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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
Breeders Note: I noticed I had a really bad sore throat last week. I made sure to separate all my ball python matings and do a full clean and refresh water on all my reptiles and rodents (in expectation of being down for a while). As of today: April 28th I am on Day 4 of a respiratory flu and I am just starting to experience improvement. I hope none of my ball pythons have laid eggs early...just sitting in front of my computer alone is taking my maximum level of effort...
A little maternal incubation isn't going to kill you. I seem to recall reading in the The More Complete Carpet Python that they had just as good or better results from maternal incubation.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Homebody
A little maternal incubation isn't going to kill you. I seem to recall reading in the The More Complete Carpet Python that they had just as good or better results from maternal incubation.
A little maternal incubation definitely won't kill *me*-Any rollout eggs would be out of luck though.
I'm in better condition today and I was able to check my breeder females. I spotted two females that are ready to lay soon. I have an incubator heated up and waiting. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #500
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d-2_kn4caa.jpg
This girl (Pastel/Spider/VPI Axanthic/66% Het Orange Ghost) is impossibly shy.
I have tried to photograph her multiple times without success-so I took a separate head shot (shown below).
The stones are variations of Jade from the West Coast of the USA.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_olcofv.jpg
This is the 500th unique ball python I have shown.
All stones that have been shown in each of the 500 photographs are also unique (unless noted otherwise).
I suppose the next milestone will be to get to Photo #1000. It will take me a few more years. I imagine my morphs should be pretty complicated by then. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
She's absolutely worthy of being #500. What a cutie!
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #501
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gfd2eq.jpg
Enchi/Het Clown with some granite-y rocks collected locally around my house (Central Massachusetts, USA).
While the large-grained granite I have commonly around me takes a mottled polish: I have some fine-grained granite from other parts of USA that tumble quite nicely. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #502
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_yshr7f.jpg
Orange Dream/Het Piebald ball python with some heavily pitted Nipomo Agate.
When selecting stones for this image I excluded my better quality tumbled Nipomo Agate with Marcasite inclusions for future photo(s)...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #503
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wb39ix.jpg
Fire/Clown ball python with a concrete conglomerate stone (sometimes referred to as urbanite).
These stones are construction waste I run across in my travels, I collected a few of them to try and tumble to test them out.
I know that some people have really awesome urbanite specimens they come across in different states, but I have mostly feldspar/quartz/granite as common stones in my area...so I'm not so lucky.
Here is the flip side of the piece:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pfi49l.jpg
:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #504
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vkdy9v.jpg
Pastel/Lesser/Het Gravel or Yellowbelly with some assorted odds and ends from across the world.
Fun fact: That piece of rhodonite in the front (pink and black stone): I collected myself in Massachusetts, USA *pats self on back*.
This photo marks the end of my 2024 Snakes and Stones set (154 offspring over 29 clutches).
It has been a lot of work and I am looking forward to taking a break----Oh sweet baby jesus!----I have eggs already don't I?....Nvm...:crazy:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_emkld4.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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All gorgeous, L. S. :bow:
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
All gorgeous, L. S. :bow:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Homebody
Hahaha Thanks!
Hopefully my gardens don't make the news again this year and I will be able to take more photos outside. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_w2runf.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Looks like a fun place to shop, if only they were more open to making deals. :P
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Looks like a fun place to shop, if only they were more open to making deals. :P
Yep! I'm sure there were deals to be found amidst the chaos, but nothing we were looking for...:)
Anyhow, here are some more ball pythons with irises from my gardens:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_qux9fg.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tdwyik.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tjo2of.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_omp9kz.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_dyxtgd.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_dvkz0p.jpg
Note: I have over 100 variations of Irises in my gardens, about 50% of them are some combination/shade of blue and/or purple. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Wow, you've got some great irises to go with your terrific snakes! I only have about 7 or 8 kinds of irises- but I sure like them, they put on a great show every year. Never seen an orange one like that above. I have the most in solid deep purple, & next is 2 tone purple. The rest are white, pale lavender, cream, yellow, & yellow with rust. I'll have lots of daylillies very soon too- most are the orange kind, but a few yellow (Stella d'Oro) ones too. And it won't be long before I have some tomatoes- I have quite a few green ones right now, some are several inches across already.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Wow, you've got some great irises to go with your terrific snakes! I only have about 7 or 8 kinds of irises- but I sure like them, they put on a great show every year. Never seen an orange one like that above. I have the most in solid deep purple, & next is 2 tone purple. The rest are white, pale lavender, cream, yellow, & yellow with rust. I'll have lots of daylillies very soon too- most are the orange kind, but a few yellow (Stella d'Oro) ones too. And it won't be long before I have some tomatoes- I have quite a few green ones right now, some are several inches across already.
