🦎 Reptile · size Medium
Python Royal
Reptile requiring terrarium and microclimate.
Photo · Mokele (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Weight
1–3 kg
Size
Medium
Lifespan
10–20 ans
Energy
Faible
Maintenance
Faible
Training
Faible
The Ball Python (Python regius) is a species of snakes of the family Pythonidae. It is the smallest of the African pythons and a popular pet. No subspecies is recognized to date. It is a constrictor snake, it is given the common name of Royal Python or Ball Python. The first would come from the fact that Queen Cleopatra is said to have had the habit of wearing these snakes around her wrists. As for the second, it refers to this animal's tendency to curl up into a ball when feeling threatened.
Compatibility
Profile
At a glance
Energy
Faible
Trainability
Faible
Maintenance
Faible
Indicative profile — every animal is an individual.
⚡ Key facts in 30 seconds
L'essentiel
- 1Medium size (1–3 kg) — balance between presence and practicality.
- 2Lifespan: 10 to 20 years on average, depending on care and diet.
- 3Low exercise needs — suitable for less active people.
- 4Minimal maintenance — little shedding, occasional brushing.
Chapter 1
Getting to know the Python Royal
Our selection
Dry food suited to the Python Royal
Character
Daily temperament
This constrictor snake lives in grasslands, savannas and sparsely wooded areas and is a terrestrial species. It is known for its defense strategy which consists of coiling on itself in case of threat, with the head and neck to the side. It also tends to hiss loudly when scared. Its preferred retreat includes burrows of mammals and other underground hiding places in which it can also enter estivation. Its relatively modest size, and its placid nature making it fairly manageable, it is considered a reptile easy to maintain in captivity. Furthermore, it very rarely bites. However, it seems that Ball Pythons are easily subject to stress.
Living conditions
What living situation?
The Ball Python is found in Africa, on a horizontal band of territory ranging from Senegal to western Uganda and the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The locality where the holotype was taken was not reported in the original description of the species. Ball pythons get their 'royal' name because they were once considered sacred and kept as pets by royalty in Africa.
Chapter 2
Daily life
What if you adopted your future companion?
The Python Royal of your dreams may already be waiting in a shelter. Hundreds of python royal (and equally wonderful crossbreeds) are looking for a family in France — every adoption starts a new story.
Editorial recommendation — no affiliate links.
Âge
What human age for a python royal ?
The calculator is already set to the breed's adult size (espérance de vie 10–20 ans). Drag the slider to see the equivalence and corresponding life stage.
Equivalent human age
24years
Young adult
Growth is complete: switch to adult food and set ration to ideal weight to prevent post-sterilization weight gain.
Estimate: Proportional estimate: a reference life expectancy of 15 years, scaled to an 80-year human life. No reference veterinary table exists for this species.
These equivalences are statistical benchmarks drawn from published veterinary tables. Every animal ages at its own pace, depending on genetics, diet and care. This calculator is neither a diagnosis nor veterinary advice.
Alert
To avoid for reptile
Our database lists toxic ingredients and problematic additives by species.
- Copper sulphateModerate
- rhubarbHigh
- avocadoHigh
- onionModerate
Nutrition
Feed your pet well
In nature, its diet consists mainly of small mammals such as rats, shrews or mice. Young ball pythons are also known to feed on birds. Ball pythons are capable of not eating for several weeks, particularly during winter.
Calculator · daily ration
How much to give a python royal ?
Estimate based on the veterinary formula RER × DER, adjusted for reptile. Adjust according to package recommendations.
Result
37 g
per day · 118 kcal
19 g / repas (2 par jour)
Calculation for food of 320 kcal/100g.
Appears in
Python Royal in our rankings
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Commitment at 30, 50, 80 years — the ultimate in lifespan.
See the rankingFAQ
Frequently asked questions about Python Royal
How long does a Ball Python live?+
Is a Ball Python suitable for beginners?+
What basic equipment should be planned for?+
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For more information
Sources & official links
Supplementary documentation on reference sites — breed clubs, encyclopedias, veterinarians.
The right score for your Python Royal.
SokoScan calculates a personalized PawScore based on breed, age, weight and your pet's sensitivities. Free, instant.