Pastel Ball Python

Looks how to spot one

scales

The Pastel morph is a colour and pattern enhancer. It has vivid yellow pigmentation, high contrast 'alien head' markings that often look hooked or ringed, a clean white or yellow belly, and green or pale eyes. The head is faded at birth and may darken slightly with age. The homozygous 'Super Pastel' form has an even more reduced pattern and extensive blushing with a purple haze.256

Personality what they are like

Pastel Ball Pythons are very docile and gentle. When frightened they curl into a tight ball rather than bite, which makes them easy and safe to handle. They become relaxed with their owner and tolerate gentle handling well.134

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Nocturnal or crepuscular. They need a secure hiding place and a thermal gradient (75-95°F / 24-35°C) to regulate their body temperature. They are not active pets but benefit from gentle handling a few times a week.17

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep the enclosure clean, provide fresh water daily, and maintain humidity between 50 and 60%. Shedding may require slightly higher humidity. No special grooming is needed beyond regular spot cleaning.14

Home where they are happiest

A 40-gallon (151 litre) tank is suitable for an adult, with a secure lid. Juveniles can start in a 10-20 gallon tank. Provide a warm basking spot (88-92°F / 31-33°C) and a cooler side (75-80°F / 24-27°C). Use a substrate that holds humidity, such as cypress mulch or coconut husk. Include at least one hide on each end. This species is not venomous and is legal to keep in most countries, but check local laws as some regions restrict python ownership.147

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Carnivorous. Feed appropriately sized frozen-thawed rodents. Hatchlings eat a fuzzy mouse or rat pup every 5 days; juveniles eat a small rat every 7 days; adults eat one rat every 10 days. Avoid live prey to prevent injury to the snake.14

Company who they like around

Solitary by nature. They do not need company and should be housed alone. They are not venomous and are generally legal to keep as pets, but some countries or states may require permits for pythons. Always check local regulations before acquiring one.71

The story where it all began

The Pastel Ball Python is a colour morph of the ball python (Python regius). It was first produced in 1997 by Greg Graziani and Kevin McCurley of New England Reptile Distributors (NERD). Graziani obtained a bright yellow male from a Miami reptile importer in 1994, and later discovered McCurley had a similar female. Both believed the colour was genetic. In 1997, Graziani bred his male to a normal female and was surprised when all seven hatchlings looked like the father, proving the trait was dominant. McCurley called his snakes 'Pastel Jungles', and the name was later shortened to Pastel. The morph intensifies yellow pigmentation, adds high contrast markings, and gives green or pale eyes. It is an incomplete dominant (co-dominant) mutation, meaning a single copy produces the Pastel look, while two copies create a Super Pastel with even more extreme colour. The Pastel has been a staple in ball python breeding since the early 2000s.1256

Recognised by the official bits

MorphMarket Morphpedia

Listed as a basic morph of the ball python.2

World of Ball Pythons

Categorised as an incomplete dominant (co-dominant) basic morph.5

Popularity Very high. The Pastel is one of the most popular and widely kept ball python morphs.61