What makes a pastel ball python

Create a homemade humidity chamber if the skin gets stuck, and do not try soaking because this could drown the snake. The pastel morph has become one of the most common of all ball python morphs, thanks to its striking appearance.

The pastel ball python is one of the most popular and common morphs. It has a brighter appearance than the standard python but is still considered a good snake for beginners because it has low to moderate care requirements, with its propensity to selective eating being its biggest drawback.

Oliver Ollie Jones — A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve who declined to be pictured. Oliver Ollie Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve who declined to be pictured. Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.

Skip to content. Oct 13 Several variants of the pastel ball python exist:. The black pastel pythons have dark-colored backgrounds. View this post on Instagram. Usually quite docile Inexpensive to buy Unique appearance. Can be picky eaters Nocturnal in nature. Oliver Jones. Care Guide Summary Conclusion Related. Related Posts. What You Need To Know! Terms of use Affiliate Disclaimer Credits Menu. Facebook Instagram Twitter. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance.

When it comes to Ball Python Morphs, this one has been around for a while. This basically means that if you were to breed a Pastel morph with a different morph, you will get some new genetic morph that is a mix between the two. Specifically, breeders can use Pastel Ball Python Morphs to add more brightness typically yellow a different morph.

As mentioned, this price can get steep very fast. There are many places you can find Pastels for sale. For the most part, you should be able to find them at your local pet store. Also, most breeders have Pastel morphs in stock because they are popular and are great for trying to create new, bright colored morphs.

Lastly, you can buy them online. This creates a sort of image in the negative space left by the waves. Ball pythons can track their prey through the dark by following the changes in temperature that occur when the mouse moves from location to location. Ball pythons have an odd way of moving. Most snakes wiggle from side to side as they move forward, kind of like an army crawl without any limbs. They stiffen their ribs, then lift sections of their belly and push themselves forward.

Kind of like an inchworm. Kind of. Actually, just ignore the inchworm analogy. Ball pythons got their name from the way that they ball up when they are frightened.

They just ball up and hiss, trying to look bigger and sound more threatening. It works. In fact, they are widely known as the least likely snakes to bite you. If they do strike, they often strike first with a closed mouth. If you keep on annoying them or maybe if they are particularly hungry and mistake you for the typical thawed pre-killed mouse they are accustomed to eating they then may bite using their tiny little angled-in teeth.

Here, you can find an article we wrote about what exactly happens when a ball python bites, what to do, and how to avoid it.

Ball pythons are extremely mild and docile. You can, and should, handle them almost every day, minus feeding days. After feedings, give your ball python a couple of days to digest and become comfortable again. They tend to be skittish if you try to handle them right after they ate a large meal.

Even if your ball python is a little temperamental at first, they tame really easily. They are curious and will like to move around when you hold them, so just handle them hand over hand, avoiding their head. If they wrap themselves around you, just unwind them starting at their tail, as that is weaker than their head. If this happens, you should probably set your snake down and give it some space. Like most snakes, ball pythons eat mostly rodents.

They are big enough snakes that they can handle small rats, but the most common thing to feed them in captivity is mice. Feed them one pre-killed, thawed mouse every week. Live prey can injure your snakes, so it is safer to give them one that is already dead. You can buy pre-killed mice in bulk and then freeze them, thawing them out one by one when feeding time comes. Can you feed your ball python dead mice from the wild?

Here, you can find an article we recently wrote that answers that commonly asked question. Ball pythons in the wild also eat lizards and small birds. Really big pythons, like the rock python, will eat mammals as big as monkeys, pigs, and antelope.

One python was even reportedly found with an entire leopard in their stomach. Pastel pythons, however, are pretty small and just eat small rodents, birds, and lizards. Ball pythons are ambush predators, meaning they lie in wait for prey to just walk by, then they strike. Their success basically lies in how good the spot was that they chose to wait in.

They set up camp in the undergrowth, near the base of trees or around known rodents trails. Often they choose to hang out near the dens of rodents or small mammals. You are quite obviously not a snack, and they will not appreciate being disturbed in their quest for food. Once they find food, ball pythons latch onto their prey with their teeth, throw their coils around them, and begin constricting them.

Ball pythons fall into the category of snakes labeled as constrictors. This just means that they squeeze their prey to kill it.

When constrictors constrict their prey, they just cut off all the blood supply to essential organs. The rodent actually dies from what is called ischemia. If enough tissue or important tissue, like the brain or heart, are oxygen deprived for long enough, then they shut down, which leads to the entire body shutting down. 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. Careful observation of their behavior, fecal habits and body condition is the best way to catch a problem early.

Many of the health issues below are related to poor husbandry. If you maintain consistent, species-appropriate care, you will minimize the chance of your snake becoming sick. Common captive snake diseases include mouth or scale rot, cancer and prolapse. Anorexia is common with this species as they are easily stressed by environmental changes and may not feed for months at a time.

This snake requires moderate to high humidity and will have poor sheds if humidity is inconsistent. Low humidity can also cause respiratory illnesses. As constrictors Pastels are highly likely to drag their prey across substrate and suffer from impaction.

To avoid this feed dry rodents in an empty tub. Pastel Ball Pythons are sedentary and avoid exercise for most of the day. Body condition and weight should be carefully monitored to ensure they do not become obese.

They spend most of their days hiding in burrows to avoid the heat. Like all Ball Pythons this species is notoriously shy. Because of this their enclosure should have lots of fake foliage, sticks, and rocks to provide coverage. Pastel Ball Pythons are happy to be housed in any type of enclosure. Ventilated PVC and plastic enclosures are best as they retain humidity better and provide more security for your snake. The clear sides of glass tanks can stress your snake.

A basking lamp is required during the day for roughly 12 hours to simulate a day-night routine. It should be placed over a rock or large branch. This will reduce the chance of your pet becoming ill or stressed. Avoid using heat pads as they do not penetrate substrate well and can cause injury.

Cypress mulch, coconut fiber, or fertilizer-free topsoil are the best substrate options as they are cheap, safe and maintain humidity well. Dry or dusty substrates e. Pythons will soak themselves and drink directly from the bowl. You should change their water at least every two days as they frequently soak and dirty their water. Unfortunately bacteria and mold thrive in these conditions too. Pastel Ball Pythons are nocturnal so hide during the day in rodent burrows or stump holes.