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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
I can understand your curiosity & dedication, but honestly that whole look does nothing for me. Just saying... they have nothing on "normal" BPs, IMO. :snake:
Everyone is going to have their own preference.
I think the wild type Tokay Gecko is unbeatable for coloration. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
3rd clutch and it is not even June yet! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_knglcz.jpg
If my Super Blade male managed to breed successfully this year---then I may be looking at a record number of clutches.
I bought the Super Blade male as a proven breeder and I only need six viable eggs from him to continue my clown project.
While he does lock with all the gals...he was paired with 12 females and had 0% success last year...that is a bad track record.
If he fails again this year then I will have to assume he is infertile and I will have to sell him as a pet at a considerable loss.
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Good luck! (& I'm all for wild type Tokay geckos too)
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
It is going to be 95F+humidity here today (May 18th, 2026), pretty toasty! I turned down all my thermostats to try and keep temps from overheating.
I see a lot of my breeder females with full size follicles and a few in egg development. Every year I watch YouTube and see new ball python keepers mistake follicles for eggs. I usually post a comment and then get called out by the channel owner for being a 'rage-baiter'. :rolleyes: The channels inevitably disappear a few months later. I have a large number of females that are producing follicles right now and are over 1500 grams...but they are still too young. I won't bother breeding them because they will either reabsorb the follicles or 90% of the output will be slugs. 'Three winters' is the rule I follow...I know there are exceptions to the rule--some genetic lines are predisposed for breeding earlier than others, but I'm not going to mess around and find out.
4th clutch in May! Whooo! A new record for me!
Clutches #1-3 are holding strong in the incubator.
I see a few more clutches upcoming, but they are likely for June.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nidzav.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
Gorgeous! These two are my favorites.
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Way too hard to pick a favorite- they're all gorgeous!
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Up until two weeks ago, three clutches in May was my record.
It seems that I stomped on that record now: Clutch #7 :D
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_k5u4h4.jpg
Clutches #1-6 are holding steady. Clutch #7 makes 42 eggs in May alone.
I see a lot of follicles at full size and a lot of eggs already in development for June/July.
I don't see ANY eggs upcoming for the 16 females mated by my Super Blade male. I've already watched 3 mature females reabsorb their follicles (=no success)...I keep telling myself that I still have 13 more chances. My partner says she is tired of listening to me complain about it--so I told her that if I get eggs from that Super Blade male that I will take her out for Pho. Now I have her interest! If you see a photo of a bowl of pho one of these days...you will know why...;)
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Eggs are the easy part. I hope you can keep up with all those hatchlings! :D
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Eggs are the easy part. I hope you can keep up with all those hatchlings! :D
It is a challenge I'm willing to take. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nv8ofd.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
I thought my Special/Het Monsoon male ball python grew wayyy too fast.
I was thinking he was a bit older than originally advertised. I bet 5 breeder females on it. Looks like I was right...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...oon_ngtekt.jpg
If the eggs hatch: The probabilities are pretty easy on this clutch.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ath_c1gcf0.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
2 days later, a slight revision:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...sed_d63zqu.jpg
That extra egg on the lower right-feels pretty sus. Wouldn't be surprised if it is a dud.
I was also out hiking today.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_lnfe49.jpg
Spotted a noodle in the wild...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_yeck8m.jpg
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You won't really miss one egg that much, will you? ;)
Beautiful area to hike, & nice nature noodle too. :cool:
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
You won't really miss one egg that much, will you? ;)
Beautiful area to hike, & nice nature noodle too. :cool:
Hahaha, yeah one infertile egg is not going to be a huge dent in my 2026 plans, especially since I just got my 10th clutch AND it is a good one! Whooooooooooo!
Celebration meal (XL bowl of Seafood Pho):
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_lrch73.jpg
There is a real possibility now I might get swarmed with a record number of clutches this year...Bring it! :D
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Tried to take this gals photo with an orchid, but she was pretty truculent about it.
Truculent - adj - defiantly aggressive
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mdnor9.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
It will be her one year hatch day in a few weeks. They grow fast...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pnvloa.jpg
Breeders Note: Collected my clutch #17 this morning.