Thanks!
When I first moved into my house the property had been overgrown for several years. When I started tear out all the bittersweet and small trees I found my first irises that the former owners had planted. They were the purple 'normal' coloration. I was impressed that the irises were able to survive in conditions that would have killed most flowers. I ended up propagating them through division, and when I reached ~100 plants I decided to purchase some different varieties. Some I bought from local greenhouses and garden club events in my neighborhood, but the majority I ordered from Blue J Iris online. Blue J Iris was originally located in a different state and moved to New Mexico. Before their move they had a huge sale where if you spent $400 or more then you would get 80% off and an extra $100 in irises (back then: they were already cheap)-seemed to me like the cost was practically free above $400. I couldn't pass that deal up. I think it took them 2 weeks of their spare time to compile a spreadsheet on my order...and upon delivery it took me two solid days to plant all the new arrivals. 90% of the varieties survived the New England weather.
I have some interesting varieties of daylily as well (ordered online), but their health depends greatly upon the weather conditions in my area.
Fun fact: One of my neighbors thought that I bought all of my iris plants. She did not know that you can divide them to increase their number. Imagine the cost of buying 6000 irises....lololol I'm not made out of money! :)
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You got a great deal on your irises, but that was a LOT of work too.
What I love about irises- besides their beauty & independent return year after year, is that they tolerate terrible soil & neglect- :cool: My deep purple ones had originally been planted in the side yard here by a former owner, but it was too shady & very few bloomed for years, until I moved them into my front yard along the driveway, where they get lots of sun & bloom like crazy. The soil is poor & rocky too but they don't care one bit.
It worked out great because my deep purple ones all bloom early, then I get a second wave of irises when all the other colors chime in. Some of my irises were in a big box of unknown rejects that someone cleared from their garden...freebies, so I had no idea what colors I was planting when I put them in. I'm in the mid-south btw, so the daylillies like the climate here better.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
You got a great deal on your irises, but that was a LOT of work too.
What I love about irises- besides their beauty & independent return year after year, is that they tolerate terrible soil & neglect- :cool: My deep purple ones had originally been planted in the side yard here by a former owner, but it was too shady & very few bloomed for years, until I moved them into my front yard along the driveway, where they get lots of sun & bloom like crazy. The soil is poor & rocky too but they don't care one bit.
It worked out great because my deep purple ones all bloom early, then I get a second wave of irises when all the other colors chime in. Some of my irises were in a big box of unknown rejects that someone cleared from their garden...freebies, so I had no idea what colors I was planting when I put them in. I'm in the mid-south btw, so the daylillies like the climate here better.
I wish planting them was the hardest thing to do, but keeping the weeds off thousands of plants-it is like farming flowers... I have recently adopted a targeted herbicide (Hi-Yield Grass-Killer-Sethoxydim 18.0%) to cut down on any grass that tries to grow through the center of the rhizomes. The herbicide kills the grass over the course of several weeks, and seems to have done a great job this year without harming my flowers. Someone mentioned online that the herbicide will kill ground phlox, but I tested it on mine: and it did not.
I also have a sand pit on my property which I call 'The Dead Zone'. I have tried to grow all sorts of plants unsuccessfully, and irises are the only plants that thrive there...
Fun fact: Irises, Asparagus, and Orchids are all in the same taxonomic Order: Asparagales. Irises are more closely related to Asparagus than they are Orchids though.
