The numbers
Enclosure
120 × 60 × 60 cm
Diet
Appropriately sized rodents (mice → rats) · Every 10–21 days
Temperature
warm 31–33 °C (88–92 °F) / cool 25–27 °C (77–80 °F) / night ≥ 23–24 °C
Humidity
55–65% (up to 70%+ during shed)
UVB
Optional; low level (T5 5–6%) beneficial
Identity
Family / Order
Pythonidae / Squamata
Origin
Distribution
Senegal to Uganda; savanna & forest edges
Adult size
♀ 90–150 cm · ♂ 60–90 cm
Adult weight
♀ 1200–2000 g · ♂ 600–1000 g
Lifespan (captivity)
20–30 yrs (record ~47)
Activity
Nocturnal / crepuscular; terrestrial
Temperament
Shy, docile; balls up when stressed
Price (THB)
Normal ~1,500–3,000; morphs 5,000–100,000+
Morphs
40 morphs, with how each one is inherited. 14 of them carry a documented welfare cost, and those are listed first. A morph list that hides this sells a pattern and says nothing about what it costs the animal.
Bumble Bee (Pastel×Spider)comboCarries Spider → wobbleSuper form: —Welfare risk
ChampagneDominantWobble; lethal super — never pairSuper form: Super = lethalWelfare risk
Hidden Gene WomaDominantStrong wobble; lethal superSuper form: super = lethalWelfare risk
Killer Bee (Super Pastel×Spider)comboCarries Spider → wobbleSuper form: —Welfare risk
SpiderDominantNeurological wobble in all carriers — discloseSuper form: non-viable (lethal)Welfare risk
Spinner (Pinstripe×Spider)comboCarries Spider → wobbleSuper form: —Welfare risk
Super Black PastelCo-dominantDuckbill + kinks — avoidSuper form: (super)Welfare risk
Super CinnamonCo-dominantDuckbill + spinal kinks — avoidSuper form: (super)Welfare risk
Super SableDominantWobble reportedSuper form: —Welfare risk
8-Ball (Cinnamon×Black Pastel)comboDefect risk presentSuper form: —Caution
Caramel AlbinoRecessiveHistoric kinking in some linesSuper form: —Caution
DesertCo-dominantFemale infertilitySuper form: —Caution
SpotnoseCo-dominantPowerball complex — mild wobble in some linesSuper form: Super SpotnoseCaution
WomaDominantMild wobble in some linesSuper form: —Caution
AlbinoRecessiveAmelanisticSuper form: —
AxanthicRecessiveSeveral linesSuper form: —
Banana / Coral GlowsexlinkedMale-makerSuper form: Super Banana
Black PastelCo-dominantSingle = fineSuper form: Super Black Pastel
ButterCo-dominantSuper form: Blue-Eyed Leucistic
Candy / ToffeeRecessiveSuper form: —
CinnamonCo-dominantSingle = fineSuper form: Super Cinnamon
ClownRecessiveSuper form: —
Desert GhostRecessiveSuper form: —
EnchiCo-dominantSuper form: Super Enchi
FireCo-dominantSuper form: Black-Eyed Leucistic
Genetic StripeRecessiveSuper form: —
GHICo-dominantSuper form: Super GHI
Ghost / HypoRecessiveSuper form: —
Lavender AlbinoRecessiveSuper form: —
LeopardRecessiveSuper form: —
LesserCo-dominantSuper form: Blue-Eyed Leucistic
MojaveCo-dominantSuper form: Blue-Eyed Leucistic
MysticCo-dominantSuper form: Mystic Potion (BEL)
PastelCo-dominantBrightening, blushingSuper form: Super Pastel
PhantomCo-dominantSuper form: —
PiebaldRecessiveWhite patchesSuper form: —
PinstripeDominantSuper form: —
UltramelCo-dominantSuper form: Super Ultramel
VanillaCo-dominantSuper form: Super Vanilla
Yellow BellyCo-dominantSuper form: Ivory
Enclosure and conditions
Warm side
31–33 °C (88–92 °F)
Cool side
25–27 °C (77–80 °F)
Night
≥ 23–24 °C
Humidity
55–65% (up to 70%+ during shed)
UVB
Optional; low level (T5 5–6%) beneficial
Ventilation
Good cross-ventilation (prevents RI)
Min. size
120 × 60 × 60 cm (4×2×2 ft) for an adult
Substrate
Coconut husk / cypress, kept dry & clean
Hides
≥ 2 tight hides (warm + cool)
Water
Large bowl big enough to soak
Diet
Staple
Appropriately sized rodents (mice → rats)
Prey size
≈ 1–1.25× the widest part of the body
Method
Frozen-thawed strongly preferred
Hatchlings
Every 5–7 days
Juveniles
Every 7–10 days
Adults
Every 10–21 days
Supplements
None — whole prey is complete
Fasting
Normal in winter / breeding / pre-shed
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Calm, ideal beginner; support whole body
Stress signs
Food refusal, constant hiding, glass-searching
Cohabitation
House individually — never cohabit
Defense
Balls up (hence the name); rarely bites
Children
OK with adult supervision
Reproduction
Sexual maturity F
2–3 yrs & ≥ 1200–1500 g
Sexual maturity M
8–18 months & ≥ 600 g
Sexing
Probing / popping; ♂ longer tail + spurs
Clutch
3–11 eggs (avg ~6)
Incubation
~55–60 days at 31–32 °C, ~90% RH
Breeding trigger
Cooler nights + seasonal cycling
Common health problems
Respiratory infection
Signswheezing, clicking, open-mouth breathing
Preventcold/damp + poor ventilation → keep correct temps + airflow
Scale rot
Signsblistered/discolored belly scales
Preventwet dirty substrate → dry clean substrate
Retained shed / eye caps
Signsincomplete shedding
Preventlow humidity → 60–70% + humid hide during shed
Snake mites
Signstiny moving dots, over-soaking
Preventquarantine & inspect new arrivals
When to see a vet
This is not veterinary advice. If red flags appear (open-mouth breathing, months of weight loss, 'stargazing', persistent regurgitation) consult a qualified exotic (herp) veterinarian. Quarantine new arrivals 30–90 days.
Good to know
- Curls into a tight ball head-in when scared — its whole defense (hence 'Ball').
- 'Royal' (regius): legend says Cleopatra wore them; sacred to the Igbo of Nigeria.
- The most kept pet snake on Earth and the backbone of the morph hobby.
Common questions
Does it bite?
Very rarely — docile, balls up instead.
How big will it get?
♀ up to ~1.5 m, ♂ smaller.
Why won't it eat?
Usually normal (season/shed/stress); vet only if real weight loss.
How long do they live?
20–30 years — a long commitment.
What it needs
- PVC enclosure 120×60×60
- Thermostat (pulse)
- Heat source (DHP/mat)
- 2 hides (warm+cool)
- Coco/cypress substrate
- Large water bowl
- Digital hygro/thermometer
- F/T rodents + tongs