Snakes and Stones

Photo #209
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gkpsdw.jpg
I rather like the patterning on this stone. :)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Photo #209
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gkpsdw.jpg
I rather like the patterning on this stone. :)

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Very nice- I think it's going into shed though? :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Very nice- I think it's going into shed though? :D

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Thanks! Yep! You are right. The little ones always seem to be in one stage of shed or another...:)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Thanks! Yep! You are right. The little ones always seem to be in one stage of shed or another...:)

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I meant the stone...;):D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I meant the stone...;):D

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Hahaha! Could be!

Some stones get more 'in-blue' than others!

Photo #210
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_uukpqk.jpg

Photo #211
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_hwfws2.jpg

Photo #212
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jqs6bs.jpg
I am *almost* tempted to name this ball python because she is carrying multiple Het Recessives and I will probably be keeping her for a long long time. :)

The stone in the center I shaped for a little over a year before polishing it. It is a shame that the pits in the red part of the stone are throughout the entire piece....I had to call it quits though: I have ground away over 50% of its original mass...I did learn enough not to try and tumble large pieces of a nearly identical stone also taken from Lake Superior (shown below).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...syhj0snzx9.jpg

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Photo #212
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jqs6bs.jpg
I am *almost* tempted to name this ball python because she is carrying multiple Het Recessives and I will probably be keeping her for a long long time. :)

The stone in the center I shaped for a little over a year before polishing it. It is a shame that the pits in the red part of the stone are throughout the entire piece....I had to call it quits though: I have ground away over 50% of its original mass...I did learn enough not to try and tumble large pieces of a nearly identical stone also taken from Lake Superior (shown below).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...syhj0snzx9.jpg

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What a beautiful "snake & stone salad"! Oh, go on...give the little beauty a name, for Pete's sake! And I don't see anything to pity in that large center stone either- I think it's quite attractive. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Photo #211
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_hwfws2.jpg

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I thought that was varnished wood for a second. Tiger's eye? :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

I thought that was varnished wood for a second. Tiger's eye? :confusd:

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I was thinking along the same line, petrified wood? but Tiger's Eye is a real good guess too.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

I thought that was varnished wood for a second. Tiger's eye? :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I was thinking along the same line, petrified wood? but Tiger's Eye is a real good guess too.

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Bogertophis called it! Petrified wood. :) There are some jaspers that look similar, but, petrified wood is much more common and is hugely varied in color and pattern--depending upon the original source and environment in which it was formed.

Fun fact: It can take millions of years to form a natural piece of petrified wood. Scientists can replicate the process in a laboratory and can accelerate it to days...it isn't quite the same quality, but, it can be done.

As for the possibility of tiger eye: red in tiger eye is extremely rare in nature. The red tiger eye that is most often sold on the market is yellow tiger eye that has been heat treated. Due to the process you will almost never see any yellow/red variegation in a piece. I haven't worked with red tiger eye yet, but, I am told that is much more prone to internal stress fractures which decreases the odds of a near perfect piece.

Photo #213
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_hejcxe.jpg
Bumblebee Het Hypo.

Fun fact: Granite forms in underground magma chambers, as it slowly cools crystals form (commonly quartz).
As granite is rich in quartz and feldspar and these two have different hardness (quartz: 7 vs. feldspar ~6): it is difficult material to tumble/polish and often results in a mottled sheen.

Allow me to go on the record & just say that you're forgiven for any & all "mottled sheen". :D (I suspect you're the only one to notice it.)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Allow me to go on the record & just say that you're forgiven for any & all "mottled sheen". :D (I suspect you're the only one to notice it.)

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Thanks! But, I am sure it is noticeable.

The quick photo below has a brazilian agate on the left, and a type of granite on the right. You can see my ceiling lamp and smoke detector reflected on the mirror polish on the agate, and nothing on the granite.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ish_jmha3q.jpg
Many lapidary artists will steer clear of any type of stone that does not guarantee them a high polish.
It is taboo in Rock Tumbling: I am not concerned with getting a high polish on every stone.
I really manage to get people in lapidary forums 'irate' with my philosophy. ;)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Thanks! But, I am sure it is noticeable.

