Fun Ball Python Facts For Kids

The word snake may trigger your mind with an image of a deadly, poisonous animal but how about a snake that looks beautiful, docile, friendly, cool, and makes a great pet? We are talking about the banana ball python, the most sought-after morphs of the ball python.

Since their discovery, they have been extremely popular and in high demand. The banana snake appears to be a yellow snake, however, it is albino with orange and purple markings.

They're friendly, have a great look, and are quite easy to care for, provided you give them a comfortable home. The banana ball python has no demanding care requirements or unique feeding habits, making it ideal for both beginners and specialists. They're also small and don't take up a lot of room.

Scroll down to take a closer look at this beautiful snake. You may also check our articles on the royal python and the western ribbon snake.

Banana Ball Pythons Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a banana ball python?

Banana ball pythons are a morph of the ball python. The term 'morph' refers to a snake that is a variation of a species or subspecies. All variants of the ball python belong to the same species, Python regius.

A morph is a different hue than a typical snake of this species which is brown or black. For a banana ball python, its hue is yellow and white with black spots. As its appearance is similar to a ripening banana, these snakes are known as banana snakes.

What class of animal do banana ball pythons belong to?

Banana ball pythons belong to the Reptilia class of the Pythonidae family and the Python genus.

How many banana ball pythons are there in the world?

The exact count of banana ball pythons is still unknown. However, banana python variants come in approximately 20 morph varieties, each with their own unique colors and docile personalities. Banana pied, banana spider, banana clown, banana pastel ball python, banana pied ball python, banana cinnamon, banana Mojave ball python, and black pastel banana are among the most popular varieties.

Where do banana ball pythons live?

Ball pythons (Python regius), often known as royal pythons, are prevalent in West and Central Africa's grasslands and open forests.

What is a banana ball python's habitat?

Ball pythons live in burrows on or beneath the ground for most of their lives. Savannahs, grasslands, and lightly forested areas in West Africa and Central Africa are the most favorable environments for ball pythons.

The weather in these areas is typically hot with the temperature ranging from 65-104 F (18-40 C). However, they have been found to adapt to a variety of other situations.

Who do banana ball pythons live with?

Ball pythons are not social animals and are solitary snakes that should be kept in separate enclosures. Unless you're mating them, never keep more than one banana ball python in a single enclosure.

How long do banana ball pythons live?

The banana ball python life span ranges from 20 to 30 years. On the other hand, some ball pythons can live up to 50 years, if feeding them the right diet and providing them with a suitable habitat.

How do they reproduce?

Unlike some morphs, a banana ball python cannot be created as it is a single-gene morph. A banana gene must be inherited from one of the parents. The gene of the banana ball python is codominant, meaning that any snake with the gene will have the phenotype.

Breeding happens once a year and clutches of one to 11 offspring are produced. Ball pythons have a difficult time mating, and it is usually prompted by environmental cues like hunger and a dip in temperature. Hatchlings should be isolated from one another once they emerge from the shell.

Breeding a banana with a regular ball python is the simplest way to create a banana ball python. The offspring will be 50% banana ball python and 50% normal ball python.

However, when two banana ball pythons are bred together, each kid has a 25% chance of being a super banana. This is because they have two copies of the banana gene. They'll have a light yellow color and won't develop any black spots as they age.

What is their conservation status?

No specific conservation status has been assigned for the banana ball python. However, ball python species are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN as they are abundantly found.

Banana Ball Pythons Fun Facts

What do banana ball pythons look like?

The banana ball python displays brilliant yellow patterns against a tan background, as its name suggests. They may have freckles all over their bodies.

The body of these snakes is thick, with a smaller head. Banana ball pythons and coral glows are believed to be the same. Certain breeders may use the names interchangeably, however, these snakes are virtually the same.

How cute are they?

These banana snakes are not only beautiful, but they are also one of the easiest snakes to care for.

How do they communicate?

Ball pythons use visual cues, vibrations, and chemical traces to obtain information about their surroundings. They may also track their prey using ultraviolet light or scent.

Did you know that this reptile can detect even the tiniest changes in temperature, making them hypersensitive to any warm-blooded organisms nearby? They achieve this by detecting heat with unique pits above the mouth.

How big are banana ball pythons?

Adult female banana ball pythons grow 3-5 ft (91-152 cm), and an adult male banana ball python length range is 2-3 ft (61-91 cm). Their size range simply distinguishes males and females. Although both snakes are medium-sized, females are larger than males. For the first three years, they typically grow 1 ft (31 cm) every year.

How fast can banana ball pythons move?

The exact speed of the banana ball python is unknown. However, pythons are known to be slow movers and can only move at a speed of roughly 1 mph (1.6 kph) on open ground. They don't need to move fast because they don't have to chase their meal.

How much do banana ball pythons weigh?

