Ball Pythons are one of the best snakes for reptile keepers.
Their shy, docile nature makes them one of the most popular pets around.
Albino ball pythons combine all these loveable, docile qualities with a unique color. They are a natural morph known for their stunning white and yellow appearance and pink eyes.
If you are considering this albino snake, then keep reading to find out how to keep them happy and healthy. We also share their colors, breeding, behaviors and important differences from other morphs.
| Albino Ball Python Information | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Albino Ball Python |
| Scientific Name | Python regius |
| Family | Pythonidae |
| Range | Sub-saharan parts of Central and South Africa |
| Size | 3 to 5 feet |
| Color | White body with yellow spotting and red or pink eyes |
| Lifespan | 20 to 30 years |
| Husbandry | Easy |
| Diet | Rats or mice |
| Tank Size | 55-gallon |
| Temperature | 76 to 92°F |
| Humidity | 60 to 70% |
| Price | $300 to $500 |
Article Contents
Albino Ball Pythons
Ball Pythons (Python regius) are native to the open forests and grasslands of West Africa. While they were first discovered in 1802, they didn’t make their way into the pet trade until the 1980s. One of the first pet species was actually the albino Ball Python.
Albino Ball Pythons are a common morph that do not have the color of the normal “wild-type”.
Instead of the common brown and black color, they have a white and yellow body with pink eyes.
The first albino morph was bred by Bob Clark and had a white background color with orange, gold or yellow patterns.
Albinism is actually a naturally occurring color variation that can be seen in many species. It results from a gene mutation that greatly reduces the presence of melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for color in the skin and eyes.
Luckily, gene mutation in albinos has no effect on their personality.
These docile snakes still make the perfect snake for beginner keepers.
Albino Ball Pythons are beloved by keepers because of their unique colors. They frequently live long, happy lives as pets. The albino gene has even been combined with other traits to create designer ball python morphs like the Albino Bumblebee morph.
Natural albino Ball Pythons aren’t able to survive well in the wild because of their bright white color. Ball Pythons rely on their body colors to camouflage themselves into the forests and grasslands.
Appearance
The typical appearance for an Albino Ball Python is creamy white with yellow blotches and markings covering their entire body. As hatchlings these yellow markings can be bright gold or orange and usually fade into a bright yellow as adults.
This color is accompanied by red or pink eyes and a pink tongue, which is a trademark of albinos.
Pure white Ball Pythons are actually not albino!
If you want a fully white snake you will likely be looking for a Leucistic snake. Leucistic ball pythons are plain white and can have either black or blue eyes; because of this pigment they are not actually albino.
Albinos can be combined with a variety of other morphs to create designer snakes.
Colors
Lavender Albino: A unique morph that has the striking yellow pattern, but replaces the white base color with a light lavender purple. This snake is very beautiful and usually has a deep red eye color instead of pink.
Albino Pied: Combines the albino and piebald genes. These are two recessive genes that once combined create a morph that has large patches of white and yellow. It almost looks like they have been splashed with yellow paint.
Albino Banana: These morphs combine albino and banana traits. Overall this snake has a yellow that is slightly more faded than a traditional albino with a more cream-colored base.
Het Albino: Het Albinos look exactly like a wild type. Het in this case means the snake has one normal allele and one albino. Heterozygous snakes look exactly like a normal Ball Python, but are a carrier of the albino gene and can produce albino offspring.
Albino Bumblebees: These morphs are a combination of three different genes. In this case, the albino, pastel and spider genes are combined. This creates a beautiful yellow snake with pastel colors in a spider pattern. This morph is primarily yellow with lines of white in the classic spider pattern.
Enchi Albino: These snakes are bred by combining the Enchi and Albino genes. The Enchi gene is known to increase orange shades and brighten other colors. When combined with an albino gene the yellows seem to become a pinkish peach, or even a vibrant dark yellow.
Size
Albino Ball Pythons follow the same growth rate seen in all Ball Pythons. Generally, they will reach between 3 and 5 feet long when fully grown and can weigh between 2 and 6 lbs. Their size will vary depending on their gender with females usually being much larger than males. Females also have longer and thinner tails compared to males.
Are They Good Pets?
Ball Pythons are considered one of the best snake species for beginners. They have simple care needs and are known for their shy, docile personality. The albino is no different, they are simply a different color variation.
