Russo het Lucy ID and general Lucy questions

[Bluebonnet Herp]

What are some markers to keep an eye out for when identifying a Russo het Leucistic ball python? I can't find any info out there, other than pics that show how subtle it is.

Also, generally, what is the cheapest/easiest way to go about producing or obtaining a BEL ball python, ie what is the cheapest form/combination of BEL, and what are the cheapest 'het' or condom forms of a BEL? How much do BELs cost today?

[Inarikins]

Super mojaves are going to be the 'cheapest' of the BEL complex, but they're not the whitest. They have grey on their head and I think some dorsal patterning. A whiter snake is going to be something like a lesser/mojave or even a super lesser. I've seen male super mojos for $800+ and lesser/mojos for $1000+ (I'm thinking VMSHerp here). I think mojaves are going to be the cheapest of the codoms (~$150 for a male), but lessers and butters are coming down and I don't recall seeing any russos for sale recently.

If you're going to be breeding, though, do you really want the cheapest snake you can get? You pay for quality and high-quality snakes (imo the only ones you should be breeding) are not cheap. If it's a pet it doesn't matter I guess, but if you're asking about price just to buy the cheapest example of a morph to make more poor examples of a morph I would probably reconsider.

[MarkS]

You can try contacting Vin Russo directly. I personally think the white diamonds are among the cleanest of the Blue Eyed Leucistics. And I think a pair of hets are not much more expensive then a pair of Mojaves.

http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/home.html