There’s a reason that Ball Pythons are gaining in popularity every year. They’re large and impressive snakes, but they have a friendly demeanor and are easy to handle. They also come in a wide array of colors, perhaps none more stunning than the Bumblebee Ball Python Morph.
But just because they’re relatively calm snakes, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research first. We break down everything that you need to know about these snakes and have you ready to bring a new creature into your home in no time!
Quick Facts About Bumblebee Ball Python Morph
| Species Name: | Python regius |
| Common Name: | Ball Python |
| Care Level: | Low |
| Lifespan: | 20 to 30 years |
| Adult Size: | 3’ to 5’ |
| Diet: | Mice and rats |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 30-gallon tank |
| Temperature & Humidity: | 88-96 degrees Fahrenheit, 80 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature, 50% to 60% humidity |
Do Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs Make Good Pets?
For rookie reptile owners, a Bumblebee Ball Python Morph makes a great pet. They have a friendly temperament despite their fierce appearance, making them even more desirable. They’re also relatively easy to care for and have a long lifespan and suffer from few health concerns.
However, if you’re looking for a pet for endless hours of companionship, a Bumblebee Ball Python Morph might not be what you want.
Appearance
While Ball Pythons can come in a wide array of appearances, the Bumblebee Ball Python Morph has distinct coloring. They’re a black snake with yellow lines and dots or vice versa. While you can adopt these snakes at a mere 10” long, expect them to grow, as they have a maximum length of 5’!
How to Take Care of Bumblebee Ball Python Morph
Habitat, Tank Conditions, & Setup
Tank
You want a glass reptile terrarium with a lid that completely seals. While screen tops are acceptable, they make it challenging to retain the necessary humidity. Also, don’t get too large of a cage for your Python, especially when they’re growing.
Too large of an enclosure will only stress out your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph, so stick with what’s necessary. For an adult Bumblebee Ball Python Morph, a 36” x 18” x 12” tank is a great size. Give the tank a thorough cleaning at least once a month, and spot clean as needed.
Lighting
You do not need any additional lighting for a Ball Python, but you need to run it on a 12-to-12 cycle if you use it: Leave it on for 12 hours before turning it off for 12 hours.
Heating (Temperature & Humidity)
You need to ensure that your tank has a thermal gradient to allow your snake to heat up and cool off as needed. For example, under the heat lamp, the temperature should be between 88 and 96 degrees Fahrenheit, while the other side of the tank should be between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never allow the ambient temperature to fall below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, as this can negatively impact your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph’s health. Finally, keep the humidity level between 50% and 60%, and mist daily.
Substrate
It’s essential that you avoid both sand and cedar substrates. Instead, you want a substrate that helps retain moisture to help raise the humidity. While there are tons of potential choices for this, we’ve found that the best choice is cypress mulch.
Tank Recommendations
| Tank Type: | 36” x 18” x 12” |
| Lighting: | N/A |
| Heating: | 88-to-96-degree-Fahrenheit basking light, 80-degree-Fahrenheit ambient temperature, and 50% to 60% humidity |
| Best Substrate: | Cypress mulch |
Feeding Your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph
Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs aren’t picky eaters. Any small rodent will do, although if you drop in live mice or other rodents, be sure to keep an eye on them until your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph decides to eat.
Small rodents can injure your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph when left unattended. However, you can opt for pre-killed rodents, and your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph won’t mind. For juvenile Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs, feed them every week.
You only need to feed an adult Bumblebee Ball Python Morph every 1 to 2 weeks, and you should not handle them for at least a day after feeding. Finally, keep in mind that your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph will be unlikely to eat during the shedding season.
Diet Summary
| Type of food: | Percent of Diet |
| Mice, rats, or thawed pre-killed rodents | 100 |
Keeping Your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph Healthy
Like most snakes, the Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is free from most health concerns. As long as you keep the enclosure clean and adequately maintained, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any symptoms.
However, keep an eye out for vomiting, lethargy, bumps or spots on the skin, labored breathing, or difficulty shedding. These are all signs that your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph needs a trip to the vet.
Choose a vet with plenty of experience with exotic animals, as this will help with diagnoses and getting your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph healthy again.
Common Health Issues
These include dermatitis, scale rot, respiratory disease, stomatitis, ticks, mites, and other parasites.
Lifespan
The average lifespan for a captive Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is 20 to 30 years, but the longest that a Ball Python has lived in captivity is close to 50 years! Keep this in mind before purchasing a snake, as you’ll need to keep up with enclosure maintenance and pet care for quite a while.
Breeding
Breeding a Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is no easy task. Under normal circumstances, a Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is a solitary creature, and you shouldn’t house them with another snake.
However, even when breeding, you need to ensure that the two snakes are compatible, and you should separate them again after breeding. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know if two snakes are compatible until after you’ve housed them together.
You’ll need to keep an eye on these snakes to ensure that they’re getting along. Otherwise, all you’ll do is stress out both snakes and they’ll never mate.
So, while the Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is an excellent snake for beginners, breeding them is best left to experienced snake handlers.
- See Also: Killer Bee Ball Python Morph
Are Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs Friendly? Our Handling Advice
Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs are typically extremely friendly snakes. However, like all reptiles, handling them early and often is critical because this will get them used to human interaction.
Start with short handling sessions and slowly work your way up. If you do this when your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is a juvenile, there’s no reason that they can’t spend extended periods of time outside of their enclosure whenever you want.
However, never handle your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph after feeding. You need to wait at least 2 days; otherwise, you risk having your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph regurgitate their meal.
Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect
A Bumblebee Ball Python Morph will shed their skin multiple times throughout their life. They do it more often as juveniles because they shed their old skin to make room for their new, larger coat.
As they grow into full adulthood, this happens less often, although it should still happen every year. Before shedding, they will stop eating, and this is more common during the winter months. Furthermore, you do not need to adjust temperatures for winter weather, which adds to how easy these snakes are to take care of.
How Much Do Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs Cost?
Most Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs cost anywhere from $200 to $300. But since there are tons of different “designer” breeds out there, you can find Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs that cost far more.
For most Bumblebee Ball Python Morphs, you can expect to spend around $1,000 for everything that you need to get your snake through the first year. From there, maintaining your Bumblebee Ball Python Morph should be affordable.
Care Guide Summary
Final Thoughts
Despite their colorful appearance, the Bumblebee Ball Python Morph is an extremely friendly snake that is an excellent choice for beginner snake handlers. Once you get an enclosure set up and ready to go, there’s no reason not to take the plunge and get one of these beautiful snakes!
Featured Image Credit: Ryan M. Bolton, Shutterstock
