Banana snake pythons are a wild –occurring ball python that are orange or yellow in color, also known as the Royal python, they are a very interesting type of python found predominantly found in the wild of sub-Saharan Africa.
Banana python morphs are popularly kept as pet snakes as they come in a wide-ranging beautiful color variation in their species and subspecies of ball morph’s that are a nonvenomous constrictor type of pet snakes.
Banana python morphs, pretty much like all other subspecies of the royal banana pythons, are the smallest among all types of pythons and also very popular in the pet trade due to their small size and docile temperament.
You are also able to breed the banana pythons with many other morphs to produce different patterns and colors.
The world of banana snake python breeding is so fascinating and almost everyone wants to own a yellow banana snake pet.
Before you head off to your local pet shop and treat yourself to a gorgeous looking python morph breed like:
- Albino Ball Python
- Axanthic ball python
- Blue Eyed Leucistic Ball Python
- Butter Ball Python
- Bumblebee Ball Python
- Candino Ball Python
- Champagne Ball Python
- Chocolate Ball Python
- Cinnamon Ball Python
- Coral Glow Ball Python
- Fire Ball Python
- Ghost Ball Python
- GHI Ball Python
- Ivory Ball Python
- Lesser Ball Python
- Mojave Ball Python
- Mystic Ball Python
- Pastel Ball Python
- Phantom Ball Python
- Piebald Ball Python
- Pinstripe Ball Python
- Spider Ball Python
- Spotnose Ball Python
- Super Blast Ball Python
- Vanilla Ball Python
- Yellow Belly Ball Python
There’s, in fact, more to these reptiles than meets the eye especially when you are bringing them into a home that has never had a snake for a pet.
So, what should you know about the banana morph, which is possibly one of the most sought after ball python morph species?
Well, the banana ball pythons is one of the most celebrated morph type of ball python that is popularly covered with a brown or tan base colored coat, and it is also spontaneously covered in bright yellowish splotches of spot-like marks across it’s shingled scally body that is able to shimmer in the dark when put on special lighting.
Their life span and size is impressively interesting as they can live up to 50 years when looked after well, and in that period they will grow to somewhere around three to five feet in length.
In the wild, their lifespan is far much shorter compared to how long they are able to live in captivity. Python morphs originally were first discovered in the wild of West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Burkinafaso and neighboring countries.
Python ball morphs are docile if not shy in nature, who will also inflict a hurtful bite though they are a non-venomous snake who kill their prey by constriction.
What that means is that instead of using poison to kill their prey, (LIKE OTHER SNAKES DO) Banana python morphs are constrictors who rely on suffocating their prey instead of biting and poisoning it.
Characteristics of a banana python snake
Despite the banana python snakes being predatory to their food source, in their food chain circle also means that the ball python morphs have their own predators that they must watch out for.
Birds of prey like eagles, humans who are actively looking for morphs to domesticate or directly competing for the same hunting area in their natural environment seem to pose a great deal of threat.
The list of predators is endless for python morphs! From other animal species in the wild, predatory wild pigs, warthogs, and leopards who are also actively hunting for adult-sized python morph snakes to make a meal out of them.
The vulnerability to predators also applies to baby banana python morphs except that they only have to worry about predators such as birds of prey and menacing hedgehogs.
And if you carefully look at their food chain eco-system, you will find that of this predatory life-cycle is safe-sustaining and central to the environment and ecosystem as any slight rise of the banana snake python in the wild, could threaten the entire food chain.
Banana snake pythons also have their prey as they also need to eat so they can survive as well, and their prey is predominantly medium to large crickets, bird eggs, fuzzies, but sometimes they will also target pinkies as well.
Their predatory behavior is significantly influenced by their size and ability to capture and constrict prey that is small enough for the snake to swallow and also enough to satisfy the banana snake python’s carnivorous appetite needs.
Likely so, banana ball python morphs in captivity demand a good feeding schedule when kept as a pet. Morph pythons will need feeding of frozen and thawed rat of small to medium adult mice whenever necessary as banana ball pythons need their meals once, anywhere between 7 to 14 days(a week or two).
Historical Habitat of a banana python snake in the wild
Just like all other types of pythons, Banana snake pythons are also found in West of Africa, in countries like Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Uganda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau.
All these countries have warm climates usually at 65° and have a very short rainy season and goes straight to monsoons and Banana Snakes will mostly be found in savannas, grasslands, and sparsely wooded areas, these places are mostly loved by these type of snakes but they have also been known to be rather adaptable to an array of different environments.
Them being adaptable to different environments is what makes them popular and easy to have it in more places as a pet.
Habitat of a banana python in captivity
A banana python should be kept in a cage that’s about one foot by one and a half feet by three for it to have enough room to move around and be comfortable.
The cage can be a plastic tub, a sweater box or a pretty glass tank. However, the cage shouldn’t be too big, the measurements we mentioned here are perfect and enough for it, too much room can make the snake feel exposed and insecure.
