Ball Pythons
| Care | Growth Chart | Morphs | FAQ |
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I have compiled a list of places that have very good care sheets. They are all very informative and are worth reading. At the bottom of the page is a list of the estimated cost of keeping and owning a ball python. I recently wrote a short article about snakes in pet stores for the SPSAC. I thought I'd put a link to it here for anyone to read! Go Here.
Interesting Articles
Keeping a ball python cost yearly (52 weeks) Juvenile
Total=$90 a year Sub-Adult
Total=$168 a year Adult
Total-$306 a year Emergency money (i.e. vet bill)- $200 $82 + $168 +($306 x 20 years) Grand Total= $6400 The Joy of owning a ball python= Priceless
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Current Size Mouse: Large white mouse, pre killed. or live, depending on what kind of mood he's in. (he often wont take dead)
Current News: Whoa! Vet was wrong! Stony is a female!
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Last Feed |
Molt? |
Length |
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10/15/99 |
no |
1'7" |
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10/19/99 |
no |
1'7" |
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10/24/99 |
no |
1'7 1/2" |
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11/1/99 |
soon |
1'7 1/2" |
|
11/10/99 |
on the 9th |
1'8" |
|
11/19/99 |
no |
1'8" |
|
11/23/99 |
no |
1'8" |
|
11/29/99 |
no |
1'8 1/2" |
|
12/8/99 |
no |
1' 81/2" |
|
12/13/99 |
no |
1' 9" |
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12/18/99 |
no |
1' 9" |
|
12/24/99 |
soon |
1' 9" |
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01/08/00 |
on the 5th |
1'9 1/2" |
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01/14/00 |
no |
2' |
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01/20/00 |
no |
2' |
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01/27/00 |
no | 2' |
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02/03/00 |
refused to eat |
------- |
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02/09/00 |
no |
2' |
| 02/17/00 |
no |
2' 1" |
| 02/24/00 |
no |
2' 1" |
| 03/02.00 | no | 2' 1" |
| 03/08/00 | no | 2' 2" |
| 03/16/00 | no | 2' 2" |
| 03/21/00 | no | 2' 2" |
| 04/04/00 | on 3/2/00 | 2'3" |
| 04/12/00 | no | 2' 3.5" |
| 04/20/00 | no | 2' 3.5" |
| 04/27/00 | no | 2'4" |
| 5/4/00 | no | 2'5" |
| 5/12/00 | on 5/8/00 | 2'5" |
| 5/19/00 | no | 2'5.5" |
| 5/25/00 | no | 2'5.5" |
| 6/01/00 | no | 2'6" |
| 6/08/00 | no | 2' 6" |
| 6/15/00 | on the 19th | 2'6" |
| 6/30/00 | no | 2'6" |
| 7/7/00** | no | 31" |
| 7/13/00 | no | 31" |
| 7/21/00 | no | |
| 7/28/00 | no | |
| 8/4/00 | on the 1st | |
| 8/11/00 | no | 32" |
| 8/19/00 | no | 32" |
| 8/26/00 | no | 32" |
| 9/1/00 | no | 32" |
| 9/8/00 | no | 32" |
| 9/14/00 | no | 32" |
Ball pythons can vary in many different ways. The word morphs refers to new or different skin color patterns. The possibilities are endless. On this page are just some of the morphs. All pictures courtesy of The Snake Keeper and NERD.
The new morphs this year are outstanding! There are many many new ones and I have yet to look into them, heck, most aren't even named yet! Look for a major update here soon with the info on some of the newer morphs from the year 2000~
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Pastel Jungle
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Albino
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Striped
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| Xanthic
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Anerythristic
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Clown
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| Black Headed
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Melanistic
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Ghost
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| Black Striped
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Carmel Albino
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Woma Tiger Ball
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| Faded Albino
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Spider Webbed
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Green Headed
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| Jungle
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Piebald
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Normal
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Pastel Jungle-This is a co-dominant trait. The Pastel Jungle shares some characteristics with Jungle Balls, such as light colored irises and bright coloration. Pastels have an "outlined" dark pattern with a two tone look to the gold pattern. The top half being a darker gold than the bottom half. The Pastel Jungle retains most of it's coloring into adulthood. This morph is probably one of the most exciting morphs to be reproduced in captivity.