Not only are they perfect for beginners, they are also beautiful. Their unique color is definitely a step up from a wild type. These snakes are also easy to find at any reptile expo or online breeder.
If you are looking for a gentle snake that is easy to handle, friendly and curious, an albino may be right for you. While there are many pros, there are a few things to consider before buying an albino Ball Python.
These snakes are more expensive than the wild type morph, so you can expect to spend $400 more to buy one. They also have very sensitive skin and eyes and will need some modifications made to their standard care to avoid health issues.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Friendly, easily handled and perfect for beginners. | Bad eyesight and prone to certain eye and skin issues. |
| Beautiful yellow and white colors. | Sensitive eyes and skin that will need some advanced husbandry. |
| Easily found and purchased from a variety of reputable breeders. | More expensive than normal Ball Pythons. |
How Are They Different?
Albino Ball Pythons are different from wild types in a few ways.
The first way they are different is their lack of melanin which results in some striking color differences.
Normal Ball Pythons typically have a dark or medium brown body color with dark brown or black blotches running down the sides of their bodies. Albinos are completely different. Instead, they have a white background body color and yellowish gold blotches covering their bodies.
Not only do they have unique body colors, but their eyes are usually pink or red because they lack melanin.
These physical differences will result in husbandry differences as well.
The lack of pigment means that their skin and eyes are much more sensitive. You will need to change some aspects of your husbandry and care.
Albino Ball Python Care
Care for an albino Ball Python is relatively simple and similar to that of a normal Ball Python. In fact, many aspects of their care will be identical. Simple husbandry is another reason they are the perfect snake for beginners.
The main care difference is how you set up the enclosure in terms of lighting and humidity.
Albino Ball Python’s skin and eyes are very sensitive and can’t be exposed to UV light. Luckily, these changes aren’t major and taking care of an albino is still pretty straightforward.
Enclosure Size
The tank size for your albino morph should be identical to that of a normal wild type. This is one aspect of their care that will not change.
Generally, juveniles should be housed in 30-gallon glass tanks with a mesh lid and adults can be housed in 55-gallon glass tanks with mesh lids.
Some keepers prefer plastic tubs (of the same size as a tank) with ventilation holes because plastic maintains humidity much better than glass. While tubs provide great humidity, they make it impossible to provide a basking spot because of the plastic material the tub is made of.
Regardless of which enclosure type you choose, pick one that is long enough that your snake can completely stretch out and have space to explore.
Make sure to provide your albino Ball Python with plenty of hiding spots and décor. This will help them feel safe within their enclosure. Fake plants, logs and multiple hides can help clutter up their enclosure.
Lighting
You are going to want to place a heat mat under one side of the enclosure. This will provide the “warm” end of the temperature gradient. Temperatures on this side should be between 88 and 92°F, but should not get warmer than 95°F.
The “cool” end of the tank should stay between 76-80°F and not dip below 75°F.
You can also provide a basking spot on the warm side of the enclosure by using a ceramic heat emitter.
Do not use any UV bulbs when setting up their tank. UV light is harmful for albino snakes and if you want to provide a basking spot, only use ceramic heat emitters.
Humidity
Albino Ball Python humidity should be slightly higher than that of a normal morph. Because they are known to have sensitive skin, higher humidity can help them avoid skin issues and trouble shedding.
For an albino you will want the humidity around 65-70%.
70% humidity can be maintained by misting their enclosure regularly, providing a large water bowl on top of their under-tank heater, and providing a humid hide. High humidity substrates like cypress mulch can also be used.
Health Issues
Albino Ball Pythons are prone to more health issues because of their lack of skin pigment. Two common conditions you may see with these snakes are photodermatitis and photokeratitis. These are scientific names for what boils down to sunburn.
You may see your snake with a rash, inflamed skin or something that looks like a sunburn if they are exposed to improper lighting.
When exposed to UV light these snakes can easily become sunburned on their skin (photodermatitis) and even their eyes (photokeratitis). These burns can be quite harmful and should be avoided by using a heat source that is not ultraviolet.
Albinos are also prone to skin issues like scale rot and should be kept at a slightly higher humidity. If your account for these tank setup and humidity changes then this is a healthy snake that will live a long life.
Diet
Their diet will be the same as the diet of any other Ball Python. Generally, mice or rats are used to feed Ball Pythons, but rats are often used as they are cheaper and more nutritious.
