Snakes and Stones Pr. 2

Photo #533
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_bt9zmn.jpg
BP = Pastel/Het Gravel or Yellowbelly

The stone is a piece of Chalcedony from the West Coast, USA (with a piece of local quartzite gravel trapped in it during tumbling).
Because the stone is so gnarly-I considered breaking it up and tumbling the smaller pieces to get a 'cleaner' end result. I find larger rocks more interesting-so I decided not to...:)

For my clutch #10: I had a 38% chance/egg for Pastel/Orange Dream (+Het VPI Ax/+Het OG) and I missed on 5/6 eggs.

My last egg in that clutch is hatching:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zvpqxy.jpg
I see an OD head stamp, I have my fingers crossed it will be Pastel. :evileye:

C'mon, you can do it! :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

C'mon, you can do it! :gj:

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Awwww no luck! :taz:
It is an Orange Dream (+Hets interfering with color/patterning)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...025_vt3umc.jpg
Breeding scheme: Pastel/Axanthic/Orange Ghost x Pastel/Orange Dream...(13% Chance of Super Pastel OD + 25% Chance of Pastel OD/each egg)
My Clutch #13 is from the same breeding scheme but a different female Pastel OD, only 4 eggs in that group though...
I would have liked to have seen at least 1 Pastel OD in my first 6 eggs from Clutch #10.

Frustrating for sure, but hey, that's why you breed snakes, isn't it? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Frustrating for sure, but hey, that's why you breed snakes, isn't it? :D

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Definitely! :)

Photo #534
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_oydgrs.jpg
BP = Banana/Pos. Het Hypo.
Stones are assorted, off-hand I see: Petrified Wood, Brazilian Agate, Iron-Stained Quartz, and Carnelian. :)

Beautiful BP, stones & overall arrangement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Beautiful BP, stones & overall arrangement.

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Thanks! :)

Photo #535
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_z0mqpk.jpg
BP= Hidden Gene Woma/Lesser/50% Het Hypo (aka Soul Sucker/50% Het Hypo)
The stone is a larger piece of Salmon Feldspar-heavy granite from my area.

For some reason my digital camera has issues taking photos of Soul Suckers-I think it tries to do some sort of internal correction and makes it blurry.
Here is a closeup of the head I managed to take.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xwgbt3.jpg
Breeders Notes:
-My Clutch #11 is next up to hatch, this is the one where half of the eggs died early on (2 out of 4). The remaining two eggs look fine, but it is very possible they could be duds.
The two remaining eggs are also adjoined to the decaying eggs, but they are not directly below them (liquid drips down)-so I did not bother to cut them loose.

-I have established my breeding scheme for 2026: 15 males and 55 females.

-For 2026 I have sixteen fully mature females breeding 1:1 with my Super Blade/Het Clown/Het Lavender Albino male that failed to produce any offspring this year (x12 1:1's).
I hope I get *something* from him next year...:rolleyes:

Photo #536
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gts6ye.jpg
Ball Python = Pastel/Het VPI Axanthic/Het Orange Ghost
Stones = Jasp-Agate from Oregon, USA--they actually have a pink hue that the camera did not see.

Side Note: The two eggs in my Clutch #11 are starting to hatch. I have included a pic below.
As I mentioned previously: 2 eggs died early on and they are angled so that any excess fluid would drip down--so I had no need to separate them.
I realize it is not very aesthetic, but I prefer effectiveness over aesthetics.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_fprx0i.jpg
My cross for Clutch #11 was Leopard/Pastel/Het VPI Axanthic/Het Orange Ghost x Spider/Orange Ghost/Het VPI Axanthic.
First snake hatching out is definitely a winner! :)

Photo #537
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ncw2i1.jpg
BP = Pastel/Het VPI Axanthic/Het Orange Ghost, assorted stones.

Note: Due to the level of interest in my Clutch #11 hatchling...I will upload a photo of them when they are out of the egg. :)

My first hatchling from clutch #11 has came out.

Cross: Leopard/Pastel/100% Het VPI Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost x Spider/Orange Ghost/100% Het VPI Axanthic
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...l-1_aqzvdn.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...l-3_sgicmo.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...l-2_llwkb6.jpg
Wow! This doesn't seem right at all. This looks like an Ivory. Grrrrrr...:irkd:
I checked the egg box and I have confirmed the breed scheme as accurate.

So....this must mean that both of the parents must be Yellowbelly-which is a bit of a surprise to me as both the parents should have a below 25% probability of YB.
Unless of course this is not an Ivory, but, it sure looks like one to me...except for that weird ringer mark.

I know I have a mystery gene floating around in my VPI Axanthic line...It could be I've had Yellowbelly in there for the last 10 years and never proved it out until now. :taz:

My second hatchling from Clutch #11 is starting to come out:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_omggwi.jpg
No No No No No No--This is wrong! :omg:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xlrogw.jpg
Even *IF* the two parents were both Het for Yellowbelly, the chances of getting two Ivories in a row are (1/4*1/4) = 1/16.

I know I didn't mislabel the clutch because I took photos when I collected the eggs.
The female was in a 1:1 mating this year and the lone male I used last year was a Pastel/Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost.

