Basic Appearance
The color markings of adult ball pythons range from medium to dark chocolate brown, and juveniles range from yellow or yellow-brown to chocolate brown. The most commonly observed ball python pattern shows 15 to 25 large, pale, rounded blotches along each side of the neck and body. Dark interspaces separate the blotches and connect to the darker dorsal area. The posterior body and tail are the darker color, with a pale vertebral stripe that halts just short of the tip. The ventral surface is off-white or pale grey with some grey flecks. The pattern is disruptive in that the observable profile of the snake is interrupted by the contrasting pattern arrangement, and considerable variation exists between individuals.
Morphs
Each year, breeders create incredible, innovative, never-before-seen pattern and color variations that continually generate new fans of the ball python. Selective breeding has produced some spectacular specimens that only resemble the wild or common ball python in body shape. These "morphs" can attain prices in the tens of thousands of dollars, with some costing more than $100,000.
There are nearly 200 different morph traits and counting. Plus there infinite possibilities when you combine the different traits to create truly spectacular morphs. For example, you can have an albino pied ball. There are thousands of breeders in the United States alone.
Popular Morphs
- Albino
- Axanthic
- Banana
- Champagne
- Clown
- Lavender
- Lesser
- Normal
- Piebald
- Spider
- Super Fire
- Yellow belly