snug hides are preferred over very open spaces.
🌡️ Temperature
- Basking/warm area: 30–32°C
- Cool end: 24–27°C
- Night: 21–24°C
- Always use a suitable thermostat.
💡 Lighting
- Low-level UVB (around 2–7%) is beneficial.
- Provide a natural 10–12 hour day/night cycle.
- UVB should be positioned so the snake can retreat from it.
💧 Humidity
- Aim for around 50–60% normally.
- Increase to around 60–70% during shedding.
- Good ventilation is essential.
🐭 Food
- Feed appropriately sized defrosted frozen rodents.
- Prey should be roughly the same width as the snake's widest point.
- Juveniles generally eat every 5–7 days.
- Adults usually eat every 7–21 days, depending on size and body condition.
- Avoid overfeeding.
💧 Water
- Provide a sturdy bowl of fresh, clean water at all times.
- The bowl should be large enough for the snake to drink comfortably.
- Replace water whenever soiled.
🐍 Shedding
- Eyes may become cloudy and the skin dull before shedding.
- Ensure humidity is appropriate and provide a humid hide if needed.
- Never pull off retained skin.
- Check the eye caps and tail tip after shedding.
🤲 Handling
- Generally docile and easy to handle when accustomed to people.
- Support the entire body and allow the snake to move through your hands.
- Avoid handling for 24–48 hours after feeding.
- Never handle during the first few days after bringing a new snake home.
❤️ Health
- Monitor weight, appetite, breathing and general activity.
- Watch for mites, mouth problems, respiratory infections and retained shed.
- Refusing food occasionally is not unusual, particularly seasonally, but prolonged fasting or weight loss should be investigated.
🧽 Cleaning
- Spot-clean waste immediately.
- Replace soiled substrate as required.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect the enclosure regularly.
- Keep water bowls clean and sanitised.
🏠 Before You Bring Your Snake Home
- Set up and fully temperature-test the vivarium beforehand.
- Have thermostats, hides, substrate and water ready.
- Ensure the enclosure is escape-proof.
- Have appropriately sized frozen/thawed food available.
⚠️ Important Bits
-
Keep singly housed except for controlled breeding.
- Always use thermostats with heat sources.
- Never use hot rocks.
- Royal Pythons are excellent escape artists — check doors and ventilation points carefully.
- Give your snake time to settle into its new environment before beginning regular handling.