In other news: I was collecting a clutch of eggs today and there was one 'rollout' (far right in the photo below). It felt a little different than the others. Normally I just keep metrics on my overall viability of eggs for the season, however I think I will start tracking the success rate of rollout eggs as well. Based on my prior experience I think there is a strong correlation between 'rollouts' and low viability. I don't candle any of my eggs because I'm going to incubate them regardless. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mgctcw.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
A few more flowers:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_t7tjyn.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_faarnl.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_oo4ryc.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_iogym7.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_iqpwwd.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_oqxmni.jpg
Breeders Note: I have six clutches of eggs so far...usually I only collect one or two in May. I'm not sure if six clutches before June is sign of good fortune or just unseasonable warmth. Nearly all of my remaining breeder females are still eating-so I can expect at least a 30 day gap before I find any additional clutches.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Disinfecting/Sterilizing my egg bins used to be so easy when I had 3 or 4. When I have 30+, it takes a while...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_nbje9t.jpg
(10% Bleach:90% Water)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_wtlcyq.jpg
I was originally using a 70% IPA wipedown, and then I tried a chlorhexidine dip, but I've gone nuclear in recent years by using a bleach soak (goodbye spores).
I smell like bleach now though. :dead: Luckily this is a once a year event.
My gf said that I shouldn't bother because I am using Perlite in my egg bins, but I'm fairly certain that a fresh bag of heat-treated volcanic glass is going to be relatively 'clean'. :P
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I was expecting this photo to be a bit more proportionate...this guy is growing fast...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_x62kxf.jpg
Stones are Brazilian Agate and Pink Chert (Connecticut river, MA, USA).
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Re: Snakes and Stones
So I noticed the growth curve on the male pictured above (Special/Het Monsoon) was unusually high. I have been observing this since I bought him.
In comparison with my current fastest growing female of 2024 (Highway-710g): he comparatively weighs 701g (pretty darn close).
Ball python breeders have had good accuracy for selling me males, however, just to confirm: I probed 'him' today and got *female* 4 times in a row. :please:
The snake was aggressive during my probing efforts-so there is a slight possibility that I am wrong. I will try again another day to confirm...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vnpitj.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Ah! The trials and tribulations of a ball python breeder.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Homebody
Ah! The trials and tribulations of a ball python breeder.
Yep! Thankfully I just stood there and took the bite today and successfully probed that one as a confirmed *Male*. He must have been clenching the other day so I couldn't probe accurately.
I let him chew on my wrist-so you can see his jaw is a bit misaligned in the photo below.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_n9yexb.jpg
It would have been a wicked photo if he had my blood dripping out of his mouth...but I only lost a few drops *after* he let go. :)
Note: The pose above is what you see right before a ball python defensive strike.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Axanthic art: a triptych of spider pastel perfection:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wwskqf.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I was excited to see that one of my oldest and largest ball python females laid eggs the other day: I was expecting like 10 eggs lololol....I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised with six...since she gave me nine eggs last year and my stats show an up-and-down cycle of ball python egg production year-to-year... Some females do reabsorb follicles and skip a laying season, but it is like 1 in 5 for me...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_u4ywjz.jpg
Note: I have a 7 year old female who has not laid *any* eggs. I'm hoping this is the year *Fingers Crossed*.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kxpc2d.jpg
I bought a big box of broken brazilian agate bookends a while ago-they clean up nicely. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
A few more weeks and my Clutch #1 should start to pip.
I am currently at 9 clutches now...with a lot of females pending.
Usually I collect most of my clutches in mid-late July with a few stragglers in August and even up until late September.
In the meanwhile: Here is a head shot of my first Dreamsicle (I hatched: 2024).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ixiyvx.jpg
:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vnh8dt.jpg
Pastel/Lesser/Het YB or Gravel with some amethyst (Kenya) and a piece of quartz (India). :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_w9tptl.jpg
Pastel Bamboo girl I picked up a year or two ago. Stones from...everywhere...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Found this in my travels today:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ing_etev2m.jpg
I've seen bottles that look like this and the design is almost always a fish-This is the first snake I've seen.
The optical clarity of the bottle is sharp, and it appears to be a mass produced replica made using modern manufacturing techniques.
The odd thing is that there are air bubbles trapped in the glass, and when hit with short wave UV light it fluoresces green (manganese).
Nearly all replicas I've found don't use manganese...and most don't include air bubbles.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...g-1_jmvosq.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...g-2_ondt3v.jpg
It is only marked with embossing 'F00 Morel' and 'Barcelona'.
