In the world of domestic reptiles, there are few pets more popular than the ball python. But breeders were not content with the standard black and white coloration of this species. After many years of concentrated breeding efforts, wild morphs of ball pythons now exist in many colors. Perhaps none is more striking than the Lavender Albino Ball python, which is a mix of yellow spots over a light lavender base color, making for one of the most unique appearances in the reptile kingdom.
Quick Facts about Lavender Albino Ball Python Morph
Quick Facts about Lavender Albino Ball Python Morph| Species Name: | Python regius |
| Common Name: | Lavender Albino Ball Python |
| Care Level: | Low-moderate |
| Lifespan: | 20-30 years |
| Adult Size: | 2-5 feet |
| Diet: | Small mammals |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 40 gallons |
| Temperature & Humidity: | 75-95 degrees F and 40%-80% humidity |
Do Lavender Albino Ball Pythons Make Good Pets?
All of the traits that make ball pythons one of the best and most popular of all reptile pets apply to the Lavender Albino morph. These snakes are relatively easy to care for. They don’t need anything exotic or extensive in regard to their habitat.
Ball pythons are relatively hardy snakes, and they aren’t particularly susceptible to disease. Moreover, they’re generally quite docile, making them easy to handle. Overall, they’re some of the best reptile pets you can find. Lavender Albinos just happen to be a more dazzling version of the same snake.
Appearance
The Lavender Albino Ball Python is a very specific color morph. They have a very unique and instantly recognizable appearance with a light purple base color and yellow patterning running down the length of the body. The intensity of the purple varies from specimen to specimen, but the base color is distinctly purple or lavender in all.
- Related Read:Â 50 Types of Ball Python Morphs & Colors (With Pictures)
How to Take Care of Lavender Albino Ball Python
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
Tank
Ball pythons get pretty large, so they need a sizable habitat. For an adult, you’ll need a minimum of 40 gallons, though it’s recommended that you get a 100-gallon habitat for an adult female or a 75-gallon aquarium for a male. Make sure there are several hiding spots within the tank where your snake can seek shelter.
Lighting
Lighting for your Lavender Albino Ball Python doesn’t have to be complicated. Replicate the sun’s hours with your snake’s lighting. Make sure to use a bulb that offers both UVA and UVB.
Heating (Temperature & Humidity)
Your snake needs to regulate its own temperature, and to help it do that, you’ll need to provide hot and cool parts of the tank where it can move to when necessary. The hot part of the tank should be under a basking bulb, and it should be about 90 degrees F. On the other side of the tank, temperatures should be closer to 80 degrees F, providing a nice gradient for your snake to move through and regulate its temperature.
Substrate
Many substrates can be used for a ball python, but cypress mulch is one of the most common. Orchid bark is also a great choice, as are aspen shavings. Some keepers even use newspaper or paper towels, though these aren’t very aesthetically pleasing.
| Tank Recommendations | |
| Tank Type: | 40-gallon glass vivarium |
| Lighting: | Heat/basking lamp and a UVA/UVB bulb |
| Heating: | Heat/basking lamp |
| Best Substrate: | Cypress mulch |
Feeding Your Lavender Albino Ball Python
Lavender Albino Ball Pythons will prefer to eat one or two items per feeding at most, so you’ll have to continually increase the size of your feeders as your python grows. It will start out on mice but will need to move up to rats once it reaches adulthood. Rats should be dead and frozen. You can thaw them, then feed them to your python using tongs for your snake’s safety. Live rats can easily harm your snake.
| Diet Summary | |
| Fruits: | 0% of diet |
| Insects: | 0% of diet |
| Meat: | 100% of diet – small/medium-sized rodents |
| Supplements Required: | N/A |
Keeping Your Lavender Albino Ball Python Healthy
The most important aspects involved in keeping your snake healthy are its tank conditions. You’ll need to make sure the tank is sanitary, which means regular cleanings. Furthermore, problems can arise when the proper temperature and humidity levels aren’t maintained. Parasites can also be introduced when contaminated items or feeders are brought into the snake’s environment.
Common Health Issues
Respiratory infections are fairly common in ball pythons, and they’re generally due to improper living conditions. Signs of respiratory infection include wheezing, loss of appetite, lethargy, and nasal discharge. Mouth rot also commonly occurs alongside respiratory infections, which is an additional infection around the snake’s teeth and jaws.
Lifespan
Taking on a Lavender Albino Ball Python is a huge commitment. In captivity, these snakes live an average lifespan of 20-30 years, but many will even live for an incredible four decades. Make sure you’re ready for such a major commitment because a ball python is a pet you’ll have for most of your life.
Breeding
Ball pythons usually breed when temperatures start to cool off in late September. To mimic this, you can reduce the temperature in your snake’s enclosure, dropping it about 10 degrees to around 80 degrees F on the hot side and 70 degrees F on the cool side.
Breeding is one time you can put two males together. If you put two males with a female, the males may compete, stimulating interest in the female. Without the incentive, a male might show no interest in a female, as they’re not naturally very social animals.
Once a male and female decide to mate, you just have to let them do so. They’ll lock together for 4 hours at least, but it could last for two days. Don’t interrupt them during this time or they’ll stop the breeding process.
Are Lavender Albino Ball Pythons Friendly? Our Handling Advice
Lavender Albino Ball Pythons are simply a color morph of standard ball pythons, so all of the normal traits that make these snakes such great pets apply to the Lavender Albino variation. They’re generally quite docile snakes that can be easily held without much work. Just make sure you keep handling your python often and it will get used to your touch. These snakes are great for first-time snake owners because they’re rarely aggressive and hardly ever bite.
Shedding: What to Expect
Lavender Albino Ball Pythons shed regularly. You’ll notice your snake’s color becoming dull and its eyes starting to become blue. These are the first signs of shedding. Soon, your snake will start rubbing up against items in the enclosure and its skin will start to peel off. To help, you can increase the humidity in the habitat slightly and withhold food since most snakes won’t eat during shedding anyway. Also, don’t handle your snake during this time. In a few days, it will be over and things will return to normal.
How Much Do Lavender Albino Ball Pythons Cost?
Typically, ball pythons are some of the most affordable snakes on the market. But Lavender Albino morphs are quite rare and difficult to produce. Hence, they cost many times more than a standard ball python. You should expect to spend around $400 for a Lavender Albino variation of a ball python. The more vibrant the snake’s coloring, the higher its price will likely be.
Care Guide Summary
Final Thoughts
Lavender Albino Ball Pythons are beautiful animals and they can make great pets, but they are not for everyone. Two deterrents are the very high price of such an exotic morph, and the two to four decades you’re committing to its care. Other than this, they’re great for any snake enthusiast to keep. You can easily handle one of these snakes and their incredible coloration makes them a sight to behold. Care is relatively simple, and you’ll have it for a very long time!
Featured Image Credit: Natnaphat, Shutterstock