Clutches from my Super Blade male: Still only 1 out of 16 females (4 eggs).
I noticed my Super Blade male had a lot of trouble shedding from his vent region and lost a decent amount of blood. I don't want to mess with him too much at the moment because he successfully completed the shed in one piece, but his vent is still very irritated. It makes me wonder if stuck shed is possibly creating a reproductive issue for him.
Side Note: I've also seen some people online starting to call Red Stripe Clown ball pythons: Blade Clowns. This is a bad habit. Blade and Red Stripe are two different genes. If any of you out there reading this are doing that: Knock it off! ;)
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That's a very real possiblity (that the shed issue is running interference for breeding). This gal is looking good- :gj:
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
That's a very real possiblity (that the shed issue is running interference for breeding). This gal is looking good- :gj:
Thanks!
Yes, I'm hoping it is a shed issue. I still have four females with prepped follicles. I'm going to soak the male for 20 minutes before I put him into each cross.
In other news: I opened a box of tumbling material (I have about a hundred in my garage--unopened).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_psd8us.jpg
Found a neat broken geode in there:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_lshke5.jpg
A few of the geodes are quite large and still intact. I will probably set those aside in the off-chance I get a saw one of these days...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
It is July 1st today and I thought I should check my eggs because it is 'getting to be about that time' where they start hatching.
I checked my first clutch and there was dimpling, but, no pips. I checked my second clutch for good measure and there were no pips...BUT there was a hatchling already out! What the heck? This one couldn't wait-apparently...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...026_uz3o27.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...026_f9klqr.jpg
First hatchling of the season! :)
Breeders Note: I can't quite tell what is going on with my female ball pythons. I see follicle growth progression in a variety of my breeders and it is getting 'late' for follicles. I collected my clutch #18 the other day but there are still several females that may potentially lay eggs. I remember hatching out ball pythons on Thanksgiving one year...it becomes problematic because I don't heat that wing of the house.
I have been soaking my Super Blade male regularly now in an attempt to alleviate any potential breeding issues due to stuck shed. Yesterday I placed him in an enclosure with a female who is on the verge of ovulating and I saw him lock--for a few hours! I probably shouldn't--but now I have high hopes of getting additional clutches from him...(right now I still only have 1 out of 16--with most having reabsorbed already).
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
I hope everyone that celebrates had a great 4th of July!
My clutch #1 has started to pip (I already spot a keeper in there).
My clutch #2 has almost finished hatching. It was a proof clutch:
Pastel/Het Gravel or Yellow Belly (YB) x Spider/Het Gravel or YB
An Ivory would have told me that both parents were Het for YB.
A Super Gravel would have told me that both parents were Het for Gravel
And a Highway...would tell me we got one copy of each gene going on...not surprising...but would look cool.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_xyian9.jpg
Lololol...Looks Cool! :)
I really suspect that for the parents: the male is Gravel and the female is Yellow Belly. I'm going to bet on it next season...;)
Rodent Breeders Note: We had a long heat wave over the last two weeks in my area. Whenever this happens my *new* mouse matings turn into food grinders. I'm not sure why this happens, but they convert and do not stop (ever). They have to be fed off or else they will grind outrageous amounts of food (they don't eat it--they just chew it to dust). Pre-Existing mouse breeders do not do this, only new upcoming matings. I know there is a condition called 'Heat Shock' which alters behavior, but it is odd that it is only with mice that have not been bred yet...this is a cycle i witness every year during the hot months.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
Rodent Breeders Note: We had a long heat wave over the last two weeks in my area. Whenever this happens my *new* mouse matings turn into food grinders. I'm not sure why this happens, but they convert and do not stop (ever). They have to be fed off or else they will grind outrageous amounts of food (they don't eat it--they just chew it to dust). Pre-Existing mouse breeders do not do this, only new upcoming matings. I know there is a condition called 'Heat Shock' which alters behavior, but it is odd that it is only with mice that have not been bred yet...this is a cycle i witness every year during the hot months.
Fascinating!
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
....
