The Ball or Royal Python ranges from West Africa through central Africa to as far east as Uganda. It is a small to medium sized python, with a stocky body and a very short tail. Its natural habitat in the wild consists of savannah and light wooded areas and it appears to be primarily nocturnal in habits. The common name is derived from its habit of coiling its body into a tight ball as a defensive measure.
Colouration is generally a pattern of yellowish blotches on a brown ground colour.
Housing requirements for this species need not be elaborate. A cage, roughly the size of a 20 gallon aquarium, will provide ample space pfor the average sized specimen. Newspaper is a good substrate and a hidebox is essential. Wild caught ball pythons in particular are very shy. Fresh water should always be available.