Albino-The yellow and white ball python. Albino ball pythons are actually Amelanistic ball pythons. They are completely lacking black pigment.
Striped-Striping in ball pythons occurs when the gold vertebral markings become fused together giving the snake the appearance of being striped. There are genetically striped ball pythons and non-genetically striped ball pythons. Striping may occur as a result of varying the temperature during egg incubation. When striping is the result of incubation, it will not pass on to the offspring. The striping may either be wide, thin, straight or wavy.
Xanthic-This is a Tyrosinase positive albino. Also known as the Carmel Albino. They have deep red pupils, gold irises and a reduction in black pigment.
Anerythristic-There is currently some disagreement as to whether or not ball pythons have red pigment. For lack of a better term this is what we have labeled this ball python. They are yellow green, white, black and yellow-brown.
Clown-These are very unique pythons. They are a form of black backed ball python. They have very distinctly marked heads and bodies. Their overall coloration appears to be lighter than that of other ball pythons.
Black Headed-The black backed ball python appears to have a black vertebral stripe. This is not the case, instead there is an absence of the gold vertebral markings, giving the snake the appearance of having a black vertebral stripe. This morph may also be created by varying the incubation temperature of the eggs.
Melanistic-The term Melanistic suggests an all black ball python. These ball pythons show an increase in the amount of black pigment that they have. Hypermelanistic ball pythons have sooty belly scales and an overall dark appearance. Some specimens are almost completely black.
Ghost-Ghost ball pythons are actually a form of hypomelanistic ball python. The amount of reduction in the black pigment varies from snake to snake. Some specimens exhibit only a slight reduction in the black pigment while others exhibit a great degree of reduction of the black pigment. This is what gives the snake its faded or ghostly appearance.
Black Striped-
Carmel Albino-A stunning new morph. Yellow and lavender with red eyes. One of the rarest color morphs of ball pythons in the world.
Woma Tiger-This pattern and possibly color mutation is recognized by the thin black banding on a gold/yellow body with pale eyes. There is an absence of brown saddling altogether. There seems to be a degree of variation in the amount of black banding (width) in these. This mutation is very similar to the banded reduced patterned balls that we keep @ NERD. The two forms may be like conditions, at this point we see a difference so the two are isolated.
Faded Albino-Appears as a faded washed out albino that is white and pale yellow and stands out from normal albinos. This trait was the result of breeding two albino animals and the offspring being either normal albinos or a faded whitish animal with a less defined pattern.
Spider Webbed-This animal is a one of a kind ball python, it has minimal pattern, pale eyes, odd faded coloration, white (pied) & yellow/orange side scales, black speckled mustache and a pale tongue. A very odd new morph.
Green Headed-This mutation appears as a as a olive green head with yellow/green belly coloring, black melted sides and dorsally striped with or without breaks. The overall animal's color is darker than that of a normal ball python and some appear hyper melanistic.
Jungle-All jungle ball pythons share some common characteristics. Light color irises, (at least half of the eye), a reduction in the black pattern and a light, well defined spot on the top of the head. They also must have flecks of black on the upper lip. As juveniles jungle ball pythons have outstanding coloration. As they mature their coloring does darken. As selective breeding continues it may become possible to produce jungle ball pythons that will retain more of their juvenile coloration into adulthood.
Piebald-This is perhaps one of the most visually striking pythons of all time. Piebald ball pythons can have as little as 10% white or as much as 90% white. The pattern, where it is present, is expressed as a double stripe. There are two other types of ball pythons that exhibit white marks. They have been called Ringers and Bullseye ball pythons. Ringers have a white spot or ring around the body down before the vent. All Ringers have these white marks in the same area on the body. Bullseyes have white spots on the body. Some are ringed in orange pigment. These vary in size and location from snake to snake. It is not known if these latter two forms are compatible with the true Piebald ball python.
FAQ:
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If you don't see an answer to your questions here or want further info just email me! I was real brief in the answers so feel free to ask for more info and help.
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