For a ball python? I'd say don't bother.

The way I set them up for my lizards is by creating a small ecosystem. You have the bacteria in the soil breaking things down, worms breaking thngs down, small insects breaking down fungi, other insects breaking down feces. It's somewhat complicated, and considering a ball python isn't going to be eating any of the organisms, you'll need to keep things in check somehow. In all likelihood it will become more effort than it's worth, removing some aspects until you just have bioactive soil is going to be somewhat slow on breaking down urates and feces.

I'm not saying it can't be managed, just that it's going to be more headache than it's worth. You really want some kind of semi-insectivore in there to pull it off.