Ball Python (Dreamsicle)

Python regius
Common Names: Ball Python, Royal Python, Dreamsicle Ball Python

Species Overview

• Size: Adults typically reach 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 m), with females usually larger and heavier-bodied than males. Some females may approach 6 feet.

• Appearance:

  • The Dreamsicle is a double-recessive morph, combining Lavender Albino and Piebald.

  • This produces a snake with bold white patches of unpigmented skin alongside soft lavender and bright orange patterning, giving it the creamy orange-and-white look that inspired its name.

  • Each Dreamsicle is unique, with pattern variation ranging from high-white to more heavily patterned individuals.

• Distribution: Native to West and Central Africa, where wild-type ball pythons are common.

• Habitat: In the wild, ball pythons inhabit savannahs, scrublands, and farmland edges, often sheltering in rodent burrows.

• Behaviour: A nocturnal ambush predator, feeding primarily on small mammals and birds.

Captive Care

• Enclosure: Most adults do well in a 40-gallon breeder (36” × 18” × 18”) or equivalent. Provide at least two hides (warm and cool side), climbing décor, and a water bowl large enough for soaking.

• Temperature & Humidity: Maintain an ambient gradient of 78–82°F (25–28°C) with a basking spot of 88–92°F (31–33°C). Nighttime dips to 72–75°F (22–24°C) are acceptable. Keep humidity around 50–60%, with a humid hide available for shedding.

• Diet: Juveniles thrive on hopper mice or rat pups every 5–7 days; adults typically take medium rats every 10–14 days. Prey should match the girth of the snake.

• Behaviour in Captivity: Ball pythons are docile, calm, and easy to handle, making them a highly popular choice among keepers.

• Special Considerations: Morphs alter appearance, but husbandry is the same as for wild-type ball pythons.

Genetics Note

• Lavender Albino (Recessive): Produces pale lavender background coloration with bright golden-orange patterning and red eyes.

• Pied (Recessive): Creates bold white patches of unpigmented skin across the body.

• Dreamsicle (Double Recessive): Requires two copies of both genes (Lavender Albino + Pied). The result is a lavender, orange, and white ball python with dramatic pattern breaks, one of the most recognizable double recessives in the hobby.

The Dreamsicle Ball Python is considered one of the most iconic designer morphs, prized for both its unique appearance and its role in creating advanced combos.