Genetics:

Co-Dominant

Proven by:

Gulf Coast Reptiles (2002)

Description

The Black Pastel is a popular incomplete dominant (co-dominant) ball python morph known for its darker coloration and rich contrast. At first glance, a Black Pastel resembles a normal (wild-type) ball python but with a much deeper and more dramatic appearance:

• Coloration: They have a dark brown to almost black background color with rusty to chocolate-brown blushing. The golds and yellows in their patterning are muted, giving them an overall “sooty” or “smoky” look.
• Pattern: Their alien heads (the rounded blotches along the sides) are usually more distorted or “melted” than in a normal ball python. They often have connected or broken dorsal striping, which enhances their unique appearance.
• Belly: Many Black Pastels show speckling or “peppery” markings on their bellies.

When combined with other morphs, the Black Pastel is especially powerful. For example:

• Black Pastel + Pastel ? creates the Black Pastel Pastel (a.k.a. Black Pastel Lemon Blast-type look with brighter golds and deep blacks).
• Black Pastel + Cinnamon ? produces the 8-Ball, an almost jet-black snake with ghostly patterns.
• Black Pastel + Pied ? makes very dark, high-contrast pied ball pythons.
• Super Black Pastel (homozygous form) ? often results in an almost patternless dark snake, sometimes with silver or grayish undertones, though some lines have been linked to kinking or deformities when bred in homozygous form.

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History

The Black Pastel morph was first introduced in the early 2000s.

• It was originally discovered and proven by Gulf Coast Reptiles (Ralph Davis and others were also involved in its popularization).
• Breeders quickly realized its potential in dark-morph projects and its ability to intensify colors and contrast in combos.
• Its compatibility with other dark morphs, particularly Cinnamon, made it a foundation gene for creating the nearly all-black “8-Ball” ball python, which was a major talking point in the reptile hobby at the time.
• Over the years, the Black Pastel has been refined through selective breeding to enhance darkness, reduce pattern, and improve overall color balance.

Today, the Black Pastel remains a staple morph in the hobby. It is widely available, affordable compared to newer morphs, and still highly valued in combo projects—especially in dark, high-contrast designer morphs.