Question about getting started breeding balls

Hello. Hoping to get some direction and guidance. I have owned our ball for about a year now and he is doing great. I have been thinking about getting into breeding, nothing big, but a very small operation ( I love the genetics part of it all). So, I have a male normal which I have heard are not really useful in breeding and should just be the show pet. So what would ya'll recommend as a good starting place? I'm in no rush to quickly produce designer morphs and have the time to prove out any breedings. Any suggestions on a starting point? Thanks for your suggestions and help.

I would suggest spending a lot of time on this site reading up on breeding. There is a lot of information and things that you might not think about when getting into breeding. My first thing is the upfront cost, when having multiple snakes, obviously everything gets more expensive. Feeding, housing (I would suggest a rack system) Just equipment and setup is not cheap. Read this too http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...gs-to-consider IMO its well worth it, I love the genetics too and just the curiousity of seeing what can be produced. It's definitely a hobby for me, and I plan to keep it that way. I would just say Read Read Read and ask questions, you can always learn new things.

As for the snakes part, I'm not sure if you are looking to try and breed next season or if you don't mind getting some hatchlings and raising them for for a few years down the road start breeding. If you are looking for sooner, I would just say get a large normal female and probably a two gene hatchling male (bumblebees never get old IMO). It would basically be a feeler, see if it's something you want to do, or see if it's not... Eitherway, it is a good starting point IMO. If you don't mind waiting for a couple years to breed, then you could start with a single gene female, maybe a pastel or lesser or something to get you going and raise her up to breeding size. I'm not sure what you want to do but be careful it can get addicting :D:gj:

Also, one more thing and I'll stop rambling, go check out http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/ they have pictures and the genetics to all kinds of morphs. It is pretty cool, and you can get a feel for what genes you like and then just pick what you like. Afterall, it is YOUR hobby, do what you love.

Hope this was some help (but I'm by no means an expert.)

Calder

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Originally Posted by csagen

I would suggest spending a lot of time on this site reading up on breeding. There is a lot of information and things that you might not think about when getting into breeding. My first thing is the upfront cost, when having multiple snakes, obviously everything gets more expensive. Feeding, housing (I would suggest a rack system) Just equipment and setup is not cheap. Read this too http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...gs-to-consider IMO its well worth it, I love the genetics too and just the curiousity of seeing what can be produced. It's definitely a hobby for me, and I plan to keep it that way. I would just say Read Read Read and ask questions, you can always learn new things.

As for the snakes part, I'm not sure if you are looking to try and breed next season or if you don't mind getting some hatchlings and raising them for for a few years down the road start breeding. If you are looking for sooner, I would just say get a large normal female and probably a two gene hatchling male (bumblebees never get old IMO). It would basically be a feeler, see if it's something you want to do, or see if it's not... Eitherway, it is a good starting point IMO. If you don't mind waiting for a couple years to breed, then you could start with a single gene female, maybe a pastel or lesser or something to get you going and raise her up to breeding size. I'm not sure what you want to do but be careful it can get addicting :D:gj:

Also, one more thing and I'll stop rambling, go check out http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/ they have pictures and the genetics to all kinds of morphs. It is pretty cool, and you can get a feel for what genes you like and then just pick what you like. Afterall, it is YOUR hobby, do what you love.

Hope this was some help (but I'm by no means an expert.)

Calder

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Thanks for the info. Not looking to breed next season but down the road. Im still in the research phase and still need to get equipment and the whole set up. Once I do get started, I don't mind getting hatchlings and raising them for a few years. Thanks for the differenct links, I will definetly check them out and slowly start getting equipment so that when I am ready to take off it's set to go and everything is prepared. Once again thanks.

Rod

hey there i am also starting out myself but if i can give u some words of advice when buying snakes buy from someone who is a reputable breeder and ask around to make sure they are a good breeder, if they are local ask to see the snakes and the facility to make sure they are and have been being cared for properly. do research into the morphs and dont make the mistake i did and not look into the issues that come with some of the base morphs. there was a link on this site about lethal combos for ball pythons there was a video link as well. i would also suggest when buying equipment also do research and make sure your getting good quality equipment that wont break down on you right away. last and foremost find a good herp vet one that has been around a while. i think thats all i got so far lol good luck:)

By females first. They take longer to become sexually mature.

hey another thing to from what breeders have told me dont buy proven breeder animals. get babies most breeders i have spoken with have had bad experiences with buying proven breeder animals. there may be breeders out there that have had luck with them but i have been warned not to buy them. of course i got that info after i had already bought one so i am hoping he proves to be good. but yes as the above person also mentioned females first and then males later. o make sure u have a scale as well. you are going to want to monitor the weight gain of your animals

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Originally Posted by exoticballbreader

hey another thing to from what breeders have told me dont buy proven breeder animals. get babies most breeders i have spoken with have had bad experiences with buying proven breeder animals. there may be breeders out there that have had luck with them but i have been warned not to buy them. of course i got that info after i had already bought one so i am hoping he proves to be good. but yes as the above person also mentioned females first and then males later. o make sure u have a scale as well. you are going to want to monitor the weight gain of your animals

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What did they say was wrong with them...?

^---- X2

Inquiring minds want to know :cool:

All of the proven breeders we have purchased are doing really well, breeding like crazy, great eaters.... FWIW.

I would lay money down on a proven female any day over a hatchling. I tend to buy quite a bit of them and never have a problem.

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