What Morphs Make A Banana Ball Python? Answered

Popular Ball Python morphs include the Banana Python Morph, which was first discovered in 2003. This mutation co-dominates. Similar to a dominant mutation, this one results in a Super Banana Ball Python if the mutation is present in two alleles. Next, we’ll go into greater detail about What Morphs Make A Banana Ball Python?

This morph is inexpensive because it is quickly produced and widely available. The price of a regular banana might range from $250 to $600, while super bananas can cost up to $600.

What Morphs Make A Banana Ball Python?

Combining a banana with a typical ball python is the simplest way to create a banana ball python. 50% of the progeny will be Regular Ball Pythons, and 50% will be Banana Ball Pythons. No Super Banana will result from this combination.

What Is A Banana Ball Python?

One variety of ball python morph is the banana ball python. This indicates that the snake in question has a genetic mutation that has altered its appearance from that of a typical or wild-type animal. Banana genes can be bred for and passed down across generations.

The first instance of these snakes was discovered in the wild as a remarkably uncommon spontaneous genetic mutation. In the early 2000s, the first two wild-caught bananas were found. The morph was given two separate names by two different breeders: “banana” and “coral glow.”

At first, it was thought that coral glow and banana were two distinct morphs. But it came out that they were identical. Breeders continue to utilize both phrases. Although they come from a separate lineage, coral glow ball pythons have a banana-like appearance.

Banana ball pythons get their name from the color yellow. The snake becomes significantly lighter as the native black, and dark brown coloring is mainly lost. Moreover, they have brown dots that resemble the spots on ripe bananas.

What Do Banana Ball Pythons Look Like?

The banana gene influences the scale color of a ball python. Instead of the snake’s background is black, which it would ordinarily be, it is a lovely, delicate pinkish-grey. Some people compare it to lavender.

Instead of brown, the irregular dorsal patches are bright yellow with orange undertones. The banana ball python almost appears glowing due to its vibrant yellow and orange flushing. The reason the alternative name is “coral glow” is apparent.

Moreover, most have some black freckles. As age, this becomes more obvious: juveniles typically have none at all. The eyes of a banana ball python are often paler than average. They can be brown or grey, and in the correct lighting, they occasionally glow scarlet.

Size or physical form is unaffected by the banana gene. Banana ball python females, like normal ball python females, are more significant than males. Males typically stay between 2 and 3 feet long, but females can grow up to 5 feet long.

Do Banana Ball Pythons Change Color?

As they age, banana ball pythons undergo a noticeable color change. Throughout time, the different pigments in the scales might change the darker or brighter tone. Depending on the snake, this shift may be minor or more significant. A banana ball python ages and undergoes the following changes:

• The pattern’s pinkish-lavender portions gradually turn tan or grey.
• Most of the orange coloring turns yellow over time.
• The pigmentation changes from bright yellow to a milder, softer yellow tint.
• Tiny black patches on the snake’s body, sometimes known as “freckles,” may appear in haphazard patterns.

A hatchling banana ball python can have a drastically different appearance from an adult due to all these changes. Hence, when buying a baby snake, be aware that its appearance will change as it matures. Thankfully, both children and adults are attractive in their unique ways.

Why Do Banana Ball Pythons Have Spots?

The age-related appearance of tiny black freckles is one of the banana morph’s most intriguing characteristics. This must have been noted by whoever gave the first banana ball python its name. The snake is almost “ripening,” like a real banana.

Each banana ball python’s amount and distribution of spots will vary. The banana morph is produced only by the banana gene. It is impossible to forecast how many spots a banana ball python will have when it matures.

However, the spots can be lessened or eliminated by introducing a different gene (to create a designer banana ball python). For instance, smaller bananas like banana mojaves have little to no freckling. Super banana snakes, which have two banana genes, also intriguingly lack markings.

How Does The Ball Python Banana Gene Work?

Herpetologists have been baffled by the banana ball python gene for decades. This is due to the ZW and ZZ sex chromosomes in most snake species. Females are heterogametic, while males are homogametic (ZZ) (ZW). Instead of the father’s sperm, the mother’s egg determines the gender of the child.

According to Evolution, scientists have had this view about all snakes, including ball pythons, for over 50 years. The banana ball python gene was, therefore, illogical. Male banana ball pythons, not females, should carry the banana gene on to both sexes equally if all male ball pythons pass on a Z chromosome to their offspring.

The solution was eventually found in a paper in Current Biology: ball pythons contain XX and XY chromosomes. Men are XY, while women are XX. This explains why female bananas—not male bananas—bear fruit that is 50% female and 50% male.

Yet this raises the question: How can “male creators” exist if females pass their genes via the X chromosome? How can “female makers” occasionally generate a male banana ball python, which turns into a “man maker”?

