How can U tell the genetically different BP from the norm?

I am new to snake owning kinda I have two BP's tho but haven't had them long. But do genetically different BP's, that carry the genes to create morphs, look different than the ones that don't? How can u tell if you have a morph or genetically altered? Any Input to help me learn about this confusing stuff is welcome and appreciated! Thanks to any and all!

This is Tat(Right) & Tu(Left).....
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...03-07_0911.jpg

Look like normals to me.

You only know you have a het animal when you purchase it as one from a reputable breeder.


Otherwise, there's no way to know.

If a snake carries a single copy of a recessive morph gene....it can not be visually detected. (With rare, individual and questionable exceptions) If it COULD be visually detected as different from the "norm"...then it would be considered a dominant or co-dominant gene.

If you buy "normal" ball pythons, it is extraordinarily unlikely that they carry any provable "morph" genetics.

a a ball python that carries a mutated recessive gene is called a "het". this snake looks normal but carries a mutated gene. the only way to prove that the animal actually does carry a mutated gene is to breed it to another "het"(with the same assumed mutated gene) and if you get little visible morph hatchlings then its a 100% het for whatever you just bred out.

or you can just buy a 100% het of a reputable breeder and most likely it is what it is!

Thanks for the info all! Do they have any books on this stuff also?

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Originally Posted by Tat&Tu

Thanks for the info all! Do they have any books on this stuff also?

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Yup! :D

The Complete Ball Python by Kevin McCurley

Pythons of the World, Vol II: Ball Pythons by Barker & Barker