Over 7,300 different ball python morphs exist today.
A ball python morph is a gene or combination of genes that alter a ball python’s colors and/or patterns.
One morph that is vital to discovering new ball python morphs is a normal ball python. After all, some ball python morphs are verified as a morph by breeding them with a normal ball python.
The first ball python I had was a Normal ball python and she was the start of my reptile obsession. This was long before I knew anything about ball python morphs and how incredibly unique each one is.
As ball pythons grow, their colors change by either fading or darkening. My first Normal ball python, Katana, kept her brightness as she grew.
Normal ball pythons are a common morph that we often come across so their reputation is that they’re boring.
After reading this post you will have a better understanding of the Normal ball python morph and hopefully have a better appreciation for them.
Here are the most RARE ball python morphs of 2021
What is a normal ball python morph?
A normal ball python a ball python without any genetics or mutations that would modify its color or pattern.
Normal ball pythons are also called “wild-type” or even “classic” according to World of Ball Pythons. These ball pythons are the most common amongst wild ball pythons.
Their colors and patterns make it so that they have a high likelihood of surviving in the wild as opposed to a banana ball python for example which wouldn’t camouflage as well.
There are plenty of other ball python morphs that may look like a normal ball python, but they have genes that alter their patterns and colors even in the slightest.
How do I know if my ball python is normal?
You can identify if your ball python is a Normal morph by its colors, patterns, and head stamp. They are usually brown, black, tan, and white. Their pattern consists of bulbs, keyholes, and alien heads.
It’s important to know how to identify a normal ball python especially if you are interested in other ball python morphs.
Identifying normal ball pythons has helped me as a ball python breeder so that I can properly adjust pricing and create breeding plans.
Normal ball python colors
- Black
- Brown
- Tan
- Gold
- White
Normal ball pythons are the basis of what ball pythons look like in the wild, which is why they’re sometimes referred to as “Wild type”. As babies, their colors are black, brown, and white with some tan or gold mixed in.
The shades of black and brown can vary in lightness or darkness, but they are relatively very similar amongst all Normal ball pythons.
Some heterozygous genes that a Normal ball python may have will alter the colors by making it slightly different than a normal ball python’s color without that heterozygous gene.
An interesting color feature a Normal ball python has is a light outline around their brown colors.
Their eye color is almost always black and their eyes don’t reflect light. This may have something to do with the fact that in the wild they need to see in low light at times when they’re hunting for prey.
Normal Ball Python Pattern
Normal ball pythons also have a specific patterns on them. Sometimes these patterns change from a genetic mutation, but most are the same.
Normal ball pythons have bulbous brown patterns on both sides of them with either 2 black circles in them, 1 black circle, or no circle at all.
Most of these bulbous brown patterns will have 2 black dots which we call alien heads. Alien heads are a common pattern in Normal ball pythons along with keyholes.
Keyholes are the bulbous patterns with one black circle in them.
Different genes present in a ball python will usually alter these bulbous patterns by enlarging it like you see in an Enchi ball python or even eliminating the patterns as you’ll see in a Genetic Stripe ball python.
Normal ball pythons commonly have light brown/yellow dorsal patterns, usually broken up, going down their spine. Some normal ball pythons won’t have this at all so it seems to depend on the genetic lineage.
This dorsal pattern sometimes connects to the alien heads or keyholes on the sides of the snake, but it’s usually distinguishable on at least parts of the snake.
CLICK HERE for 32 words used to describe ball python patterns
Normal ball python head pattern
A normal ball python’s head is distinguishable by its classic colors and pattern. They will always have a light brown eyestripe going from the back of their head, through their eye, to the tip of their nose.
The top of a normal ball python’s head is always a darker brown color.
Other ball python morphs will have a lighter color on their head or even different eyestripe colors.
Normal ball python belly pattern
For some time we’ve believed that normal ball pythons will have clear bellies, meaning they won’t have any spots or patterns on them.
We’ve realized that this isn’t always the case although most normal ball pythons do have clear bellies. In some cases, you can identify a ball python with certain belly marks as a certain morph, but belly markings themselves don’t indicate any particular morph.
So, normals can have both clear bellies and bellies with marks although most have clear bellies.
Normal ball python names(morphs that look like normal)
Another name for Normal ball pythons is Classic ball pythons or Basic ball pythons. They all relate to the same ball python morph: Normal.
Sometimes you’ll see ball pythons labeled as Normal het ______(Morph). These normal ball pythons are still the Normal morph, but they are heterozygous for a gene.
A ball python that is heterozygous for a gene means they have 2 different alleles for a particular gene.
A normal ball python that is het for a gene means it carries that allele, but it will not make any visual changes to the normal ball python.
For example, a normal ball python het piebald carries a piebald allele. The normal ball python will pass on the het gene to 50% of its offspring. In order to get a visual Piebald, you would need to pair the normal ball python with another ball python who has the Piebald gene.
For a quick explanation on ball python morphs click here
How much is a normal ball python?
Normal ball pythons cost between $50-$100+
Normal ball pythons vary in price depending on their sex, age, and weight.
Most normal ball pythons you’ll find are around $100 for a female and $50 for a male.
The price increases when they are heterozygous for another gene depending on the demand for that morph.
The price also increases when you purchase them online rather than your local pet store if you include shipping costs.
What can you breed with a normal ball python?
You can breed Normal ball pythons to any other ball python morph with no known issues or fatalities.
Pairing any ball python morph with a Normal ball python will produce 50% Normal ball pythons.
For example, let’s say you breed a Normal ball python to a Yellowbelly ball python and they produce 6 healthy eggs. Statistically, 3 ball pythons will come out Normal and the other 3 will be Yellowbelly.
Since Normal ball pythons spit out Normal ball pythons 50% of the time, they don’t really have much value in the ball python breeder community.
Another reason why you might want to breed your ball python to a Normal is to prove out a gene.
Normal ball python behavior
Ball python’s daily routine consists mostly of sleeping. Ball pythons sleep 20-22 hours a day. The time they spend awake consists of eating, drinking water, and regulating their temperature.
They are one of the most docile snakes which makes them great as pets, especially for kids. Their first form of defense isn’t to bite, but to curl into a ball protecting their head.
Ball pythons aren’t arboreal, but they have a tendency to climb when given the chance. They are the type of snake that will wrap around your arm for support so they are great to hold.
Diet
Ball pythons eat rodents and small birds in the wild. Their rodent of choice is African soft fur rats which are native to their country of origin.
In captivity, ball pythons are fed mice and rats. These can be fed to your ball python live or frozen/thawed.
How to feed frozen/thawed rats
Temperature
Your ball python should be in an enclosure with an ambient temperature of 75˚F with a hot spot of 85˚F-90˚F.
Heat lamp or a heat mats are perfect for creating your ball pythons hot spot. depending on your preference.
Best Heat Mats on the Market
Ball pythons don’t require any UVA or UVB rays to survive although natural lighting works best to provide day and night routines.
Conclusion
Even though it’s a common morph, Normal ball pythons come in all shades and pattern types. Some Normals are lighter than others and some have patterns that make you question if they are even a Normal ball python morph.
Their variety makes them one of the underrated ball python Morphs that we know.
The fact is, ball python morphology wouldn’t be where it is today without normal ball pythons. The problem most people have with normal ball pythons is distinguishing them from other morphs.
There are some morphs that look very similar to them with a few minor details in their patterns and colors.
