Ball python fanatics are always searching for information about this snake species. One of the things ball python enthusiasts are interested in is learning about the different ball pythons. Many ball python morphs exist, and among the many, one of the fascinating ones is the lesser ball python.
So, what is a lesser ball python? A lesser ball python is a co-dominant, basic/base morph. Lesser ball pythons have the original ball python pattern, but the main difference between them and the regular ball pythons is that they are browner and have yellow spots along their spines and sides. Also, a lesser ball python head looks almost similar to that of the original ball python, but its color is a slightly lighter brown.
If you are a ball python enthusiast, there is probably much you want to know about lesser ball pythons. Read on to know what does a lesser ball python mean, how much it costs, and if they are the same as butter ball pythons.
Ball pythons do not all look alike, as is the case with other snake breeds. The beauty of the ball python breed comes in various colors and forms. Over twenty different ball python morphs exist; one of the morphs is the lesser ball python.
The lesser ball python is a base/basic morph. A base morph is a naturally mutated snake that occurred in the wild and most likely originated there. Lesser ball pythons are co-dominant. Co-dominance in lesser ball pythons means that, through inheritance, these ball pythons get to have a unique combination of visible traits. This is due to the inheritance of two alleles, which have incomplete dominance. When a lesser ball python inherits two alleles, it inherits two forms of a gene.
Lesser ball pythons make other morphs. Generally, they provide base genes for some ball python morphs. The lesser ball python is a common breeder tool. Lesser ball pythons tend to enhance blushing and color in the morphs they create.
A lesser ball python and an original ball python do not have much difference. Nonetheless, one notable difference between a lesser ball python and the original ball python is the color. Regular ball pythons are generally black or dark brown.
The original ball python also has a white or cream-colored belly and lighter brown patterns on the side and back. On the other hand, lesser ball pythons typically have a light brown overall color. Their spines and sides also have yellow spots. The yellow color is also visible on the belly and in the splotches.
The homozygous form of the lesser ball python is the BEL (Blue Eyed Leucistic). A homozygous lesser ball python, i.e., the BEL, generally inherits two genes (one from each snake) that are the same.
Meaning of the Term “Morph” Mean
If you don’t know much about ball pythons or snakes in general, then you might not be familiar with the term “morph.”
When a snake “morphs,” its appearance appears different than what you would expect. Therefore, a ball python that has morphed looks different from a regular ball python. One common belief is that snakes morph as a way of protecting themselves from attackers. However, the actual cause of morphing, whether or not snakes morph to defend themselves, is a genetic mutation.
The genetic material of a ball python changes, even without lacking anything. This means that a morphed ball python can live just like other ball python snakes. The difference in its appearance is generally not a genetic defect that affects its ability to live like other ball pythons.
It is important to note that morphism is not the same as a genetic defect. When a ball python has a genetic defect, it lacks or possesses an excess of essential genes required to make a regular ball python. Because of the lack of or excess genes, a ball python with a genetic defect has anatomy different from that of other ball pythons with no defect and generally cannot live like other ball pythons.
Even though morphing alters a snake’s appearance, a morphed ball python remains part of the ball python breed. There are over twenty different ball python morphs, and apart from the lesser ball python, others include:
- Albino ball python
- Banana ball python
- Axanthic ball python
- Mojave ball python
- Scaleless ball python
- Clown ball python
- BEL python
- Butterball python
- Cinnamon ball python
Are Butter and Lesser Ball Pythons the Same?
After thorough research from various sources, it is evident that the debate on whether lesser and butterball pythons are the same is still ongoing.
Nonetheless, what is evident is that the lesser and butterball pythons have quite similar appearances and are related to one another. Their color brightness and patterns may vary, but that is expected in all color morphs. Also, many people believe that lesser and butterball pythons are from two different lineages of the same morph. This belief comes from the similarity in appearance between the butter and lesser ball pythons.
How Much Does a Lesser Ball Python Cost?
Just like cats and dogs, the price of a ball python depends on the specific breed and other factors. Therefore, the price of the lesser ball python is expected to be different from that of a stranger ball python.
The average current cost of a lesser ball python is $100. Lesser ball pythons are more affordable since many breeders can comfortably produce them. You can get one for a lesser price or a slightly higher price, depending on various factors. However, the first lesser ball python costed approximately $30,000. Lesser ball pythons were that expensive after their inception twenty years ago because they were revolutionary at that time.
The rarest and priciest ball python morphs are usually those that:
- only a few breeders can breed
- are created using recessive genes
- have an appearance that has never been seen before
The most expensive morph is that which is the newest at a particular time. However, over time, such morphs become less expensive. For instance, lavender albino ball pythons costed a whopping $40,000 when they were new. Today, you can get a lavender albino ball python for less than $400. Since the lesser ball python is now common, it is affordable and easily available.
Currently, the stranger ball python is the most rare ball python morph. Because of the rarity of stranger ball pythons, the price of one can go up to over $20,000. Other rare ball python morphs include sunset, scaleless, and monsoon ball pythons. The stranger ball python was first bred only nine years ago. In 2012, a breeder from the Netherlands hatched the first two of these pythons by accident. The pythons came from a male butter pastel and a normal-looking clown ball python.
Broadly, a stranger ball python has:
- a deep-black color
- brown inverse teardrop shapes along its sides
- brown blushing between the teardrop
How Can You Identify a Morphed Ball Python?
If you have trouble identifying morphs, you should take comfort in knowing that you are not the only ball python fan who faces this challenge and that identifying morphs is not as hard as you might assume. The following tips should help you be in a better position to tell if a ball python is a morph.
For the average person, the best way to identify a ball python morph is by carrying out a comparison of the characteristics of a particular ball python with those of a standard ball python. The standard or original ball python has certain standard features.
For example, as earlier mentioned, the ball python is generally dark brown or black. Regular ball pythons also have light brown blotches on their sides and back. Therefore, if a ball python seems to have completely different characteristics in terms of color and patterns, it is most likely a morphed ball python.
However, it is essential to note that many morphs do not show their colors until they are almost fully grown. Therefore, the method of comparing color might be challenging when dealing with a young ball python.
You can also identify a morphed ball python by finding out who its parents are. Morphs have the highest potential of creating more morphs. Therefore, if the snakes that made the ball python you are investigating are both morphs, there is a high chance that the snake in question is also a morph.
Please note that morphs can create more morphs, but they do not always do so. Another way of telling if a ball python is a morph is through genetic study and testing. However, the average person might not be in a position to conduct genetic studies and testing.
Final Thoughts
If you are a ball python enthusiast, this article has taught you several things about the lesser ball python morph. Remember that:
- the lesser ball python is a co-dominant and base/basic morph.
- lesser ball pythons make other morphs and are common breeder tools.
- lesser ball pythons tend to enhance blushing and color in the morphs they create.
Finally, considering lesser ball pythons are now easy to breed and readily available, they are among the most pocket-friendly ball python morphs.
