Description
- Common Name: Royal Python
- Scientific Name: Python regius
- Locality/Morph: Lemonblast Super Asphalt het Ghost
- Sex: Male
- Age: 2022
- Source: Captive bred in UK
- Native Range: Sub-Saharan Africa – West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Uganda
- Natural Habitat: Grasslands, savannahs, and open forests
- Diet: Small mammals, birds (rodents in captivity)
- Basking Temperature: 30–32°C hotspot
- Ambient Temperature: 25–28°C (night drop to ~21°C)
- Average Adult Size: 90–150 cm
The Royal Python (Python regius), also known as the Ball Python (in the USA), is a small constrictor native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the most commonly kept python in captivity due to its manageable size, lack of aggression, and wide availability of morphs and mutations. Its name “Royal” comes from historical accounts of African royalty wearing them as living jewellery, while “Ball Python” refers to their defensive behaviour of curling tightly into a ball when threatened.
In the wild, Royal Pythons inhabit grasslands and lightly forested areas, spending much of their time in rodent burrows and other underground retreats. They are primarily nocturnal, emerging at dusk to hunt small mammals and birds.
In captivity, P. regius requires a secure enclosure with appropriate heating and hiding spaces. A temperature gradient should be maintained, with a basking hotspot of around 30–32°C and cooler areas in the mid-20s. Humidity should be moderate (50–60%) but slightly higher during shedding, or a humid hide can be provided. Multiple hides should be provided to allow the snake to feel secure in both the warm and cool zones of the enclosure. Substrates such as lignocel, cypress mulch, or coco husk are commonly used.
Royal Pythons feed readily on rodents such as mice, multis and rats, though some individuals can be finicky eaters, particularly during cooler months. Juveniles are usually fed every 7 days, while adults typically feed every 14 days. With proper care, they can live for over 25–30 years in captivity.
Royal Pythons are an excellent choice for beginner snake keepers and remain one of the most popular reptiles worldwide.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
