Are ball pythons dangerous?

Ball pythons are not dangerous. They are the smallest snakes in the python genus and the most docile. They are long-lived snakes that need damp and dark areas for hiding spots.

Python regius is the scientific name for the ball python. These snakes originate in hotter areas, including Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. Ball pythons are ground-dwelling snakes that prefer sparsely wooded areas, grasslands and savannas. They live 30 years or longer and range in size from 3 to 5 feet on average. Most active during the day, the ball python eats rodents of various sizes. Each ball python has a distinct and unique pattern.