I'm new here Please be gentle.

[DarkProphet]

Hello, everyone, I'm new here. I do not know why I didn't join earlier. I am a snake love from way back when. I had snakes as a kid but I always had to leave them outside and they always seemed to be poisonous so my dad or uncle would kill them. I now know better but as a child what could I do other than run away crying screaming I hate you. Well, anyway I'm thinking I want to get back into the hobby. I want to breed ball and reticulating pythons. So that's my story and I'm stick'n to it.

[Veronica]

Welcome to the Forum! It sounds like you had a rough time with snakes as a kid, but I'm glad that it didn't ruin them for you :)

[DarkProphet]

yes me too.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome aboard and best wishes!

[craigafrechette]

Welcome to the forum!

Not to discourage you, but breeding is a challenging and expensive hobby. It requires years of experience to do it right and shouldn't be rushed into.
...and DEFINITELY not with reticulated pythons. Honestly, you should have some years of keeping smaller snakes before even CONSIDERING keeping a retic.

Just trying to help you do things responsibly, safely and what's right for the animals.
These are living creatures and should be treated as such.

[MDT]

I would second Craig's comments. Retics and balls are nothing alike. If you don't have the experience, financial resources, and space (lots of it), you might want to consider sticking w ball pythons. These are usually much more forgiving.

[DarkProphet]

Yes, I'm not wanting to breed retics just yet. I posted that without reading it. I want a retic. The golden child black one that looks like an oil spill. I do want to breed ball pythons, however, I'm sure there is a lot to the breeding of snakes. I hope to get some advice on my journey but I will learn after all everyone starts out not knowing.

[craigafrechette]

Yes, I'm not wanting to breed retics just yet. I posted that without reading it. I want a retic. The golden child black one that looks like an oil spill. I do want to breed ball pythons, however, I'm sure there is a lot to the breeding of snakes. I hope to get some advice on my journey but I will learn after all everyone starts out not knowing.

Gotcha! Even keeping a retic as a pet shouldn't be taken lightly and should only be considered after years of keeping other, smaller snakes. Many people have the misconception that if they get a retic as a hatchling they'll grow with the animal and be able to care for it. Then the animal is sold, given away or released somewhere because people underestimate their strength, even as young animals.

As for breeding, we see countless new keepers wanting to dive head first into breeding. It's best to keep a particular species for several years before considering breeding.
We see it all the time. We'll say Joe Schmoe decided to buy a cute baby BP having never kept snakes. Then they love their snake so so much and buy another to breed to the first "when they grow up".
Then they buy another and another and another so they can have multiple projects and morphs going....
Then they burn out, or decide snakes aren't for them after all.
Again, these animals are for sale on Craigslist or somewhere or are outright released somewhere. Now Joe Schmoes animals all need homes...again...

Not to mention how ridiculously over saturated the BP market is these days. I just checked and there are currently 10,287 yes over TEN THOUSAND ball pythons listed for sale in morphmarket. That's just ONE sales platform!!! Imagine how many others have been bred and need homes....

Again, not trying to discourage you. Just trying to put some food for thought on your plate.

[DarkProphet]

I understand everything you're saying. I have taken care of snakes before, not mine but a friend of mine had or has (not sure anymore I lost contact as life moved on) several Burmese Pythons and two Anacondas. I know all too well about the power of these snakes trust me. I would have already started into the snake breeding years ago, but I wasn't able to for women reason and the health reason. I don't have the women reasons or health reason anymore so I'm looking into it. I love snakes of all kinds and other reptiles for that matter. I do not in any way want to harm them or have them harm someone. That why I'm here so I can get tips, tricks, and advice. I won't be able to start this adventure for at least a year yet. I trying to learn all I can before I start. BPs have so many morphs or mutation if you will that it's a little overwelling

[craigafrechette]

Ok cool. I haven't been lucky enough to meet a Condas yet. A yellow is one of my dream snakes. But I'm not getting any younger, so it'll have to stay a dream, hahahha.

Sounds like you've got a good plan in place. I misunderstood and didn't realize you had the hands on experience that you do, so I apologise for that.

Good luck. Stick around the forum, I'll be looking forward to what you start with.

[Aaron_S]

Welcome to the forum.

My advice on breeding is be extremely selective in your animals and morphs you want to work with. You've come at a time that most things are affordable and there's plenty out there. So take your time and buy what's right for you.

Do your best to not get caught in someone else's mistakes/or marketing push. There's certainly morphs of ball pythons that are less popular and hard sells. I do not know enough about retics to give advice on this.

I personally like mojaves and their combos.

[DarkProphet]

I hope to be around for a while, and thank you for all your insight it is now and will always be welcome. Lord knows breeding is something I've never been around.

[DarkProphet]

That's too bad, those condas are very powerful, I think I like the yellows too. They seem prettier to me. What do you breed right now?

[DarkProphet]

I'm not sure what morph I like best just yet. Thank you for advice. I won't get stuck with someone else's mistake or project. I'm a retic it looks like an oil slick. It's black of course but shines like oil does in the water. Is there a black morph in BP's? How long you been breeding BP's?

[DarkProphet]

So what do you do? What kind of snake do you breed or other reptiles for that matter?

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Welcome! I have an 8-year old leopard gecko named Ninety-Nine right now. I don't plan on using him for breeding (let alone breeding any reptile species), but he is still a fun pet to keep.

[Aaron_S]

I'm not sure what morph I like best just yet. Thank you for advice. I won't get stuck with someone else's mistake or project. I'm a retic it looks like an oil slick. It's black of course but shines like oil does in the water. Is there a black morph in BP's? How long you been breeding BP's?

There's no complete black ball python morph out there to my knowledge. Some come close. Super black pastel, SUMA, cinnamon SUMA. Maybe a blackhead suma might do it and I don't know if it's been done yet. It's possible an axanthic suma might but that's an odd project.

I've been breeding ball pythons for 9 years consecutively.


So what do you do? What kind of snake do you breed or other reptiles for that matter?

I currently produce ball pythons and crested geckos. We have some african house snakes breeding and this coming fall I should have ringed pythons being paired so here's luck to them.

There's a selection of colubrids being bought right now but they won't be breeding for awhile. Feel free to look at my FB page or my instagram for pics.