Pastel

Pastel is one of the foundational incomplete-dominant morphs used in ball python breeding, brightening the normal black, brown, and gold pattern of Python regius. Pastels typically show cleaner yellows, lighter eyes, reduced dark pigment, and blushing along the sides or dorsal pattern. A super Pastel, produced when the snake inherits the gene from both parents, is usually brighter and more washed out than a single-gene Pastel. Many named combinations in the hobby use Pastel as a building block, including bumblebee, lemon blast, and pastel clown.

Pastel does not require special husbandry and is not associated with the neurological wobble seen in some spider-based combinations, although Pastel may be present in those snakes. Color can change as the animal matures, with some lines holding yellow better than others, so adult examples are useful when evaluating breeders' stock. Keepers should judge the snake as a ball python first: steady feeding, appropriate weight, and clean shedding matter more than brightness. Breeding projects benefit from clear records because Pastel can be difficult to distinguish in multi-gene animals.