Is this just a normal ball python? (Image heavy)

[EZPZLemonSqueezie]

I bought a ball python from a breeder back in November. He was selling a small clutch of just 'normal' ball pythons. Well, my little Slithery Dee doesn't seem like just a normal for me. He has a lot of orange towards his belly. I've been trying to get help with figuring out what he is, and if he is actually a he... Would it at all be possible to get some help with identifying what he really is?



These were when he was a baby. Here's his color and pattern more recently.



I can post more pictures that show the head/body etc once he's done digesting a bit. He ate last night and I don't want to stress him out right now.

[Craiga 01453]

I am not great at morph ID, but I see a normal. If the breeder sold it as a normal, it probably is.

The breeder didn't sex the animal before selling it?

[EZPZLemonSqueezie]

He said "I'm pretty sure it's a male" so I've been calling him a he. He also couldn't tell me why this one, out of the 4, was so orange. He said he has suspicions that it wasn't just a normal but couldn't tell me for sure. I got two more pythons but neither from him again. It kinda seemed like he didn't really know much about them. Needless to say, I wont be back to this breeder....

[Godzilla78]

Not sure, but the black back pattern is killer!

[Godzilla78]

I will be the first to admit that sometimes “normal” morphs can have wicked sweet patterns and color tones

[Craiga 01453]

He said "I'm pretty sure it's a male" so I've been calling him a he. He also couldn't tell me why this one, out of the 4, was so orange. He said he has suspicions that it wasn't just a normal but couldn't tell me for sure. I got two more pythons but neither from him again. It kinda seemed like he didn't really know much about them. Needless to say, I wont be back to this breeder....

Any chance he told you the pairing of the parents?

[EZPZLemonSqueezie]

I didn't even think to ask. I just wanted a normal to start off with. I couldn't afford the 200+ supply costs and a 300+ snake.

But I do agree with his pattern. He's stunning and regardless of what gene he is, he's my scale baby. It's just been bothering me lately not knowing what he is. Someone did tell me he looked like an orange dream, but idk.

[Craiga 01453]

I didn't even think to ask. I just wanted a normal to start off with. I couldn't afford the 200+ supply costs and a 300+ snake.

But I do agree with his pattern. He's stunning and regardless of what gene he is, he's my scale baby. It's just been bothering me lately not knowing what he is. Someone did tell me he looked like an orange dream, but idk.

Gotcha. My guess is the breeder wouldn't even remember at this point.

Any which way, that's a beautiful snake. Most of my snakes are "normals". There's just something gorgeous about them the way the are naturally.

[Danger noodles]

It looks like a manderin to me but I’m sure it’s not as they are pretty rare still and like $5,000

[EZPZLemonSqueezie]

Gotcha. My guess is the breeder wouldn't even remember at this point.

Any which way, that's a beautiful snake. Most of my snakes are "normals". There's just something gorgeous about them the way the are naturally.

He's my special baby, that's for sure. Though he's really calm, he's also very shy. My albino, on the other hand loves to be handled. I didn't think I'd have a snake that actually enjoyed being held.

If I managed to get a 5k snake for $70 I'd be over the moon.