Ball Python (Orange Dream Fire Hypo Het Clown)

Python regius
Common Names: Ball Python, Royal Python

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Species Overview

• Size: Adults typically grow 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 m), with females often being the larger, more robust sex. Some exceptional females may approach 6 feet.

• Appearance:

  • Orange Dream (OD, co-dominant): Intensifies golden/orange tones and sharpens the pattern.

  • Fire (co-dominant): Brightens colour and reduces darker pigmentation; in super form, creates the all-white Super Fire.

  • Hypo/Ghost (recessive – visual): Expressed here, reducing melanin for a translucent, ghostlike appearance with softened contrast.

  • Clown (recessive – het form): This animal carries one copy of the gene; when visual, Clown produces bold dorsal striping, reduced side markings, and unique head stamps.

  • Together, these traits result in a bright, clean, orange-toned morph with hypo’s soft wash, alongside genetic potential for Clown-based projects.

• Distribution: Wild-type ball pythons are native to West and Central Africa, inhabiting grasslands, farmland, and open savannah.

• Habitat: Terrestrial and burrow-dwelling, they spend much of their lives in rodent burrows for shelter, humidity, and temperature stability.

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

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Captive Care

• Enclosure: Most adults thrive in a 40-gallon breeder (36” × 18” × 18”) or equivalent. Provide secure hides on both warm and cool ends, climbing décor, and a water bowl large enough for soaking.

• Temperature & Humidity: Maintain daytime temps of 78–82°F (25–28°C) with a basking area of 88–92°F (31–33°C). Nighttime drops to 72–75°F (22–24°C) are acceptable. Humidity should stay around 50–60%, with slight increases during shedding.

• Diet: Juveniles should be fed hopper mice or rat pups every 5–7 days; adults usually thrive on medium rats every 10–14 days. Match prey size to the snake’s girth.

• Behaviour in Captivity: Like other ball pythons, this morph is known for its calm, manageable nature, making it a reliable captive snake for keepers of all experience levels.

• Special Considerations: While genetics shape appearance and breeding potential, all ball python morphs share identical husbandry requirements.

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Genetics Note

• Orange Dream (Co-Dominant): Cleans pattern edges and enhances orange/golden hues.

• Fire (Co-Dominant): Brightens and reduces dark pigmentation; two copies form the all-white Super Fire.

• Hypo/Ghost (Recessive – Visual): Expressed in this morph, reducing melanin and softening colouration.

• Clown (Recessive – Het Form): Carried as a single copy; when visual, produces distinctive pattern and head features.

The Orange Dream Fire Hypo Het Clown is a vivid, ghostly-bright morph that blends the brightening effects of OD and Fire with the soft, washed-out look of Hypo, while carrying Clown genetics for future breeding potential.