This is brought on by a phenomenon known as a chromosomal crossover by genetics. Occasionally, a gene on the X chromosome “crosses over” to the Y chromosome when the embryo develops. The newborn will still have the banana gene on his Y chromosome, making him a banana ball python. After that, he can give his sons this gene.

How To Get Two Ball Pythons To Breed?

Reduce the temperature of your ball pythons’ cages first to increase the likelihood of a successful clutch. The snakes will believe it is winter because of this. They’ll believe its springtime when they emerge from brumation because that’s when mating season occurs:

• Bring on brumation. Reduce the vivarium temperatures of both snakes to the mid-70s degree range (Fahrenheit). It should continue to be cold for two to three months. Naturally, your snakes will be less active during this time.
• Over a few weeks, gradually raise the temperature to normal levels.
• Put the male ball python inside the enclosure with the female. Keep a watchful eye on them, and separate them if any fighting breaks out.
• Look out for mating behavior. The male will be seen “locking up” or wrapping his tail around the females.

For a few days, keep the male and female together to ensure that mating has taken place. If a woman is pregnant, you’ll notice that she looks swollen. She will lay eggs in about a month or two.

Although some snakes can lay up to 11, the typical clutch size of a ball python is 4-6. You have two options: either retrieve the eggs and put them in an incubator or leave them with their mother until they hatch. In around two months, they’ll hatch.

Banana Ball Python Morphs

You can produce both standard and banana kids by mating a banana ball python with a normal one. But surprising things can occur if you cross a banana ball python with a different morph. Babies with unusual appearances who also carry the banana gene are possible. Designer ball python morphs are ball pythons with two or more gene mutations that modify their color or pattern.

Hundreds of gene combinations can be produced by breeding more than twenty unique gene mutations. It is impossible to include every combination of banana ball python morphs. Here are the most well-liked designer banana ball pythons, nevertheless. We’ll discuss each one’s appearance and the genes responsible for it.

Banana Albino Ball Python

Ball pythons with banana albinism lack melanin (dark pigment). Their typically lavender background hue is white but still contains vivid yellow spots. They have brilliant red eyes as well. One copy of the banana gene and two of the albino gene are in a banana albino ball python. As albino is recessive, if there is only one copy, the banana will still look normal but be “het for albino”.

Breeding a banana ball python with a person with albinism will produce a banana albino ball python. Bananas will make up 50% of the offspring. However, they are albino-het. 25% of the offspring born by breeding this snake with another person with albinism will be banana albinos.

Banana Cinnamon Ball Python

The red pigment in the snake’s coloration is significantly increased because of the cinnamon gene. The background color of a cinnamon ball python is a lot richer reddish-brown, and its patterns are slightly less prominent. When paired with the banana gene, it produces a gorgeous morph. Banana cinnamon ball pythons have gorgeous, brilliant orange spots on a lavender backdrop. They feature a slightly diminished design, with more background and minor marks.

Super Banana Ball Python

The banana gene is in two copies rather than one in super banana ball pythons. Super bananas in their hatchling stages resemble bananas, but their distinctions become more pronounced as they grow. A super banana ball python’s pattern becomes progressively paler as it gets bigger. Off-white replaces the background’s lavender hue.

Even as adults, super bananas never develop freckles or black marks. Breed two banana ball pythons to create a super version of the species. Every egg has a 25% chance of developing into a super banana. The super bananas would be male if the father were a male maker. However, they would be feminine if the father was a female creator.

Banana Enchi Ball Python

Each gene diminishes the regular ball python’s pattern. Almost transforming into broad bands with ragged edges are the dorsal blotches. Moreover, it highlights lighter hues, giving the snake a golden appearance and turning the black background brown.

The Tenchi pattern will be passed down to banana enchi ball pythons, but an odd thing happens to their coloring. The enchi gene almost enhances the brightness and contrast of the snake. It intensifies the orange tones, giving the snake an almost luminous appearance.

Adult banana enchis don’t develop any black patches. The Enchi gene is highly dominant. That’s why you get a banana enchi ball python when you breed an enchi ball python with a banana. A baby has a one-quarter chance of being a banana enchi.

Conclusion

The banana ball may be the perfect choice for those who want to add a stunning but reasonably-priced morph to their collection of ball pythons. (But, avoid being penny-wise and pound-foolish; while the top breeders may charge more, they also invest more in maintaining the health of their snakes).

The money you save by purchasing from a less honorable vendor may be soon depleted by the costs of caring for your new pet and the rest of your collection at the veterinarian. Before making a purchase, do your homework, and don’t be hesitant to ask questions.

Your dealer can only know if your new boy is a male or female maker if they know which parent your snake received the Banana genes from. You could do better dealing with a miniature breeder who enjoys the pastime and will be more able to assist you in keeping your new snake healthy and happy for years to come if they don’t understand why that question is essential.

A banana ball python do you own? What suggestions would you offer to someone considering What Morphs Make A Banana Ball Python? Do you have any advice, anecdotes, or pictures you’d like to share?

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