Emoji Ball Python Picture Goes Viral

A Toccoa man is going viral for an unusual snake that he has bred.

Justin Kobylka has been breeding and working with ball pythons for about 13 years.

Just recently, his photo of a ball python that is orange and white with emoji-looking smiley face designs on it has gone viral.

Kobylka said that despite reports to the contrary, the emojis were not intentional.

“It was going to be an orange and white snake like in the photo, but I get smiley faces on a snake, it is part of a natural pattern, maybe one in ten times and I do not think I ever seen two smiley faces on a snake,” said Kobylka. “This one having three is a one-of-a-kind snake.”

Kobylka said he was pretty blown away and amazed when he saw the snake for the first time.

He said he actually posted a picture of what is now being called the “emoji ball python” several months ago.

However, he said it was only recently where it grew beyond where he normally posts online.

“Just on my own channels, it had half a million views,” said Kobylka. “About a week ago is when I started getting all these media outlets asking permission to use it.”

Kobylka said it has been pretty cool to see this take off online the way it has.

He said while this may have been a coincidence, he does spend years breeding ball pythons to create distinctive traits and colors.

“It takes about eight years ago to get from a natural ball python to that gorgeous orange and white snake that the emoji ball python is,” said Kobylka.

Kobylka said it has been exciting to see his business, which is worldwide but based out of Toccoa, get this attention and also bring some recognition to Toccoa.