6 Most Expensive Ball Python Morphs of All Time

Most ball pythons you find at the pet store are a standard brown and black and cost around $100. But if you're looking for one with a unique coloration, you can expect to pay a lot more than that. Ball pythons are available in thousands of attractive color and pattern mutations, known as morphs, and some of these can cost as much as $20,000. Feast your eyes on the most expensive ball pythons and find out why they cost so much.

As if the name isn't adorable enough, these expensive ball pythons are absolutely stunning. The dreamsicle's beautiful coloring is due to both the lavender albino gene and the piebald gene. Dreamsicle ball pythons cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 or sometimes more, depending on their specific patterns. One produced in 2017 looked as though it had three orange smiley faces on its body and sold for $6,000 because of this oddity.

That's right - scaleless. Ball pythons can possess a gene that causes them to have no scales at all. Some are just scaleless on their heads or in patches around their body, but fully scaleless ball pythons are rare and, therefore, expensive. The first snake with this morph was bred in 2013 and was reportedly sold for an astronomical $125,000. However, as the morph becomes less rare, the price has dropped to between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on other morphs incorporated into the snake's genetics.

The zebra pastel ball python is one of the rarer morphs, which is why they cost so much. They are a combination of two genes: the zebra gene, which is responsible for the beautiful bands across their body, and the pastel gene, which amplifies their yellow coloring. If you're able to find one of these stunning snakes, you'll pay as much as $10,000 to $12,000 or more.

With a name like the sunset ball python, you know this morph is gorgeous. The sunset ball python is one of the rarest morphs, which their price point certainly reflects. Snakes with soft coloring can cost around $5,000, whereas those with a vibrant copper shade or additional patterning can go for upwards of $15,000.

The monsoon is another beautiful and expensive ball python morph. These snakes have a very delicate pattern that was reportedly given the name monsoon because the design resembled drops of water on a window during a storm. You can expect to pay between $12,000 to $18,000 for this attractive pet.

The stranger ball python is currently the most expensive morph out there, and one with an interesting namesake. They were initially a genetic surprise to a breeder from IRES Reptiles in the Netherlands, who said the first strangers looked "strange" compared to the rest of the clutch. You can pay anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000 for one of these expensive ball pythons, depending on their appearance and what genes they possess, in addition to the stranger.

With over 4,000 different ball python morphs, it's easy to understand why new and unique combinations pop up every day. Selective breeding can be challenging, so it's possible to produce a single anomaly snake, then never repeat the same pattern again. This is the case with the Stormtrooper Ball Python; the owner initially listed the snake for $50,000 but decided against it, so they could attempt to breed the gene. Whether you're indifferent about your snake's appearance or are looking for a ball python with a rare morph, these snakes make docile and loving pets.