Rare color morphs of Ball Python are found in Axanthic Ball Pythons
Axanthism refers to a color mutation in snakes. They are unable to produce yellow pigmentation.
This color mutation creates species that look like black-and-white photographs. The Axanthic morphs are distinguished by their striking black-white colors.
A variety of Axanthic ball Pythons can also be bred to produce different patterns. Pinstripe and the pied are two of the most popular varieties.
Keep reading to find out more about this rare morph and its history.
What is An Axanthic Ball Python & How Does It Work?
Axanthic Ball Pythons is a color morph from the Ball Python. Axanthim is a recessive colour mutation that decreases the amount of yellow pigment-producing cell in a snake.
The pure Axanthic snakes are very similar to the common Ball Python, but they are only black, white, and gray.
was the first axanthicmorph, and it was bred in 1997.
Today, most axanthic Pythons descend from one of the following bloodlines:
- VPI (Vida Presciosa International) – Dave Barker and Tracy Barker
- Snake Keeper.
- Jolliff.
- Marcus Jane.
The VPI bloodline has species that retain their black-white color throughout their lives. As they age, other bloodlines tend to develop a browner color.
It is difficult to breed pure Axanthic balls pythons because the gene recessive makes it very difficult. Two parents are required to be homozygous or heterozygous.
- A pair of homozygous snakes can produce a clutch that’s entirely Axanthic.
- Only 25% of the offspring of heterozygous snakes will be Axanthic.
They are extremely rare due to the difficulty of breeding them. This species is usually bred with other designer types such as the albino or clown.
Axanthic Morph Bloodlines
The bloodline is the source of most axanthic Pythons.
VPI
- Vida Preciosa International breeds the VPI bloodline. Tracy Barker and David Barker run this organization in Texas. The first people to successfully isolate the axanthic genetic gene were the Barkers. In 1997, they bred the first Axanthic ball Python. This axanthic Python is not like other bloodlines. It rarely browns with age.
Snake Keeper
- Snake Keeper is a bloodline that Dan and Colette Sutherland first bred. Utah is the home of Snake Keeper’s breeding program. Their first Axanthic ball Python was bred in 1999. These morphs brown much faster than other bloodlines.
Jolliff
- It is rare to find the Jolliff bloodline. Michael Jolliff was the one to breed Jolliff axanthic Pythons in 2002. They have a darker overall color and less patterning. Jolliff axanthics have unique patterns and a dark color.
Marcus Jane
- Mark Mandic and Jayne Mandic bred the Markus Jayne Bloodline in 2008. These pythons are slightly different from other bloodlines. They are not white and black. Markus Jayne pythons are light-colored with pale belly and silvery sides.
Axanthic Snake Appears
Monochromatic colors are a hallmark of Axanthic ball Pythons. The same wild-type Ball Python pattern is used with gray, white, and black shades.
The Axanthic color morph replaces deep brown with shades of silver, white and gray.
These colors can vary depending on the bloodline or morph quality.
VPI morphs have the highest demand because they are completely free of brown, yellow, and tan. They have white bellies and smooth silver-gray sides. The spine is light silver.
As they age, the pattern of less desirable Axanthic Ball Pythons becomes less distinct.
Axanthic Ball Python Size
Axanthic ball Pythons can reach a height of 6 feet . Normaly, females reach three to five feet in height.
Males tend to be heavier and larger than females. On average, males are two to three feet tall.
The average size of a hatchling is approximately 12 inches in length and 49 to 62g. As a juvenile, this species of snake is very active.
Ball pythons have thick, heavy bodies. When fully grown, they can weigh between three and five pounds.
Different types of Axanthic Morths
Axanthic Ball Python Morphs can be crossed with other morphs to create unique combinations. They can be mated with pastel, spider and piebald morphs.
Here is a list specialized Axanthic Ball Python Morphs:
Axanthic Pied Ball Python
Pied Ball Morphs are entirely white with silver and gray markings. They can have very few or mottled patches depending on which individual. This morph is best if it has defined patches and sharp edges.
Pastel Axanthic Ball Python
Pastel Anxanthics have a lighter color. They have white bellies with brushed-silver sides. They usually have black markings on the spine that fade to cream or tan. The best pastels are uniformly light and have no shading.
Black Axanthic Ball Python
Black Axanthics look like Pastels. They are dark, smoky grey. They retain their color throughout adulthood, and their markings don’t change near the spine.
