The word “hypo” means lacking and the word “melanin” refers to the dark pigments in animals. A hypomelanistic ball python is lacking the dark pigments that a normal ball python would express. Since the hypomelanistic appearance creates a lighter, almost “transparent” pattern and a “ghostly” sheen, these snakes are commonly referred to as ghosts. In addition to a faded pattern, their eyes are a different color – a deep ink blue. When hypomelanistic animals shed, the shed skin is patternless.

The hypomelanistic mutation is one that is often overlooked by many hobbyists. I feel this mutation is the key to producing many unseen ball python morphs. Imagine a snake that is both hypomelanistic and striped or caramel or axanthic!!! Not only can hypos be bred into other color mutations but can also be crossed with pattern mutations as well. A hypomelanistic piebald will be a beautiful snake.

My hypos are among the best butterscotch hypos that I have come across. My founding animals were imported in 2000 and appear to not only be unrelated to each other but unrelated to any other hypomelanistic stock in captivity. I plan breeding hypos into all of my other moprhs. These projects will take years.......I would not invest my time and money in anything less than these hypos.