If you’re looking to enter the snake-handling world, it’s hard to beat the Clown Ball Python Morph as a first snake. They’re incredibly colorful yet easy to take care of. They’re also a larger snake with a mild temperament.
But what do you need to know about these snakes before heading out and making a purchase? We break down everything that you need to know here.
Quick Facts About the Clown Ball Python Morph
| Species Name: | Python regius |
| Common Name: | Clown Ball Python Morph |
| Care Level: | Low |
| Lifespan: | 20 to 30 years |
| Adult Size: | 3.5 to 5.5 feet |
| Diet: | Mice and rats |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 40-gallon tank |
| Temperature & Humidity: | Temperature gradient between 75- and 95-degrees Fahrenheit and a 55-60% humidity |
Do Clown Ball Python Morphs Make Good Pets?
If you’re looking to add a snake to your home, a Clown Ball Python Morph is an outstanding choice. They’re relatively easy to care for and have an easy-going temperament that’s perfect for novice snake handlers. You also get a snake with an impressive size and a long lifespan, giving you the best of both worlds. Even better, you can handle Clown Ball Python Morphs a decent amount, especially if you train them from an early age.
Appearance
The Clown Ball Python Morph has a golden hue along their sides, and they have a pronounced blotchy and wide dorsal stripe. However, they don’t typically have a dark lateral pattern, and if they do, it’s extraordinarily small.
These snakes have a unique appearance that makes them easy to identify and difficult to mistake for any other kind of snake.
How to Take Care of Clown Ball Python Morph
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
Tank
The exact size of an ideal terrarium for your Clown Ball Python Morph varies depending on the size of your snake. You want a terrarium that’s at least 2/3 the length of your snake but not larger than 1.5 times the length of your snake. While you can go with a larger enclosure, you’ll need to invest in extra foliage and ensure that there are tons of places to hide.
Lighting
Your Clown Ball Python Morph does not require any special lighting requirements. Just keep the enclosure away from direct sunlight, as this can cause the tank to overheat and kill your Clown Ball Python Morph.
Heating (Temperature & Humidity)
As far as snake habitats go, the requirements of a Clown Ball Python Morph are relatively simple. They need an area to bask that’s close to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature shouldn’t drop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit on the other side. We recommend keeping that side of the tank about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The humidity level is relatively low for a snake enclosure. Keep the level between 55% and 60% by misting occasionally.
Substrate
There’s no need to get picky with the substrate. As long as it’s porous and retains moisture, you’re good to go. Different kinds of mulch work well, but anything that you find at a local pet shop should work fine!
Tank Recommendations
| Tank Type: | Terrarium: 40 to 50 gallons |
| Lighting: | No special lighting requirements |
| Heating: | 95-to-75-degree Fahrenheit gradient; 55 to 60% humidity |
| Best Substrate: | Aspen shavings |
Feeding Your Clown Ball Python Morph
Feeding your Clown Ball Python Morph is easy. While they survive off a litany of small mammals in the wild, in captivity, they can live off a diet of nothing but mice and rats. Stick with mice when your Clown Ball Python Morph is young, but as soon as they’re large enough for rats, go ahead and switch.
You only need to feed an adult Clown Ball Python Morph about one rat a week. When they’re getting ready to shed their skin, they won’t eat as often. You can feed them live rats, but frozen or thawed rats are better because they can’t hurt your snake.
Some owners also recommend a dedicated feeding cage, so you don’t have to worry about getting bit when handling them in their regular cage.
Diet Summary
| Food Type | Percent of Diet |
| Mice and rats | 100% |
Keeping Your Clown Ball Python Morph Healthy
Clown Ball Python Morphs are not any more susceptible to health concerns than any other Python mix, which is to say they’re quite healthy and rarely have any problems.
Still, scale rot, respiratory infections, dermatitis, ticks, mites, and other parasites can become a problem, especially if you’re not maintaining their cage correctly. If you notice that your Clown Ball Python Morph is developing any health concerns, it’s time to take them to a vet specializing in exotic animals.
Symptoms to look out for include lethargy, a lack of appetite, bumps, or small parasites throughout the cage.
Common Health Issues
- Scale rot
- Respiratory infection
- Dermatitis
- Ticks
- Mites
- and other parasites
Lifespan
Clown Ball Python Morphs have a relatively long lifespan in captivity, ranging from 20 to 30 years. However, it’s not uncommon for these snakes to live longer than 30 years if they’re well cared for!
Keep this in mind when purchasing a Clown Ball Python Morph, as you’ll be on the hook for caring for them for quite some time!
Breeding
While owning a Clown Ball Python Morph is relatively easy, breeding them is far from it. That’s because you need to find compatible snakes, and they shouldn’t remain in the same enclosure after mating.
The eggs have a relatively long incubation period, followed by another few months before the eggs hatch. Even then, Clown Ball Python Morphs can have anywhere from five to 30 offspring at one time!
Once born, they all need separate enclosures, and they’re independent as soon as they hatch. It’s quite a challenge for a novice snake handler, so leave it to experienced hands!
Are Clown Ball Python Morphs Friendly? Our Handling Advice
There are few snakes as friendly as the Clown Ball Python Morph. However, that doesn’t mean you can skip all precautions. Always wash your hands before handling them — if they smell food, this can trigger an eating response.
It’s best to have a dedicated feeding cage so you don’t get bit when reaching into their enclosure. Start handling your Clown Ball Python Morph as soon as possible but keep the sessions short.
Over time, you can extend the sessions; they won’t mind you handling them after they’re used to it!
Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect
It’s essential to keep the enclosure at the proper humidity level and to mist the tank occasionally to enable your Clown Ball Python Morph to shed their coat in one go. If the humidity level is too low, your Clown Ball Python Morph will shed in patches, and this can lead to skin conditions that you’ll need to treat.
For brumation, simply lower the temperature of the tank a few degrees at a time over a few weeks and raise the temperature a few degrees at a time at the end. During brumation, your Clown Ball Python Morph likely won’t eat, and they will become a bit more lethargic.
You can keep your Clown Ball Python Morph in brumation anywhere from 1 to 3 months.
How Much Do Clown Ball Python Morphs Cost?
Compared to other reptiles, Clown Ball Python Morphs are inexpensive, but compared to other ball pythons, they’re a bit pricey. You can expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $350 for a Clown Ball Python Morph.
Considering how easy they are to take care of, their unique coloring, and their long lifespan, it’s not a bad price!
Care Guide Summary
Pros
- Easy to take care of
- Long lifespan
- Friendly temperament
Cons
- More expensive ball python option
- Difficult to breed
Conclusion
There are few pets easier to take care of than a Clown Ball Python Morph. Still, before heading out to purchase one, ensure that you have everything that you need to house them, as these costs can quickly add up.
Ensure that you can take care of them for the rest of their lives. Since they have a long lifespan, the last thing you want is to have to rehome an older pet!
Featured Image Credit: Mark10077, Shutterstock
Nicole is the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese cat and Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts’ knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
