What should I start with?

[Khay]

I'll be the annoying newbie, and ask a ton of questions. =D

I got excellent advice from a breeder, and he told me that if I wanted to become one, to start breeding what I liked. Well, being the animal lover that I am, his advice brought me to look through all of the ball python morphs that I could find, and of course, now I have a problem, as I want one of each, and that simply isn't the way to start off, especially when I am not rich, and can not afford that many snakes.

Now, I'm not sure of the average going prices of these snakes, so I suppose I need to do more research there, but what would you guys think of a good pair (or two) to start off with? I know in the end I'll have the make the final decision, but some help before I jump too far in over my head would be lovely!

The morphs that I've 'simplified' my list to (and shoved everything else on the 'to be purchased at a later date') are:

• Axanthic (love)
• Piebald
• Pastel
• Super Pastel
• Mojave
• Desert Ghost
• Fire
• Yellow Belly
• Granite
• Queen Bee (but wobble, so pretty though!)
• Clown
• Ghost (though I doubt I'd be able to tell one apart by looking at one yet)

Now, a friend of mine wants a Super Pastel Axanthic... SO. I'm thinking of getting an Axanthic, and a Super Pastel, and then trying to start that line of breeding for him so that I can start that...

However, which one should be male, and which one should be female. o.0; (any tips on Super Pastel Axanthic success?)

Not to mention, what other pairing would look nice, or be something to start off in. I'm probably going to try and Axanthic everything. xD But my partner is leaning towards granite and Desert ghost, possibly Fire... I don't know what to get to pair with hers.

Any ideas on pairings, or what would be a good starting base for someone who will potentially get into breeding?

[Jazi]

Now, a friend of mine wants a Super Pastel Axanthic... SO. I'm thinking of getting an Axanthic, and a Super Pastel, and then trying to start that line of breeding for him so that I can start that...

IDK who that friend is, nope >.>

Hai Khay love. I don't have any answers to your questions, but welcome to bp.net anyway

[The Serpent Merchant]

You have some expensive morphs on that list.

Something that you should know that the axanthics tend to turn brown as they get older. Some more than others but very few look the same as they do as hatchlings.

Also just to be sure you are aware that axanthics are a recessive gene so it will take 2-3 breedings to get the axanthic super pastel

Genetic Wizard 3.0 calculations by





Genetic Wizard 3.0 calculations by


Also be aware that there are more than one blood line of axanthics and they aren't all compatable.

[Khay]

Yup! I know it's going to take a few breedings, and that's fine with me...

And yes, expensive morphs. Most of them are my partner's doing. Though a couple are mine. However, I may invest in hets, and then go from there to breed my morphs. It will take a little longer, but it's a little cheaper (hopefully!).

As for the browning, I'm okay with it. I may not be able to make the investment for a nice black and white line, but it'll come.

Which ones of the bunch are the cheaper ones?

I should probably start off with those. Please excuse me while I go do my research properly. xD

Thanks Aaron, I actually wasn't aware that there was more than one bloodline! That's good to know.

And Jazi, of course you don't know this friend... Nope. xD

[Rob]

If your interested in going rates. Check out king snake.com or fauna classifieds. It will give you a rough idea of what animals are going for

[Aragog93]

I'm currently in the same boat! I think for my first project I want to produce some blue eyed lucy's ad at least for my purposes I'm thinking getting a pastave which in my opinion, is relatively cheap in this hobby for a double morph snake, and breeding it to a normal to start. With those odds, it's a pretty wide array of possible outcomes. Hope this was helpful

EDIT: the array becomes wider in the second generation(hopefully) with pastave x pastave

[The Serpent Merchant]

• Axanthic (love)
• Piebald
• Pastel
• Super Pastel
• Mojave
• Desert Ghost
• Fire
• Yellow Belly
• Granite
• Queen Bee (but wobble, so pretty though!)
• Clown
• Ghost (though I doubt I'd be able to tell one apart by looking at one yet)

Of this list these are the ones that are under $500

Pastel
Mojave
Fire
Yellowbelly

I wouldn't worry about the spider wobble.

For the axanthic I would try to get a VPI axanthic (or het VPI axanthic) they seem to hold their colors pretty well.

[Khay]

Thanks Rob! I'll go take a look now, better than the google search I was doing.

Arogog, nice to see someone else in the same boat! My partner does not want a white snake, and does not like many all 'yellow' snakes. So I'm at a limited collection of what she likes, and what I like. Pastaves seem nice!

Though I think I'm a fan of black and white.


Aaron, I'm currently emailing VPI to see what their rate is for an Axanthic. I could potentially do a payment plan, but I'll definitely be saving away for one from the VPI line. Which reminds me that I need to find housings for these guys. Ah haha.

[The Serpent Merchant]

You can get VPI bloodline axanthics elsewhere as well so keep an eye on kingsnake classifieds.

[RobNJ]

Of this list these are the ones that are under $500

Pastel
Mojave
Fire
Yellowbelly

I'd add axanthic, granite, super pastel, and ghost to that...

You can always start off with a pair of pastel het axanthics...that would give you the absolute quickest chance of hitting your goal. If not that, I'd start with a pastel het axanthic male and an axanthic female, or maybe a super pastel male to an axanthic female.