A family have been left in shock after their five-foot long python escaped its home. 

Meatball, a royal ball python, disappeared from her home in Wilburton at around 11pm on Monday, February 20. 

Georgina Peachey last saw her daughter’s pet python on February 20 but did not notice she was missing until the next morning. 

Her disappearance has sparked questions as to where Meatball, who has poor eyesight and a neurological condition might be, but also fears for her health. 

“She was in her vivarium in my living room on the Monday night,” said Georgina. 

“Meatball opened the sliding door herself; she hasn’t done anything like this before.” 

This is the first time that Meatball, who has been living at her current home for more than a year, has gone missing. 

Georgina has since searched non-stop through her home, but so far without success. 

“I’ve searched every cupboard in the house, carpets, sinks, but I cannot [understand] how a snake that size has disappeared,” she told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. 

“The markings on the side of her body look like little penguins, [but] if she goes outside, she will not survive for long.” 

The RSPCA say royal pythons can live up to more than 20 years in captivity and have to live at a temperature of around 30 to 32 degrees celsius. 

The snake type originates from West Africa, but are captive bred in the UK pet trade. 

Georgina has stressed to anyone that may see Meatball before returning to her owner that she is not dangerous. 

“Meatball is not dangerous; she is more scared of you than anything else and she’d roll up in a ball when picked up,” she added. 

“If she strikes you, she will be very unlikely to hit you because she has got eyesight and neurological issues.”