Cool Creature Episode 4: With a twist!

Emerging from the grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa comes a sleek, slithering creature. Reaching lengths of 4 feet, this creature commonly dines on birds, amphibians, and rodents in the wild. Can you guess what it is? It’s a ball python! If you didn’t already know, there is one living right here at Valley Stream North High School. Go to room 314 to see Mr. DiSclafani’s albino juvenile ball python named Peaches!

Ball pythons originate from Africa and live in humid environments. Also, ball pythons are among the most common pets in the pet trade and come in over 100 different colors and morphs. Our ball python right here at North is 1 foot 4 inches in length and weighs a little over 80 grams. Ball pythons are NOT venomous and will most likely NOT bite you (however, remember they have teeth, and anything with teeth can bite…even humans). Ball pythons are generally docile animals. At Valley Stream North, Peaches has changed peoples’ views on reptiles, especially snakes. As people hold Peaches, they realize that snakes are friends, not enemies.

Fun Facts About Ball Pythons:

1. No two ball pythons have the same pattern on their skin, just like no two people have the same fingerprints.

2. Ball pythons are NOT like your average snake, mainly because they don’t have fangs. Instead, they have 100-150 small pointed, hooked teeth.

3. Ball pythons don’t eat much or often. Some won’t eat for months, and others can take up to 3 days to digest their food.

4. Female ball pythons can lay up to 11 eggs at a time and will bury them under the ground and under their bodies.