The quick photo below has a brazilian agate on the left, and a type of granite on the right. You can see my ceiling lamp and smoke detector reflected on the mirror polish on the agate, and nothing on the granite.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ish_jmha3q.jpg
Many lapidary artists will steer clear of any type of stone that does not guarantee them a high polish.
It is taboo in Rock Tumbling: I am not concerned with getting a high polish on every stone.
I really manage to get people in lapidary forums 'irate' with my philosophy. ;)

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That's where I was going with my comment too- I'm not into stone-polishing, & to me, beauty doesn't require a high shine. In fact, I collect antique trade beads, & I prefer that they look like they were worn & well-loved, with a softer patina- not thrashed but not "new" looking either. It's all rather subjective as far as I'm concerned. Besides, I want to see the stones, not your ceiling fan! :D

Photo #214
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mpxh3c.jpg
Superfly: held back a bunch of them last year so I can pick the 'best' for integration into my Axanthic combos when they reach maturity.

Photo #215
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_u6v36x.jpg
Orange Ghost/Spider (aka HoneyBee)
and a Brazilian Agate that reminds me of a Cowrie seashell.
The patterning was a little different on this one (as opposed to the other blues) so I put this one aside for a separate photo.

Pictured below is a group of Brazilian Agates (including the one above: before/in progress).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...l-2_grfuxt.jpg

Photo #216
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...5zm3jqrvmy.jpg

Photo #217
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...sdjaoylol1.jpg
I had the opportunity to buy some odd-shaped assorted lapidary scraps for a little over cost of shipping...a bunch of the pieces were too thin or heavily pitted and broke apart during tumble, but, the majority of them survived. Shown above are a few that made it out of polish recently.

Python morph is a single gene GHI. :)

Really spectacular arrangements LS. Is photo # 216 a lavender albino?

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Really spectacular arrangements LS. Is photo # 216 a lavender albino?

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Thanks! Nah, the blue stones are reflecting a bit of color onto the white of the albino.

Here is a quick snap (shown below) and you can easily spot the Lav.
The albino on the lower left is from Photo #216. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tpk8xy.jpg

Photo #218
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...jzjmoonb3j.jpg
Another stone from the CT River, had some neat orange inclusions in it.
Ball python: 100% Het Clown, 50% Het Lav. Albino
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...i0qnp1374t.jpg
Up close-they look like miniature garnets to me. :)

Photo #219
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gliycf.jpg
I like the pattern and color on this stone, but, it has a lot of internal fractures.
I managed to keep it intact.
Not a super clean tumble, but, it still looks neat. :)

Photo #220
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zkxxbd.jpg
Petoskey stone with a: 100% Het Lavender Albino, 50% Het Albino, 50% Het Pied BP. :)

Photo #221
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_r5sky6.jpg
Semi-Translucent stones are always tricky to photograph...you actually see a short distance into the stone and so they look a bit textured even though the exterior is perfectly smooth.

Ball python: Enchi, 66% Het Albino

In other news: I think I found the source of my dreams of breeding flying snakes with iridescent wings.
I've looked at a particular Egyptian Sarcophagus a few times, but, only today I consciously noticed this emblem near the feet. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...kes_zfqogs.jpg

Photo #222
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_k5mulh.jpg
Petoskey +1, and some other 'rocks' that were originally one really gnarly piece of something (arrived with the rough petoskeys) before it broke apart in tumble...

Ball python: 100% Het Clown, 50% Het Lav Albino (yes, I hatched an entire clutch of these last year).

Photo #223
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_saokgt.jpg
More Brazilian Agate, and another Super Pastel/Spider (Killer Bee) with Multiple Hets. :)

Sometimes they lock for a few minutes and sometimes...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_eezr10.jpg

What's the rush? It's not like they have to get up & go to work! :rofl:

:O Wow! They are all amazing and thanks for sharing. That triple het in photo #220 is a triple threat !! Congrats!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

What's the rush? It's not like they have to get up & go to work! :rofl:

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They are at work now! ;) That pied male has more females to cross with and needs to take a break.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

:O Wow! They are all amazing and thanks for sharing. That triple het in photo #220 is a triple threat !! Congrats!

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Thanks! But, #220 is only a Possible triple threat. :)
Another clutch mate (100HetLav/50HetAlbino/50HetPied) pictured below:
Photo #224
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bmo01xzh00.jpg
Petsokey Stones (aka Fossilized Coral) are always a challenge to tumble.
I couldn't completely round out the larger pieces without breaking them, so...good enough!

