Ball Python Colors?

[Slithergirl]

Is there website that clearly defines what qualifies all the different colors? I thought I just had a pair of regular ol' balls, but after looking at some pictures, I am not so sure.

[mbraun3]

There is a book called designer morphs by john berry... (i got it for boas but pretty much most of it is balls because there are so many different morphs) if you are looking into breeding i would REALLY recommend the book... if not post a picture of your BP and I'll let you know which morph your BP is (i'm not too good with BPs but I'm sure by looking at pictures (which the book is full of) i can figure it out!)

[DaemoNox]

Ball python morphs are expensive enough where if you dont know theyre normals. You'd know you got something when you get it.

[mbraun3]

Ball python morphs are expensive enough where if you dont know theyre normals. You'd know you got something when you get it.

not exactly... if this person got their BP from Petsmart or Petco, those places dont know any better they just think its a cool looking snake... but if this BP doesnt look anything near a normal i dont know why hose places would have it... lol its seriously unlikely... in a way you're right but as i said above if its a morph that its either hard to tell apart from the normal (in MOST situations petsmart and petco dont know much about snake morphs so they cant notice even some of the more obvious differenced) then petco will think its a normal BP... just to reassure you go ahead and post a picture....

[Aaron_S]

She has pictures up. They are normals. If you didn't pay over a "normal" snake price then it's a normal.

[Slithergirl]

Thanks for all the help guys! I really appreciate it. I just wasn't sure because of the major color difference between the two. I don't really care what color they are, there still both sweethearts!:)

[Aaron_S]

One could be getting closer to a shedding cycle then the other.

[Slithergirl]

That could be true, I didn't think about that. Embolie just got done shedding.

[DaemoNox]

The thing you have to consider is that no breeder or dealer is going to sell a $300+ snake as a normal, and no way is a petco going to sell something like that for a normal. There are still in such demand so they arnt going to be grouping morphs in with normals for petstore sales. Now pastels will be the first morphs to hit petstores big, but their price will easily be over $200. Other then that all the other morphs out there are still around $500 and you know no way is one going to slip past and be labeled as a normal.

[Slithergirl]

Well, is there still a good site or book on coloring. Just for educating myself. My husband and I have decided that our once a month date night is going to turn into the once a month, all day at the reptile show over in columbus. And I would like to somewhat know what folks are talking about. LOL

[Aaron_S]

Sites that have a lot of info on the morphs are ralphdavis.com (http://www.ralphdavis.com) snakekeeper.com v3.07b (http://www.ballpython.com) and New England Reptile Distributors, designer Ball Pythons, Reticulated Pythons, and much more! (http://www.newenglandreptile.com) All three are good sources. There is no single site that has EVERY morph.

[Jay_J]

Let's everyone understand that even normals have hidden genes that may prove to something gorgous. I don't mean het for anything, I mean that awesome normals have turned to expensive morphs overnight. Example. Corey Woods het red axanthics, A nice blackback with awesome side pattern, proved to one of the nice axanthics out there and still very untapped( except for Corey make most of the crosses). I can't see your pictures??, but breed them and see.

[Slithergirl]

Well, I think that they are pretty far off from breeding, I think they are just about a year old. And everything I have read says that it is between 3-5yrs of age to breed...right?

[Aaron_S]

It's a weight thing mostly, moreso than age. But thats a good amount of time to wait before breeding. Also, are you sure they are a female and male?

[Slithergirl]

I am pretty sure. The breeder used these little probe things while I was there. He said Resner was a boy, because the probe went in pretty far and Embolie a girl because it didn't. At first I wanted just a male. That is why he sexed them and then I ended up taking them both.

[mykee]

"not exactly... if this person got their BP from Petsmart or Petco, those places dont know any better they just think its a cool looking snake... but if this BP doesnt look anything near a normal i dont know why hose places would have it..."

Wrongo!

Those snakes that finally make it to pet stores have been picked through SO MANY times my breeders, importers, etc. that anything resembling a "non-normal" BP has been taken long ago...

[Aaron_S]

Mykee is completely correct. Since the ball python craze happened no importer, or collector overseas is going to send an odd looking ball python to a pet store for pennies. They could be getting a lot more from a breeder.

[Taverj]

I just bought 3 Ball Pythons off of another service member who was moving. (my first 3) :bouncy:
1 is a "Normal",
1 is a "High Tan, or High yellow":wacky:
and 1 is a "Pastel",,

At least that is what he called them. I did check on a few web-sites, and the Pastel does appear to be a Pastel.

What is the "High tan"? It is similar markings as the normal, but much lighter.
What are the possible breeding outcomes of these 3 types? (haven't had them sexed, just wondering?
Thanks, TJ

[Aaron_S]

Your breeding possiblities are really really nice normals. That's it. You need a pastel jungle for anything interesting. A Pastel is just a non genetic really nice normal. Someone can correct me if I'm mistaken.

[mykee]

Pastels are genetic, the other two are just variations of normals. Without seeing pics, no one will know if your "pastel" is in fact a pastel.

[Aaron_S]

Thank you for the correction.

[mykee]

Aaron a pastel is a pastel jungle, people are just lazy, that's all. No correction really, I'm just up with the "lazy lingo".

[Aaron_S]

Hm I thought they also had Pastels awhile ago, oh wait I might be thinking of just a plain "Jungle". I don't know about these names! BUT glad to see you back.