But the point remains: Ball pythons who exhibit unusual colors or patterns that are associated with a heritable gene mutation qualify as morphs. Most morphs lack the cryptic color patterns of their normal-looking counterparts, so oddly colored snakes often stand out in the habitat.
Hawks and other sharp-eyed predators — including humans — are usually capable of spotting them with ease. Accordingly, humans have probably come across unusually colored ball pythons and other snakes for millennia.
But instead of keeping these unusual critters as pets, early humans probably ate them. But over time, people began eating fewer snakes although they still appear on menus around the world and keeping more of them as pets. Eventually, a few morphs found their way into the hands of snake breeders, and captive lines were established. The first mutation to become established in the hobby was probably the albino amelanistic corn snake Pantherophis guttatus gene.
The original animal was caught in North Carolina and bred 6 years later by Dr. Bernard Bechtel. Other mutations would follow, and by the s, albino amelanistic common boas Boa constrictor and Burmese pythons Python bivittatus started making their way into the hands of breeders. By the late s and early s, ball python breeders were combing over shipments and looking out for unusual ball pythons. Several unusual genetic mutations were discovered during and after this time, but the first ball python morph to be produced in captivity was the albino amelanistic ball python line created by Bob Clark in Since this time, dozens of other morphs have made their way into the hands of breeders and some have spontaneously appeared in normal-looking lines.
Modern ball python enthusiasts can choose from ball pythons clad in myriad colors and patterns. Different ball python morphs are passed on in different ways. It is important to understand these patterns of inheritance when shopping for your own ball python morph.
With these definitions in mind, we can begin discussing the basic ways ball python mutations are passed on. Generally speaking, most morphs are inherited in one of four ways:. Simple recessive traits are only expressed when they occur in pairs. Albinism amelanism , for example, is a simple recessive trait. This means that only those animals with both copies of the albino amelanistic gene will display the trait. Those with one or no copies of the albino amelanistic gene will look completely normal.
Dominant traits are displayed whenever the gene in question is present. The pinstripe morph is an example of a dominant trait in ball pythons. Any animal that gets a single copy of the pinstripe trait will look like a pinstripe.
Conversely, normal appearing animals cannot have these genes. Technically , the terms incomplete dominant and co-dominant refer to different types of inheritance, but they are often used interchangeably in herpetological contexts. Regardless of what you call them, these types of traits are displayed when a single copy of the gene is present.
Some traits, such as many of the striped appearances, are polygenetic, meaning that they are controlled by several different genes. If nothing else, the pattern of inheritance can help you understand the supply-and-demand principles that affect the price of different morphs.
Some traits are also associated with behavioral changes. For example, some snakes that exhibit mutations adopt unusual postures or move in strange ways. Others may be tamer or more aggressive than their normally colored counterparts. However, I did work extensively with a few carpet python Morelia spilota ssp. Cypress mulch and orchid bark work wonderfully well, but the cheapest and easiest option is just using plain old newspaper.
Just make sure to avoid any treated, oily wood. Also stay away from sand, shavings, or peat. In addition to having a substrate that they can burrow in, ball pythons like to have multiple hide boxes that they can hide in. These can be commercial hide boxes, or can just be random hiding-home-looking things, such as ceramic flower pots or cardboard boxes. The hide boxes should be big enough for your snake to curl up in, but not much bigger. They need to be able to feel cozy and secure. Have one hide box on the warmer side of the enclosure and one on the cooler side.
Here, you can find an article we recently wrote that lists the best hiding houses for ball pythons. Snakes cannot regulate their own body temperature, so they do that externally by moving between hot and cool places. Have a basking place that is between 88 and 96 degrees and a cooler spot between 78 to 80 degrees. Never let the ambient temperature dip below 75 degrees. You can get basking bulbs or heating pads or tape.
Monitor the temperature with a thermometer and a probe. Also be particularly sure to pay attention to the humidity levels in these enclosures. Snakes need humidity. Read this article we recently wrote that talks all about ball python humidity and how to make sure you have it set just right for your ball python. There are no additional lighting requirements for ball pythons.
However, continuous artificial light stresses them out, especially because they are a nocturnal species. If they have plenty of natural lighting, they will stay on a natural sleeping, eating, and shedding pattern.
Because ball pythons live in humid places, they like their cage to be a little more humid than your house is. The water bowl should be big enough that your snake can soak its entire body in, and not slosh water over the sides.
Always make sure the water is fresh and clean. If you need the enclosure to be more humid, provide a bigger dish, and if you need it to be less humid, provide a smaller dish.