When you’ve decided which type of cage you’ll get for your pet, the next step is to get the substrate from your local pet store. Newspapers, paper towels, cypress and orchid bark are a good substitute for substrate if you like.
However, make sure you avoid any product that contains cedarwood because it is poisonous to the snake and will hurt or sicken it and sometimes lead to death. Sand and shavings must also be avoided as they can also harm your pet snake.
Ball Python Ball Enclosure Humidity
If you fancy your self as an avid snake pet keeper, then you must make sure that you are investing in one of the best pet snake enclosures that are capable of providing a close to the natural habitat of the snake breed they want to keep. And python ball pet snakes are no different.
Banana pythons are adaptable to humidity levels and environmental changes as long as a base is maintained as a minimum requirement for their enclosure. And, with a hygrometer, ( Check this range here on Amazon as they are reliable and accurately measures the base humidity levels) you will be able to accurately measure the humidity in your snake’s enclosure.
So, How humid should a ball pythons tank be?
It may surprise you but most home’s humidity levels averages be between 35% and 45%. While that is perfect for you and your little ones, it is not ideal for the Ball pythons humidity’s requirements.
Naturally, any habitat or Python morph’s enclosure you create for your pet snake, should not drop below 50%. And that means maintaining an average base of humidity levels of 55% to 60% is ideal.
If you are a beginner reptile pet keeper, your local pet store or gardening store is a great place to pick up supplies you need for your banana python ball pet.
If you have no idea of what you need, Amazon python morphs starter kits will list everything you need that is included in their banana python ball starter kits.
In it, you will find things like Reptile Humidifier, Reptile Fogger with Extension Tube, Suitable for Reptiles Amphibians and Terrarium
You will also need a digital hygrometer to accurately measure the humidity levels inside your snake’s enclosure.
All these little gadgets will become handy when you need to raise or lower humidity levels inside your python morph’s terrarium.
How do I raise the humidity in my ball python tank?
Use a Betazero Reptile Humidifier, Reptile Fogger with Extension Tube, Suitable for Reptiles Amphibians and Terrarium to raise the humidity inside your ball python ball tank.
This works perfectly when paired with a digital humidity hygrometer regulator which triggers the humidity levels when you need to raise or drop the humidity levels. With that in hand, always make sure that you python morphs enclosure is made of :
- Go Glass. Glass enclosures help to keep the humidity in the terrarium higher.
- Choose a Porous Substrate. Your python morph will need a good mix of a substrate, and the choice you makes for them will have a big difference in keeping humidity levels lower or higher.
- Think Deep.
- Mix the Soil.
- Add Moss.
- Mist Often using a Reptile Humidifier, Reptile Fogger with Extension Tube, Suitable for Reptiles Amphibians and Terrarium
- Choose a Large Water Dish.
- Select a Special Terrarium.
The size and Lifespan of a banana python
As we said a Banana python is a very small, manageable snake, it’s averaged in length are to five feet in length for females and males two to three feet in length.
These type of snakes are also known to grow up to five or six feet in length as a huge snake but their sizes are not for the banana python breed.
A grown mature banana python weighs about four to five pounds when in good health but this will vary depending on the size and gender of the snake.
A banana snake python is known to live for as long as thirty to forty years if in good health. The longest lifespan of a banana python is forty-seven years and six months before the snake died in captivity at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Temperament and handling
If you are reading this article right now, then It must mean you are thinking of owning your very own banana python snake. Knowing how to handle your snake is very essential especially if you want it to live longer and healthy.
You need to handle your banana snake with extra care and you should always be gentle and slow with your movements whenever around them because they are easily startled with rapid movements and tend to feel unsafe.
It takes quite some time for a banana python to fully trust you and get used to you being around, so when you just buy it you will need to ease into holding it.
Avoid holding it almost all the time. After getting used to you being around and realizing you are not a threat, the snake will feel comfortable with you holding it.
We all know that in general, snakes don’t like being held even by their long term owners. But banana ball pythons as species are much different, they tend to do better with handling than almost all types of snakes.
However, this doesn’t mean they will appreciate you holding them almost all the time, just like all type of snakes, they will also need a good amount of space and respectful distance especially after having their meal.
When holding your snake, you are simply trying to establish trust between the two of you, n order to be comfortable with each other, you will to sit down and make sure you are keeping a stable hold of it because constant moving and shifting will make it feel nervous and very unsafe.
Avoid squeezing it too because this will make it feel restricted and then get scared. Avoid holding it right after a meal because it will stress it out.
Health problems of a banana python
The following are the types of health issues your banana snake python may have to deal with:
1: Respiratory infections
When your snake is stressed, it is likely to get respiratory infections. Banana pythons can become stressed for several different reasons, like not having enough clean water, too much handling, no box to hide in, a dirty cage, mites, etc and the most common cause of respiratory infections in banana pythons is keeping their environment too cold or at another improper temperature.
