A Decent Place To Start?

Hey there! For my birthday today I've decided to take the plunge into ball python breeding and buy animals for next year. A friend has offered me what I'd consider a great deal on 4 snakes and a 6-tub rack. Being new to ball python's I was wondering what the opinions were, if it was worth the $800
Feel free to be as blunt as possible.

2010 Female - Normal Proven Het Axanthic VPI
2012 Male - Axanthic VPI
2013 Female Spider het Axanthic VPI
2013 Male Bumblebee

Also as a bonus he's offered to throw in a 2014 Pied for $200, but I'm not sure I want to mess with double recessive genes yet... Although I think an Pied Axanthic would look amazing!

What do we think? Good start package, or run the other way?

It's only worth it if that is what YOU want to produce.

Keep in mind that the hets you will produce will not be easy to sell.

The package is also male heavy, the male bee will have no female to be paired with as the two female should obviously be paired with the axanthic.

I would pass on that male and get anther female instead.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

It's only worth it if that is what YOU want to produce.

Keep in mind that the hets you will produce will not be easy to sell.

The package is also male heavy, the male bee will have no female to be paired with as the two female should obviously be paired with the axanthic.

I would pass on that male and get anther female instead.

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Oh wow I didn't even notice that! See, this is why I asked :) I'm really interested in utilizing the Axanthic gene in things like Pinstripes, that's why the list has so many there haha. But I don't want to have strictly grey animals so I figured the bumblebee was a good place to start for some high yellow... and don't get me started on how much pieds fascinate me ;)

How about money wise? If I were to trade out for another female... worth it?

Depends what type of rack is it. Homemade or bought? T-stat include.? What size tubs?

Have to agree with Deborah that it's best to start with more females if you can. Is for the value it doesn't sound too bad. I thing I can comment on having just assembled a new 7 tub (28 quart) rack from XPVC cost me a total of $347.44 for everything including the heat tape and Vision tubs. Last fall I picked up a breeding size male pied for $400 (50% white) so getting one for $200 is a good deal though you didn't say if it was a male or female?
I would see if he has another female of breeding size that he want's to part with instead, especially if you have no plans to breed the pied, to be honest mine is to keep as a pet, it's the one that gets the oohs and aahs when visitors ask to see some snakes. LOL

Homemade, heat and therm included, 40qt tubs :)

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Originally Posted by C2tcardin

Have to agree with Deborah that it's best to start with more females if you can. Is for the value it doesn't sound too bad. I thing I can comment on having just assembled a new 7 tub (28 quart) rack from XPVC cost me a total of $347.44 for everything including the heat tape and Vision tubs. Last fall I picked up a breeding size male pied for $400 (50% white) so getting one for $200 is a good deal though you didn't say if it was a male or female?
I would see if he has another female of breeding size that he want's to part with instead, especially if you have no plans to breed the pied, to be honest mine is to keep as a pet, it's the one that gets the oohs and aahs when visitors ask to see some snakes. LOL

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Well I may breed the pied one day into the axanthic, I'd love to see if Axanthic Pied is possible... to my understanding it's called a Lightning Pied but I'm not sure of the entire process haha :)
the reason it wasn't labeled is because I have the gender choice, lucky me!

I'd forget about the bumblebee for now. As others have said, he doesn't fit in with your axanthic projects and the only way to make him fit is going to get different females for him. The male axanthic and the two hets are a good place to start, though I feel the need to point out that all you will get from these snakes are normals, het and poss het axanthics, axanthics, and axanthic spiders. Not bad, but personally I lean toward more variety. If he has an axanthic something male I would spring for that instead, as the more bang you can get in a male the better. An axanthic pastel, for example, would give you pastels, axanthic pastels, spiders, axathic spiders, bumblebees and axanthic bumblebees when put to the spider (with all non axanthics being het). Better outcomes and better value.

If you were able to get a male with more than just axanthic, I would say the two females you have would be plenty to start with. Sure you could get a third or even fourth females but it may be best to ease into this. You can always get more once you feel comfortable in your setup, so there really isn't much of a rush. If the axanthic male is all you can get on the other hand, I'd scrap the normal het female and pick something else. Paired to a regular axanthic male half of what she throws are going to be normal het axanthics, which you as a new breeder may have trouble selling.

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Originally Posted by Daigga

I'd forget about the bumblebee for now. As others have said, he doesn't fit in with your axanthic projects and the only way to make him fit is going to get different females for him. The male axanthic and the two hets are a good place to start, though I feel the need to point out that all you will get from these snakes are normals, het and poss het axanthics, axanthics, and axanthic spiders. Not bad, but personally I lean toward more variety. If he has an axanthic something male I would spring for that instead, as the more bang you can get in a male the better. An axanthic pastel, for example, would give you pastels, axanthic pastels, spiders, axathic spiders, bumblebees and axanthic bumblebees when put to the spider (with all non axanthics being het). Better outcomes and better value.

If you were able to get a male with more than just axanthic, I would say the two females you have would be plenty to start with. Sure you could get a third or even fourth females but it may be best to ease into this. You can always get more once you feel comfortable in your setup, so there really isn't much of a rush. If the axanthic male is all you can get on the other hand, I'd scrap the normal het female and pick something else. Paired to a regular axanthic male half of what she throws are going to be normal het axanthics, which you as a new breeder may have trouble selling.

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See, you're right on the edge of answering my question. I don't want to JUST breed axanthics, I want to breed something the opposite, really bright and out there. Any ideas what I should look for? Pastel, Mojave etc :)

Also, almost anything I get from him will be het Axanthic. He said if I don't want it het Axanthic to mention it ahead of time haha :)

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Originally Posted by TheBear

See, you're right on the edge of answering my question. I don't want to JUST breed axanthics, I want to breed something the opposite, really bright and out there. Any ideas what I should look for? Pastel, Mojave etc :)

Also, almost anything I get from him will be het Axanthic. He said if I don't want it het Axanthic to mention it ahead of time haha :)

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Mojave isn't bad, but if it's brighter colors you want I would lean more toward lessers or butters. Reading some of what you described you liked, I think you would like a nice kingpin or a queenbee. There is absolutely nothing wrong with axanthics and you can't go wrong with a pair of axanthic or hets (I didn't mention before, but I would actually go for a female axanthic and a male het with some other gene present), but a good lesser or butter combo can also go pretty well.