A couple questions about reduced patterns...

[missmary]

I have a couple questions about the genetics of the reduced pattern in ball pythons.

1) What's the difference between non-genetic and genetic (other than the obvious) reduced pattern bps and how can you tell the difference?

2) If I bred a reduced pattern bp such as this one (not my snake, but looks like it) to a spider ball python, will the spider offspring have a cleaner pattern than if I had bred the spider to a bp that has alien heads?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[Spaniard]

1) What's the difference between non-genetic and genetic (other than the obvious) reduced pattern bps and how can you tell the difference?

The difference is that genetic reduced patterns have been proven to pass on their physical pattern traits to their offspring. Whether it be dom, co-dom, or recessive. There is no way to tell the difference; the most reliable way is to buy from a reputable source. There are many reduced pattern snakes that are not genetic yet look like their genetic counter parts.

2) If I bred a reduced pattern bp such as this one (not my snake, but looks like it) to a spider ball python, will the spider offspring have a cleaner pattern than if I had bred the spider to a bp that has alien heads?

What you are describing is called selective breeding. While is not guaranteed to work out the way you described its everyone's hope that doing so will help. Taking time to pick out your breeding partners and planning will certainly help the chances of getting offspring to look the way you hope they will. Then again there are always surprises and things not working out the way you expect.