When buying a morph, do you tend to buy based on...

Do you tend to buy the morph based on the color of the snake or the pattern of the snake?

Some morph examples can have a very bad color example (ie. browned out pastel) while some might have a pattern that is not pleasing to you (ie. if you like reduced pattern snakes, a very busy and non symmetrical lesser).

So, are you more likely to buy the snake that has the better example of colors and blushing, or more likely to purchase a nice reduced pattern (or busy pattern if you like that! ;)) ball python?


I know there's hundreds of morphs, and you may have different tastes for different morphs, but try to vote off your dream snake or a recently purchased snake.

I am a pattern fan. I am not really into the wild, flambouyant color patterns. I like the clean, uniform, reduced patterns. That is probably why Woma and true bandeds are my favorites. Must be the years of military training in me...


Rob

I compare the prices and look for soemthingthat caughts my interest as to the pattern and color when I look at the group when I find what I want.

I'd go for a 4th choice which would be 'either/or' It depends on the morph. For spiders or pins of course I'd be more concerned with pattern, with lessers or hypos I'd be more concerned with color.

I look for color first...it seems to me that pattern is much more easily affected in a generation or two than color is. That having been said, of course I look for both when I can.

When I decided that I wanted to add a Lesser to the collection, I waited a year for the right one to come along. Color was important (the lighter the better) and pattern was important (had to be completely reduced pattern - and preferably black back after I saw Judy's Lesser in Daytona).

I think the wait was worth it:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...n/IMG_5936.jpg

I'm the same with all the morphs that I add to my collection - they have to be my "ideal" for that mutation. Anything less won't satisfy me.

As a breeder we are extreemely careful about the animals we pick up. We want the best example of each morphso we have the greatest possibility of passing those qualities on. What good is owning a bee if you have to tell people what it is. It should scream bee.

To me, coloration is important. But also, I would like a nice busy pattern, or somewhere in the middle. For colors, I look for blushings, and brightness. But also, I would like the colors to be clean. I love the busy patterns, and somewhere in the middle, so I always look around before I purchase anything.

When I saw my Pastel the first day at the show, I waited to see what other Pastels there were at the show before I purchase one. I went back the second day, and there was the Pastel again. So, out of all the Pastels I saw, this one is definitely it. I LOVE the head blushing, the yellows, and the pattern. This snake was definitely a must have out of all the snakes I saw at the show.

http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...z/DSC01210.jpg

I voted for both, although I'm not sure I'd wait years for the perfect one... kind of like "shopping" for a spouse, where you can't look forever or you'll die alone! :oops: But I do try to consider both pattern and color, especially with certain morphs - like pastels, since I love the crazy patterns but also want a nice yellow w/ heavy blushing.

I'm more of a reduced pattern person myself, though that's not to say I will pass on "regular" patterning if I like the snake. Things I factor in are color (I prefer the lighter morphs myself--just a preference), pattern, flames/blushing, and I have a preference for certain blackbacks, depending on the morph. Spiders, lessers/butters, and cinnies (but most cinnies typically do) should have a black back if I'm looking to purchase one. I also tend to grativate towards the "odd" looking morphs . . . morphs that don't have a typical pattern for that particular morph. I like odd things like that; it's interesting to me to see how they look when bred with other odd snakes.

But I will definitely wait a while before I purchase if I don't find what I'm looking for. I've been combing through ads for male butters myself, but haven't found that particular one that has a pattern and color that I like. I want one with a very odd reduced pattern, and a lot of blackback if not an entire black black.