Colby, Indus, Lil’ Kenny, Perry and Bella

Royal “Ball” Pythons

Colby arrived at the Center in 1999 as an adult. He is one of our star performers in educational programs. All royal pythons have individualistic patterns on their head and body so it is possible to differentiate the different individuals by looking at their markings. Colby can be easily distinguished by his large figure eight-like tan mark on top of his head.

Indus also arrived at the Center in 1999 as an adult. Royal pythons are more often referred to as “ball’ pythons because they spend a majority of their time coiled up in a ball. They are a constrictor and will use their powerful muscles to squeeze their prey to death before consuming it. In captivity they live 30 years or more with a record being more than 40 years old!

Lil’ Kenny is our most educated royal pythons having attended the University of Hartford in 2007. Unfortunately, unbeknown to Lil’ Kenny, snakes are not allowed as pets at most colleges and universities. He was found slithering down a hallway in one of the dorm rooms at UHA and the university public safety office was called immediately. Once contained the Director of Public Safety brought him to the Center in hopes we could provide him a permanent home. Lil’ Kenny is now off display because in his older age he developed glaucoma, which resulted in the removal of one of his eyes. He is living out his retirement off display where it is a little quieter.

Perry, as with most of our reptilian residents, was donated to the Center as an unwanted pet. As are most royal pythons, he is incredibly social and has a very good temperament. He is easily distinguished by the exclamation mark on top of his head. Royal pythons also have heat sensing pits that they can use to detect their warm-blooded prey: birds of small mammals.

Bella is our largest ball python here at the Museum and used to belong to one of our educators Sara who needed to find her a new home when she moved. Nice and chunky she makes an excellent addition as an ambassador, educating visitors about snakes. She lives with all of our other ball pythons on public display.

Residents of the West Hartford campus