Photo 225
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xpm3bw.jpg
Pastel Orange Dream, and more Brazilian agates. :)

Photo #226
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_sqjtsb.jpg
Pastel OD clutch-mate to specimen shown in Photo #225, this one definitely has 'cleaner' patterning. :)

As for the reddish quartz stones: Hard fractures and significant imperfections are nothing new to what I find in my area.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...rtz_nl1tu2.jpg

Photo #227
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...kqgtdhavmn.jpg
Granite is not the easiest material to tumble and/or polish...It is quite common in my area and has huge variety.
Ball Python: 100% Het Clown, 50% Het Lav Albino.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...6wiiutgy8w.jpg
Saw this little guy below chilling in the frigid water: snapped a photo. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-2_gc9ddk.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8qfmohuvap.jpg

Photo #228
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_cpead0.jpg

Photo #229
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xle863.jpg
This entire photo set was blurry and/or had overwhelming flash glare. This photo is sort of mid-way between two much glare and too blurry...good enough! :)

Your photography is always just so perfect. [emoji3590]

Sent from my SM-S426DL using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Daniel_Effler

Your photography is always just so perfect. [emoji3590]

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Thanks!
My art teacher told me once that some of the greatest artists were never happy with their work because they thought they could do 'better'.
I'm sure I could do better--just so little spare time these days...and I'm not even in the hatching season yet. :)

Photo #230
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ego38g.jpg
Note: The red brazilian agate in the center is my latest 'favorite'.

Got this ball python in a trade today...having trouble ID'ing the morph.
Any guesses? I'm thinking Super Black Pastel Axanthic perhaps?
He is a little nippy.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jkohs3.jpg
(Joking of course) ;)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Got this ball python in a trade today...having trouble ID'ing the morph.
Any guesses? I'm thinking Super Black Pastel Axanthic perhaps?
He is a little nippy.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jkohs3.jpg
(Joking of course) ;)

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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I'd avoid his teeth if I were you. Nice chubby little Uracoan rattlebrat. (Crotalus vegrandis- found in Venezuela)

Photo #231
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nnmqxv.jpg
Before:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...cbydhgxa68.jpg
Because this material is soft I had to dry polish it in my vibratory tumbler (shown below).
https://youtu.be/z9EydOq9E_A

I'll bet that when you were a kid, your mother had to hide her Mixmaster from you! :rofl: Or keep it under lock & key?

They sure came out nice, by the way.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'll bet that when you were a kid, your mother had to hide her Mixmaster from you! :rofl: Or keep it under lock & key?
They sure came out nice, by the way.

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Thanks! There was only one kitchen appliance I was forbidden to use: and that was the popcorn maker...ahhh good times...put 3lbs. of kernels in a device with a 1/2 cup capacity and you have instant entertainment for a 4 year old me...:D

Random: King cobras always look so angry....
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_akp46t.jpg

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Thanks! There was only one kitchen appliance I was forbidden to use: and that was the popcorn maker...ahhh good times...put 3lbs. of kernels in a device with a 1/2 cup capacity and you have instant entertainment for a 4 year old me...:D

Random: King cobras always look so angry....
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_akp46t.jpg

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Your mom should have gotten a medal of valor...:D

I don't know, cobras look much like many other colubrids to me-? I think rattlesnakes, with the scales that shade their eyes, have more of a scowling look- but they "grew on me" anyway. :cool:

Photo #232
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_h3vpad.jpg
100% Het Clown/50% Het Lav Albino,
with a decent sized polished Brazilian Agate
(there is a quarter hidden in the photo for scale).

Went to the New England Reptile Expo today 03APR2022.
I took a bunch of pictures, but, I had my camera configured to an odd focus setting-so they all ended up pretty blurry.

I said that I would buy a Highway ball python when the price dropped to a couple hundred bucks...today is the day! :)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ctond6.jpg

Wowza! I can see why you just caved. That's a stunner!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wowza! I can see why you just caved. That's a stunner!

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Thanks!
I was also looking at this one (shown below x6 gene), but, it has Spider...and after 'cleaning up' my Spider line-I don't trust like that...:)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_bfiye7.jpg

I hear you Lord S. The spider gene just helps to bring about so many amazing morph productions though.