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Ball Python Morphs and Me
The Ball Python is a small yet thick hearty snake with a very docile disposition. It has gained in popularity because of this, added that they have a very beautiful pattern. What’s also popular is some wild caught (and captive bred specimen occasionally) exhibit unusual physical characteristics that stand out more than others. In the wild these unusual patterns and colors would have gotten the python discovered, killed and/or eaten. But in captivity, they’re protected and sought after. Some of these characteristics have been found to be inheritable genetic mutations, or ‘morphs’. A morph is a spontaneous genetic ‘accident’ that occurs in nature. Here at my private facility, I’m doing my part in preserving and out-breeding the bloodlines of some of the world’s most beautiful rare genetic python morphs. Of the more popular and visibly noticeable morphs, there are the Albinos and the Piebalds. Over the next few years, I’ll be maintaining and producing these two morphs. I will also be producing a steady number Jungle Carpet Pythons and maybe a few hybrids, but the future of this facility will be based primarily on Ball Python morphs. I hope one day to move on from Albinos and Piebalds (though still producing them) to Pastels, Patternless, Spiders, Blacks, and Leucistics. If you are new to this, before reading further, please read about how morphs are maintained and documented by checking out the Genetics page.
History and Potential FutureAbove all else, this is a hobby for me. I’m an avid snake collector. For the last few years I’ve been buying the ‘pick of the litter’ of different species, and the obvious next step was breeding. Ball pythons have always been a favorite of mine, and I became a big fan of the morphs after researching breeding techniques. I was amazed at how many different and beautiful genetic morphs existed for this one species. Being the collector that I am, I wanted them all! After seeing the prices and the stability of the morph market, I knew I had to get a piece of this pie. I wanted to begin with the cheapest of the extreme morphs, the Albino, and the other most sought after morph on the market, the Piebald.The first few years will be my establishing years for creating a colony of genetically diverse carriers for desired morphs. Any Het males I purchase will be outbred to hand-picked normal females to give me a few clutches of 50% Poss Het females for my visible recessive morph males to breed with, along with true Het females I purchase. This will include Albinos, Piebalds, and eventually Patternless. Co-dominant/Dominant morphs will be bought and bred to make either Het or Homo forms of the desired morphs (like Pastel, Spider, Black, and Leucistic) or to cross into other lines of morphs (like Pastel X Piebald). To further cross morphs, I will breed Albinos with Piebalds, and the popular Bumblebees (Spider X Pastel). Many more are to come. To follow the status of my projects, check availability often for the lastest news and for new blood.  Selective Breeding: I've been buying up unrelated colorful normals to breed with the future morphs I work with. Any breeders I'll be using will be displayed for all to see. I believe in having the highest quality genetics possible, be it for coloration or for genetic variety. I’ll be working hard to keep a steady supply of morphs and Hets available to the public, but also keeping them genetically sound. I keep inbreeding to a minimum, as should every breeder, though it does take a certain amount of inbreeding to maintain a morph. Each new animal produced here will be serial numbered, cataloged, and easily referenced for anyone who wishes to check lineage for further breeding (to ensure as little future inbreeding as possible). All Hets will come with paperwork proving their bloodline. If you breed one of my possible Hets (66% or 50%) and prove it to be an actual Het, or a normal, please contact me so I can update my bloodline catalog. When buying Hets ALWAYS get paperwork, signatures, references, and pictures when dealing with anyone. Hybrid Projects: Hybrids have been a fascination of mine as well. This is the breeding of two different species. Sometime in the future I will tinker around with these ideas. I hope to cross a Jungle Carpet Python with a Green Tree Python, as well as a Burmese with a Red Blood Python. The Carpet Python I have in my collection is actually a Jungle X Queensland, so it’s already somewhat a hybrid. I believe Burmese Pythons and Blood Pythons can be crossed as well, though I have no knowledge if it's ever been tried. I might try a Ball Python with the Red Blood if it’s at all genetically possible (I’ve heard stories for both scenarios), or a Ball Python with an Angolan Python. I’d like to breed an Albino Ball Python with an Angolan Python to eventually make an Albino 50/50 Angolan Ball. I believe the dark colors of the Angolan Python will look amazing without melanin. Think about the rest of the morphs crossed with the Angolan... Spider, Piebald, Pastel... this is what a hobbyist thinks of in his spare time. I'm always available for assistance or questions in general. If you need a helping hand, feel free to contact me anytime by email. I hope we can eventually do business together, and I appreciate your interest. |
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