I tried looking it up online, but couldn't find any info on it. The design is very similar to vintage/replica Italian wine bottles.
Anyhow, I though it was pretty neat: Cost me a hefty $6 USD. :)
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Wow, what a COOL find! I'd have bought that too.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I collected my clutch #10 today! Whoooo! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ox0pix.jpg
Yesterday was a big feeding day for my collection and I noticed that about 30 my breeder females are still eating (+building follicles), and a few females ignored food and will be laying eggs in the near future.
There are five or six females that definitely took a 'pass' this year and didn't build any follicles at all. Of the females that skipped this year: almost all of them are on my axanthic line.
My clutch #1 should be hatching soon-I am excited, but my gf was underwhelmed when I told her it was going to be mostly triple hets (+/- Pastel) lololol....
Today June 29, 2025 is the New England Reptile Expo in Manchester NH. I was considering attending, but after admission and parking fees it would cost like $30 for what would probably be a 30 minute walkthrough for us...so we decided to skip this one. If I was looking for something: I probably would have shelled out the money, but I don't want to risk any impulse-buy temptations (e.g. Cryptic and/or Het Sunset morphs).
I noticed that Rare Genetics Inc. added 'Monsoon' to their single gene test list. If all goes well with my 2026 breeding season: I will need that. I also still have an unknown gene floating around in my axanthic line-maybe I will pay for a full panel test to see if I can get a solid ID on it.
Regarding Rare Genetics Inc. I still have a nagging question on how they are handling testing ID on Hypomelanism-If they are just analyzing output proteins or if they are actually genetically sequencing and are able to tell the difference between the types of Ghost. I suspect they are just testing shed proteins (or lack thereof) and not the DNA itself. If anyone knows: do give us a post here. Any which way: I will ask them when I'm prepared to throw down some cash in the future...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
It's so cute the way babies blow bubbles.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Homebody
It's so cute the way babies blow bubbles.
When I bred some desert glossy snakes years ago, they actually rose up out of their eggs (an inch or 2), looking much like bean sprouts, but if I suddenly walked in the room though, down they went! And yes, there were bubbles...(hatchling snakes are always blowing bubbles) :sweeet:
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I hope all who celebrate: Have A Great 4th of July tomorrow! :)
My Clutch #1 is still hatching. From pairing:
Pastel/Piebald/50% Het Hypo (Ghost) x VPI Axanthic/100% Het Hypo (Orange Ghost).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xazcij.jpg
Also, I have been trying to proof breed the female (pictured below) for ages (she is a Pastel/Lesser/50% Possible Het for VPI Axanthic).
She is old enough that her colors have faded.
She has some large follicles right now...this is as far as she has gotten previously *Fingers Crossed*.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zoajto.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I hatched my second Spider Highway (Gravel/YB) ball python the other day (shown at bottom of photo below).
I was surprised at how different this one (same parents) looked compared to the one I produced last year (Photo #467:as hatchling).
My new one is sporting darker patterning with much more white. I suppose the level of expression of the three genes is going to vary...and this makes it interesting...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pa9q4b.jpg
+Breeders Note: My first clutch of hatchlings is in shed, and my third clutch of eggs has started to hatch (100% viability/success so far).
I have only collected 11 clutches at this point...I suspect I'm going to see a bunch of my females all lay eggs at the same time, and then that number will skyrocket. It is not unusual for me to be hatching out my final clutches around Thanksgiving...
I was hoping to use some interesting visual morphs as my first few photos of my imminent Snakes and Stones Pt. 2 thread, but as I am collecting a lot of Hets currently...it seems there is going to be a bit of a wait...:P
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
I hatched my second Spider Highway (Gravel/YB) ball python the other day (shown at bottom of photo below).
That's a gnarly lookin' snake.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
My clutch #3 is the offspring of a VPI Axanthic/Orange Ghost x 100% Het Tri-Stripe.
I was concerned that I was producing 50% Possible Het Tri-Stripes and I would have trouble guessing the Hets for future breeding.
It appears I won't have to worry...they are pretty distinct. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ks5mtm.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Thread continued in Snakes and Stones Part 2.
Located here: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...nd-Stones-Pr-2
:)
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