Rodents are a complete meal for them and they require no extra supplements.
You can feed frozen thawed rodents or pre-killed, but live prey is never recommended as it can cause harm to your snake. The size of the rodent you choose will depend on your snake’s age and size. A good rule of thumb is that the rodent should be the same size as the thickest part of your snake.
Generally a hatchling will eat smaller rats more frequently than an adult. While an Adult may eat 1 medium rat once a month, a younger snake may need 1 rat pup 2x per week.
Ball Pythons are a non-venomous snake that relies on constriction to kill their prey. They will usually hide and wait for their prey to pass by and with a quick strike, they curl around their prey. Once captured, they use their powerful muscles to crush and then eat their prey.
Temperament
In the wild ball pythons are a secluded shy snake. They rely heavily on camouflage to hide from predators. When threatened they will curl into a ball, hide their head and hope that they remain unseen. Unfortunately, you don’t see many albino Ball Pythons in the wild because they rarely survive due to their bright colors.
As pets these snakes keep much of their shy behavior. They will spend most of their time hiding in their enclosure, though they may explore it if they feel comfortable. They are not aggressive and rarely hiss or strike.
This docile behavior is one of the many reasons they are considered a perfect beginner snake species.
A happy snake will explore their enclosure, hide in the various décor and clutter and eat regularly. If your pet is spending most of its time curled into a tight ball, seems disoriented, or has trouble shedding, this could be a sign that something is wrong.
Are Albino Ball Pythons Rare?
Albino Ball Pythons are rare in the wild because they are at a disadvantage in terms of survival. White and yellow colors tend to stick out and are easily seen by predators. They usually don’t survive for long in the wild and aren’t able to pass on their genes.
These factors make the albino mutation extremely unlikely to be seen in the wild.
However, thankfully they are not rare in captivity. The popularity of this morph has made them easy to find at almost every reptile expo.
Breeding an albino Ball Python is also relatively simple. It is a recessive gene so you need two copies of the albino allele to have an albino python. They can be bred in multiple different ways, but generally you will need a normal wild type that is a carrier of the albino gene.
Carriers look like a wild type and are brown and black, but they carry one albino allele. They are called het albinos. It is impossible to tell if a wild type is a carrier without knowing their genetics as they look identical to non-carriers.
If you breed two het albinos together, 25% of their offspring would be albino. If you breed a het albino to an albino, 50% of the offspring would be albino.
Albino Ball Python Price
Luckily albino Ball Pythons are available at most reptile expos and from many private breeders. The albino morph is very common and you will likely find a variation of it from any breeder. They can cost between $300-$500, though some of the designer morphs can reach much higher prices.
While the price tag for this morph is higher than a wild-type, their beautiful cream-colored body and yellow patterning more than makes up for it. However, you need to pay attention when buying albino snakes because of their sensitive skin and eyes.
The best place to find an albino Ball Python for sale is from a reputable breeder.
A good breeder should be able to tell you all about your morph. For example, they should know about its genetics, sex, health concerns and diet. Some breeders even have references from previous clients that confirm the health and reliability of the snakes they sell.
When picking out a snake, you should always look for healthy looking individuals that are bright and alert.
One thing to always keep in mind when buying a snake is to look for captive bred individuals.
For albino Ball Pythons, since they are a natural morph that can be found in the wild, you should always ensure that you are buying a captive bred individual. Snakes that are wild caught can carry diseases and parasites into your home that will likely negatively impact your snake.
Conclusion
Albino ball pythons were one of the first pet Ball Pythons.
They are a common morph that do not have the color of the normal “wild-type” individuals. Instead of the famous brown and black blotches, these morphs have a cream-colored body with yellowish gold patterns.
Pink eyes and a pink tongue are a trademark of albinos.
Albino Ball Pythons are beloved by keepers because of their unique colors. Their lack of pigment makes them one of the coolest morphs on the market. They are perfect for beginners who are looking for something a bit more unique than a standard wild type.
Their husbandry is very similar to any other Ball Python, but they will need slightly higher humidity levels and must not be exposed to UV light. When exposed to UV light these snakes can easily become sunburned.
Albino ball pythons are easy to find, simple to keep and very docile. With the proper husbandry, you should have no issues keeping one healthy.
Leave us a comment and let us know what you think about this albino python.
