A ball python from Leinwand’s lab. CREDIT: Yuxiao Tan. Compared with the hearts of pythons who hadn’t eaten, the fed pythons increased their own mass by close to 25 percent after eating.

Most adult ball pythons eat once every 7 to 14 days. Another reason people love ball pythons is their color. There are many types, called “morphs,” that come in different colors and patterns.

Can you hunt pythons in Florida? How about eat them? What's the different between Burmese and ball pythons? Here are answers to five commonly asked questions about the slithering species. 1.