Keep your cage as clean as possible. Spot clean every day, clearing up feces and other debris. Every month, do a deep clean, where you remove everything and clean it, letting it dry completely before replacing it.
Feed your ball python about once every week. It is helpful to move your snake to a different box when feeding it, as they begin to only associate feeding with that specific place. This reduces the risk of getting bitten, as well as the risk of them accidentally ingesting any substrate. Never hand-feed them, or they might start to associate your hand with food, and could try and take a bite out of you.
Also, make sure to completely thaw out the mice you are feeding your ball pythons, as they will often reject still-cold mice. Ball pythons occasionally put themselves through fasts. They will just randomly refuse food , sometimes for up to a month. Continue to offer food once a week, and eventually your snake will start eating again. If this continues for longer than a month, or your snake starts showing some ribs, take them to a vet.
To find out more about how to correctly feed a ball python, read this article we wrote here. Most people go their whole lives without being bitten by a snake, and many snake owners as well. You have to work hard to get a ball pythons to bite you, and I would have to advise you with all common sense not to do that. The bite of a ball pythons hurts about as much as a kitten scratch. They bite with about a dozen small teeth and will let go right after. Stay calm and replace your snake if you are holding it.
I know all the little signs in public bathrooms tell you that all the bacteria are killed by the time you finish the song, but I think snake bites warrant an exception. Wash with soap and water for a long time. Put a band-aid on it and monitor it. There can be some issues with the Super forms of the Black Pastel and Cinnamon morphs. But for the most part, Pastels are as healthy as any normal ball python and just as easy to keep.
When Greg Graziani bred his first Pastel, he expected to wait several years before finding out whether or not the mutation was heritable. At the time all known ball morphs were recessive. A Piebald or Albino ball requires two pairs of the gene which transmits the trait. The Pastel morphs are co-dominant. One copy of the gene will produce the visible mutation. When a Pastel ball mates with a non-Pastel, half the offspring will be Pastels.
The other will be normal appearing balls who do not carry any copies of the Pastel gene. When a Pastel is mated with another Pastel, one-quarter of the offspring will inherit the normal gene from both parents. Half will be Pastels. And one-quarter will be Super Pastels. A Super Pastel is more brightly yellow than a Pastel, with high blushing and high contrast in its patterns.
Super Pastels are highly prized by breeders. The different Pastel lines are all beautiful alone or in combination with other morphs.
But when breeding Black or Cinnamon Pastels together, you may run into unexpected complications. The Super Black Pastel tends more toward black, while the Super Cinnamon is dark rust that fades to white near the belly.
These Supers are impressive snakes. Fluctuations in incubator temperatures can cause kinking and duckbill, and occasionally normal ball pythons are born with overly large, overly small or even missing eyes. But these defects are rare in balls which are properly incubated and whose parents do not show these defects. This region of Africa is covered with grasslands, wooded forests and savannas.
They are a nocturnal snake and so will spend most of their days hiding in found burrows or stump holes underground. At night they emerge to actively hunt for rodents or birds. Their basic habits make them capable of seamlessly adapting to captivity. Pastel ball python morphs are bred from codominant wild genes.
They are a basic morph used in a variety of selective breeding programs. This is due to their codominant genetic trait interaction. Normal ball pythons have rich dark brown blotches over a black base color. Some also have some spinal spots, but their pattern is concentrated along the sides. They also have dark heads and eyes.
Pastel Ball Pythons have an identical pattern to the normal species but a much more noticeable color contrast. They have more blushing and fading towards their white bellies and also have vibrant orange-yellow blotches instead of brown. Some even have pale green eyes and a white lip! Males tend to reach two to three feet in length. Females are larger in size and normally range from three to five feet. Males are full grown after three years.
Males tend to have longer tails than females but both sexes have stout bodies with short stubby tails. Hatchlings are born 10 to 17 inches long regardless of their sex. Pastel Ball Pythons are carnivorous snakes. During the night they leave their burrows in search of birds and rodents.
Research shows that:. In captivity their prey should be as wide as the thickest part of their body. It is possible they can eat larger prey but you should not put too much strain on their body. Some Pastel Ball Pythons may favor mice over rats so you should offer both during their juvenile phase to avoid picky eaters.
To provide mental enrichment try to wiggle the feeding tongs after your snake strikes. This will stimulate their natural constricting behaviors. However, be careful feeding chicks to Pastel Ball Pythons as they are known to be picky eaters and may reject rats in favor of low-calcium chicks.
With correct husbandry and a good environment these snakes can live for over 30 years in captivity. Snakes are capable of hiding sickness until it is severe.
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