2: Shedding complications
Banana python morphs are not immune to shedding, and if you do not look after your ball python morph well, they will develop an abnormal dead skin shedding condition also known as Dysecdysis.
Morph pythons, especially the banana ball pythons are more susceptible to shedding problems, no wonder dead skin shedding in python morphs are very common in all types of snakes.
Under normal circumstances, snakes shed off their skin as they grow, and it is also normal for snakes to shed off the old coat and replace it with the most beautiful coat.
Provide your snake with proper temperature, humidity, and areas to rub against, to help prevent shedding problems.
Many ball python morph pet keepers often don’t understand the impact of Dysecdysis in reptiles…
So, What is Dysecdysis in reptiles?
Your reptile pet is considered to be suffering from an abnormal reptilia skin shedding called Dysecdysis is its outer dead skin is frequent and uneven looking new skin appear on the skin of a reptile.
In banana python morphs, this abnormal shedding can impact the overall look and beauty of your python ball pet, and can also affect the value of the snake itself if you are a breeder.
Abnormal snakeskin shedding is often an indication of suboptimal husbandry, however, it may also be a sign of recurring infectious diseases, such as external or internal parasites, septicemia, including reptile body disease of ophidian paramyxovirus, internal abscesses, just to mention a few of the most common causes of abnormal reptile skin shedding in captivity.
3: Infectious Diseases and Parasites
Mouth rot, or infectious stomatitis, is an occasional illness in ball pythons and can occur when debris or food gets stuck in the mouth, if the snake’s mouth has become injured, or if the snake strikes at the enclosure.
Diet and Nutrition of a banana python
Many banana python enthusiasts always wonder and ask about the diet and nutritional needs of a banana ball python bald…
So, what do banana ball pythons eat?
Banana ball pythons predominantly eat rats from the time they are young. They are avid hunters in the wild, so much that python balls will go to a length of finding food of the day, even if it means feeding on rat pups or crawlers.
From a young age, pythons feed on rodents and birds first and graduate into targeting slightly bigger prey like baby owls, bird eggs and Munchkins as they grow.
Zealous pet owns also make the habit of handling their python ball at will, though this is encouraged in many circles, always make sure you are not handling your ball python for at least a day after feeding, as this can lead to regurgitation.
Ball pythons born in captivity are not as agile as those in the wild. Despite being intuitively protective and cautious, they are at risk of injury from live prey like rats which can scratch and bite. So, make sure your python ball, is being fed frozen/thawed or pre-killed rodents.
While you may find their ability to stalk and kill a live mouse trapped in their cage entertaining, make no mistake, feeding your banana python pre-killed food is highly recommended because it reduces the risk of injury to your snake from rodent bites, which can be very dangerous, and in some cases deadly, for your ball python too.
It is also always advised to use tongs or hemostats when feeding your banana python to reduce the risk of bites to you.
Four fun facts about banana python snakes
Isn’t it interesting to find out about something new about python balls you didn’t know about these amazing reptiles? Well, these four fun facts about banana ball pythons may or may not have been known to you:
1: Banana snake pythons are the Most Popular Pet Snake
Banana snake pythons are the number 1 type of snakes that are good and best for keeping as pet snakes. They are carnivores of course but then are nonvenomous and 100% safe. They are conveniently sized, have the most morphs and are good for handling.
Though python balls are docile and seem to have an excellent temperament deemed to be great for reptile petting, they are also capable of inflicting a serious injury if they feel threatened.
So, Can a ball python hurt you?
Yes, ball pythons are capable of inflicting a hurtful bite despite being nonpoisonous. Python ball bites are not life threaten in any way, therefore they may not be able to kill you. But, make no mistake, Python ball pet bites can certainly cause injury with their bite. …
And, if for whatever reason you find that your python ball pet snake is becoming too aggressive all of a sudden, it could be a sign of an infection or distress that is fermenting this aggressive behavior hence causing your pet snake to bite their keepers if given the chance.
This type of behavior can be worked out over time. But there is always a chance you will end up with an aggressive snake if the level and standard care of your pet snake are below standard.
2: Banana snake Pythons can Live Up to 50 Years in Captivity
The average lifespan for all other species of snakes is thirty years, but some banana pythons which are well taken care of can as well live up to 50 full years.
This can only happen in captivity where the snake is well taken care of and where there are no predators and any other sickness that can out its life in danger.
3: Banana snake Pythons are also Called Ball Pythons Because of their tendencies for liking curl into a Ball.
Believe it or not, snakes especially Banana pythons get scared too, and when they get spooked, they curl up and that is why they are also called popularly known as ball pythons because when they feel scared or intimidated, they curl up into a cute little ball.
4: The Most Expensive Banana snake python costs $40,000
The most expensive banana python is the Lavender Albino ball python, which is $40,000 and is said to be the most expensive pets in the legal pet market.
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