Red Axanthic Ball Python
Red Axanthics can be described as a color- and pattern-morph. These pythons have a normal color of light reddish-cream. They have a straight stripe running down their spine and a light head with alien head patterns on their sides.
Axanthic Spider Ball Python
The Spider is a pattern-morph with thin lines along their backs and sides. These lines create the appearance of a web and replace the dark blotches that are typical of wild-type Ball Pythons.
Axanthic Clown Ball Python
Clown pythons have an unusual pattern on their heads. Each clown python’s back has a large black stripe. Axanthic Clowns have a lighter color than pure Axanthic Pythons.
Spider Killer Bee Axanthic Ball Python
This morph is a mix between a Pastel morph and a Bumblebee ball Python morph. Axanthic Killer Bee Pythons are pure white, with minimal head markings and gray or lavender stripes.
Axanthic Bumblebee Ball Python
The Standard Bumblebee morphs come in bright yellow or white. Axanthic morphs have a white underbelly which transitions into a lighter silver. This morph is dark with spots and vertical stripes, but no dorsal stripe.
Famous Axanthic Morphs
Two other Axanthic species of morph are also available:
- Super Pastel Axanthic
- Stormtrooper
Super Pastels feature broken gray stripes that fade into white near the spine and belly. These stripes can be from dark gray brown to pale creamy.
John Dague created the Stormtrooper morph in 2016. It was bred using a Super Pastel, Axanthic and features a black-and-white pattern.
Axanthic ball Python breeding
Recessive genetics is the way to inherit the Axanthic genes.
The Axanthic Python requires two copies of Axanthic gene (i.e. One from each parent is required to display the Axanthic coloration.
To have 100% Axanthic Pythons, both parents must share the same.
VPI purchased the first Axanthic Python in 1991 from an African importer. It can be costly to buy two homozygous forms.
Some breeders have a heterozygous Axanthic Python as one or both parents.
A heterozygous Python has only one copy of Axanthic genes, and not two. Their parent will not display the Axanthic colour.
A heterozygous snake mated with a homozygous one has a 50% chance of a hatchling inheriting both genes and being Axanthic.
A 25% chance of Axanthic hatching is possible by breeding two heterozygous snakes.
Buyer’s Guide
Axanthic ball Pythons are a rare morph.
The purpose of your purchase of an Axanthic ball-python depends on the use you intend to make. You don’t need to worry about bloodline if you are looking for an exotic pet. People who purchase Axanthic Pythons often want to breed them. There are some additional considerations.
If you plan to breed this type of morph, you will need to decide which traits you would like to emphasize. This will allow you to choose the right bloodlines for your goals.
- VPI Axanthics work best to preserve silver and gray colors.
- Jolliff pythons retain unique patterns better than others.
Remember that the different bloodlines of Axanthic Python are not compatible with one another if you’re buying it to breed.
You can also confuse some morphs such as Super Pastels, Cinnamons, and Ghosts for Axanthic Ball Pythons. Ask the breeder if you have any questions about a python’s genetics.
This morph is currently in development.
Not all bloodlines are available for sale.
Stormtrooper Python is one example of a species with unknown genetics that has not been reproduced. Axanthic firefly, which was also discovered recently, is extremely rare.
What is the Price of an Axanthic Ball Python Python?
Axanthic ball-python prices will vary based on the pattern.
Prices for an Axanthic morph standard can start at $300 and go up to more than $5,000 for a clown- or piebald pattern.
| Morph | Price in USD |
|---|---|
| Axanthic Pied | $2,000 |
| Pastel Axanthic | $300 |
| Black Axanthic | $1,000 |
| Red Axanthic | $500 |
| Axanthic Spider | $1,000 |
| Axanthic Clown | $6,000 |
| Spider Killer Bee Axanthic | $800 |
| Axanthic Bumblebee | $1,300 |
| Het Red Axanthic | $1,000 |
Summary
The Axanthic Ball Python morph is a new color in the Ball Python family.
Recessive color mutations that result in black-and-white snakes are called Axanthism.
The VPI bloodline has species that retain their black and white color all through their lives. As they age, the brown coloration of the other bloodlines is normal.
Super varieties like the Stormtrooper or Axanthic firefly are making this morph very popular.
It is still not known how much of the genetic makeup of this morph has been revealed.
Do you plan to breed an Axanthic? Please let us know by commenting below.