When healthy and in good shape, a mature adult ball python weighs a range from 4-5 lb (1.8-2.2 kg). This size will vary depending on your snake's gender and size.

What are their male and female names of the species?

No particular names are given to males and females of this reptile. However, they are called a male banana ball python and a female banana ball python.

What would you call a baby banana ball python?

The baby of a banana ball python is not given any specific name and, when born, is known as  a hatchling and later, a juvenile.

What do they eat?

The banana ball python's diet is carnivorous. They rely on chemical and visual clues to find their prey. Adult ball pythons sit and wait for their prey to come out of the woodwork.

They hunt for mice in the wild by crawling along the desert floor. Ball pythons eat rodents and are important in rodent control, especially in rural areas. African giant rats, black rats, rufous-nosed rats, shaggy rats, and grass mice are among the rodents that prey on them.

In captivity, feeding rodents to banana ball pythons (royal python) is the best thing. Make sure the mouse isn't wider than your snake's broadest region of its body. The majority of snake owners prefer feeding their pets pre-killed, frozen-thawed, and reheated rodents.

Adult snake eats every seven to 10 days, but hatchlings and juveniles need to be fed every five to seven days. Ball pythons can go over six months without eating.

Feeding your snake with your bare hands is never a good idea. To avoid unintentional bites, always use feeding tongs or similar devices. Remember, feeding live mice can be dangerous to your snake.

After feeding, wait 12 hours before handling your reptiles. After eating, your snake should have a distinct bulge, but it should subside within the next 12 hours.

Are you interested to know how these snakes catch their prey? Like many other snakes, the banana ball python has its unique manner of catching and consuming its prey.

This snake is classified as a constrictor which means it coils around its prey and suffocates it until it dies. It will then swallow its prey and slowly digest it over the next few days after this action.

Are they poisonous?

These reptiles are non-venomous, docile, and small. They are thought to be incapable of killing or suffocating a human child or an adult. They're far too insignificant to be dangerous or to pose a threat.

Don't be alarmed if your python bites you or the prey. Wait for your banana ball python to release itself instead.

Would they make a good pet?

Whether a novice or an experienced snake keeper, banana ball pythons make a perfect pet for all reptile keepers as they are quite placid and non-venomous. The appealing aspect of the ball python and its wide range of colors and patterns have ensured a growing interest in keeping these snakes as pets.

These snakes are harmless to everyone but their prey.

These docile snakes can be friendly if you hold them once a day and handle them carefully. Adult ball pythons prefer wrapping themselves around your arm or wrist, but you may quickly unwrap them if necessary.

Allow these pets a week to adjust to their new environment when you first bring them home. Handle once a week once it has been habituated to create trust. You might begin to handle more regularly once you've acquired trust. Young banana ball pythons are fearful, but with repeated handling, they will become adapted.

In a nutshell, banana ball python pets are the ideal first snake pets.

Did you know...

Aren't the ball python names unique and make us think how these snakes got their name? Ball pythons get their name because when they're threatened, they curl up into a tight ball with their heads tucked inside the coils. These reptiles attempt to avoid injury by doing so.

Banana ball python care includes a proper habitat and diet when kept as a pet. When raised as a pet, the enclosure should be spacious 30-60 gal (114-227 l), with a warm temperature, high humidity, and plenty of hiding places.

In their cage, you should have at least two hide-holes. It's vital to keep your snake's tank at the right temperature and humidity. Avoid using hot rocks to raise the temperature and instead, use h eat bulbs for snakes to keep the snake's enclosure warm.

You may use paper towels, cypress mulch, and orchid bark as the substrate. A water dish is much needed after the substrate. You'll need one that's big enough for your snake to swim in when it needs to cool off or moisturize its skin more which will aid when shedding.

Cleaning the cage is the last step. You'll need to wipe up any feces or other waste as often as possible.

How much are banana ball pythons?

Always opt for a young, captive-bred snake from a reputable breeder when you're ready to get your ball python. Do not attempt to capture a snake in the wild. Snakes who have spent their lives in the wild are more aggressive and tougher to tame.

Depending on their size, morph variety, coloration, breeder, or vendor, banana ball pythons can cost anywhere between $100 to $500. Because of their popularity and exclusivity, the most sought-after morphs can cost $700 to $1,000. One such morph is the blue-eyed leucistic ball python.

In 2003, the first banana ball python clutch was released, and it sold for $25,000!

What are super banana ball pythons?

A super ball python is a python that has acquired the banana mutant gene from both parents rather than just one. The size of super banana ball pythons is similar to that of regular ball pythons.

The simplest way to determine whether you have a regular or super banana ball python is by its color. Super banana ball pythons have a more drab, washed-out appearance than regular banana ball pythons. Their patches are closer to tan than genuine yellow, and their foundation is closer to gray or brown than tan.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles from our coral snake facts and kingsnake facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable angry snake coloring pages.