Meet Faith. Don't get too close though. She's our most temperamental python. See the coiled neck? She's not bluffing. She is a bitch, but we love her.

Faith is a one year old Royal, or Ball, Python We suspect that she was captive-hatched from a wild-caught egg. In our experience so far, totally captive-bred pythons are much more pleasant in temperament.

In this picture she is in ecdysis (about to shed), which is why her eyes are cloudy and blue.

Every ball python most likely has individualized patterns, like zebra stripes or human fingerprints. I can tell all of ours apart by sight. Each of them has unique markings that set it apart, even in a cluster.

Nyah, nyah, you can't see me!

And this is why they are nicknamed "Ball" Pythons.