There has to be something else going on here...I will have to think about this one. :frustrate

Photo #538
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_j5dn7f.jpg
BP = Orange Ghost/Het VPI Axanthic
Tiger Eye from South Africa-unlike other batches I've tumbled...my latest batch of rough was very unstable and it has taken a lot more effort than expected.
Fun Fact: Tiger Eye is a type of silicified asbestos in quartz...so don't powder it and breathe it in. :)

Breeders Note: My second hatchling from Clutch #11 is out of the egg. Prior to first shed-it is entirely white with no defining marks anywhere.
The first hatchling had a bit of a yellow Ivory stripe, a light ringer, and slight Spider head marks. The second hatchling has no marks-it is just pure white. :crazy:
I have to assume they are both Ivory. I will use my UV torch on them when they are a bit older and see if any pattern shows. I'm not sure whether to save these two for proof breeding or just vend them.
Since I had to hold back so many adult females that did not breed this season-my snake collection is at 97% housing capacity and I don't need 2 Ivories at 66% Het VPI Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost.

But clearly you love the frustration or you wouldn't be breeding snakes? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

But clearly you love the frustration or you wouldn't be breeding snakes? :D

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I wouldn't say I enjoy frustration. I enjoy a pleasant surprise if it is an upgrade to what I expected. I do not enjoy a surprise if it is a downgrade or an error.

The two snakes from Clutch #11: What if one of them is a Pastel/Leopard/Spider/VPI Axanthic/Orange Ghost and its pattern is completely obliterated by two unexpected copies of Yellowbelly-so it looks completely white. I find that pretty annoying! :)

Photo #539
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_cezqnf.jpg
BP = Pastel/Het VPI Axanthic/Het Piebald/50% Het Orange Ghost/+Probable Yellowbelly :cool:
Stone is a local piece of granite-y style stone. It took a very high shine, I wish they all did...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_oforgq.jpg

Breeders Note: My Clutch #12 hatched out. The mother was a Super Lesser (solid-white, blue eyes).
I had used a UV light on her previously to try and figure out if she was carrying Hidden Gene Woma, but, I saw no patterning or indication...
She was in-fact carrying the gene and produced several Soul-Suckers from the cross.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Breeders Note: My Clutch #12 hatched out. The mother was a Super Lesser (solid-white, blue eyes).
I had used a UV light on her previously to try and figure out if she was carrying Hidden Gene Woma, but, I saw no patterning or indication...
She was in-fact carrying the gene and produced several Soul-Suckers from the cross.

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And a Soul-Sucker is a good thing?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homebody

And a Soul-Sucker is a good thing?

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Lol, I wouldn't say bad. I would say unusual because I used a Pastel/Lavender Albino x Super Lesser/HGW to produce Pastel/Lesser/HGW's (Pastel Soul Suckers/Het for Lav Albino).

I don't think I've seen a Lavender Albino Soul Sucker yet...while not my intent...gonna run with this one...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ity_spsouu.jpg

Before the prices on Ebay became ridiculously high-I used to buy peoples rock collections (so that I could tumble them).
I was rummaging around through an old box of random stuff (mostly petrified wood) one guy had collected and I found a neat quartz crystal in matrix.

I took the photo below, I thought the image would look prety cool, but I guess it looks nicer in person. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wfzukj.jpg
I know Quartz crystals in matrix like this are pretty common in a lot of areas, but I've personally never found one in decent shape.

Photo #540
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vu0n2z.jpg
BP = Lesser/Het Lavender Albino, with a decent sized piece of Montana Agate. :)

I need to get my eyes checked, sometimes I see double...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zk9oq2.jpg

Twins from the double egg shown in the previous photos.
Non-identical, and not conjoined (in case you were wondering). :P

Photo #541
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_o78jy6.jpg
BP = Lesser/Het Lavender Albino
Stone = Jasper from the Western USA (not sure where, the seller keeps it a secret--I'd guess Utah).
The stone is large but also thin...so I was unable to remove all the pits without shattering it. I'm still happy with the end result-so that is all that really matters. :)

Breeders Note: I have a micro-hatchling (not shown yet) that has taken two meals and then has stopped eating for the last two weeks, this is a bad sign.
One more week and I will have to start assist/force feeding. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do that at all this year...:hmm:

Yup, I was wondering if both heads were sharing one body. :D Sorry to hear about your "fussy" micro- good luck!

I was also wondering.

I went to Hampton Beach, NH the other day:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-01_a6sizc.jpg
Since I was in the neighborhood I stopped at New England Reptile Distributors (NERD) as well.
They always have a variety of critters (at top shelf prices).
It was kinda busy so I only took a few opportune pics.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-02_m0cqak.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-03_ekqc2b.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-04_hq9d66.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-05_lg9tur.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-06_uts57k.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-07_rxdn4y.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-08_zn3svh.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-09_u1w6ds.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-10_w2tpts.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-11_yh7abp.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-12_dmtrci.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-13_jchw0b.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-14_juof2x.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-15_p9g0ni.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-16_sxyxzu.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-17_tixsyw.jpg
The crocodile monitor really wanted to go home with me, but I don't think he would get along with my cats...;)

Photo #542
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nillui.jpg
BP = Orange Dream/Het VPI Axanthic/50 Het Hypo (in shed for photo).
The stone is a piece of Black Agate from Madagascar (not the easiest to photograph).
You can see the mirror reflection of the snake in the surface up close. :)

Breeders Note:
My Clutch #14 finished hatching. That makes all 14/14 done. I lost 3 eggs total (not bad).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_rhnutn.jpg

Photo #543
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_n8bhge.jpg
BP = 100% Het VPI Axanthic/50% Het Hypo with a chunk of dyed Brazilian Agate.
I had bought a box of broken Brazilian Agate bookends off Ebay a while back...some of them can be tumbled/polished and cleaned up nicely. :)