Rodent Breeders Note: We had a long heat wave over the last two weeks in my area. Whenever this happens my *new* mouse matings turn into food grinders. I'm not sure why this happens, but they convert and do not stop (ever). They have to be fed off or else they will grind outrageous amounts of food (they don't eat it--they just chew it to dust). Pre-Existing mouse breeders do not do this, only new upcoming matings. I know there is a condition called 'Heat Shock' which alters behavior, but it is odd that it is only with mice that have not been bred yet...this is a cycle i witness every year during the hot months.
I never saw any of that with the zillions of mice I raised for decades. :O That's very interesting, to say the least? But I have to wonder: just how warm did your mice get to cause this?
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
I never saw any of that with the zillions of mice I raised for decades. :O That's very interesting, to say the least? But I have to wonder: just how warm did your mice get to cause this?
It was about 90-98F outside with close to 100% humidity for over a week. My rodents are kept in the basement and I ventilate my house with top-down negative pressure (to keep ammonia fumes from rising into the house). With air conditioning the basement temperature was hovering around 80-85F (+humidity). There were no losses in my population due to heat, but I had to refill A LOT of water bottles.
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Ah, no wonder I never saw that behavior. Mine never got that warm. And for all I know, genetic tendencies might have played a part too, in long established colonies from opposite coasts. Glad you squeaked by with them, no pun intended.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
I was working on a full clean today. I noticed one of my clown females coiling, she looks like she is guarding eggs...but she just ate two weeks ago...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_uuz5i6.jpg
Yep, she is protecting eggs.
The eggs look well enough in the photo below.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kdpll9.jpg
I can tell there is something wrong with a few of them--based on weight/feel...Costs me nothing extra to incubate them anyway...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
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Wow, so much beauty while they lasted, though. :sweeet:
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Love the flower photos! They are so colorful and a nice compliment to your snakes. 🌺
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
My first two clutches are out and my remaining 17 clutches are all holding strong.
Let the 2026 Snakes and Stones photos begin!
Photo #576
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_qgkxjy.jpg
BP = 66% Het Gravel or Yellowbelly
I've been trying to study the visual difference between Gravel and Yellow Belly in my population.
I think I'm starting to get a good idea. I would guess this one is Het Gravel.
Stone = Dyed Brazilian Agate (this was formerly a broken bookend-I cut off the lower portion which was in bad shape-and tumbled/polished the top)
The polish is mirror, but since the stone is slightly translucent you can see into it a small amount from the camera flash and see some impact fractures.
You can't see them with your eyes under normal lighting. :)
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Snake & the stone are both really nice! :D
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Photo #577
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tkzvay.jpg
BP = Pastel/66% Het for Gravel or Yellow Belly (I'd bet Het YB on this one)
The stone is a piece of local Quartzite.
I know that in different parts of the USA there are some really varied Quartzites...but this is what we have in Massachusetts lol...:P
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Photo #578
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_i0vufp.jpg
In-Shed BP = 66% Het for Gravel or Yellowbelly (I'd guess Het for Gravel)
Stone = Montana Agate (Again the stone is translucent so you can see internal fractures)
Stone Backlit:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pn4qix.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Beautiful snakes and amazing stones Sorril.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy
Beautiful snakes and amazing stones Sorril.
Thanks! I love your photos of your carpet pythons, I think they are awesome! :)
Back in the day, I considered keeping exclusively one of the following: Blood Pythons, Woma Pythons, Carpet Pythons, or Ball Pythons. Ball pythons won out for me just because of the sheer variety of color/pattern morphs available...I think Carpet Pythons are beautiful though...they were a close second.
Photo #579
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pf6trw.jpg
BP = Het Piebald (I had low odds of producing a single gene Het from the parental cross...but ok...:))
Stone = King Cobra Jasper
Fun Fact: King Cobra Jasper is from India and gets its name due to that it is often found in areas with high populations of King Cobras.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
My clutch #3 was a proof breed: Hidden Gene Woma/Lesser/Het for Gravel or Yellow Belly x Ivory/Possible Spider
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_et8sub.jpg
I have enough offspring now to ID the parents: HGW/Lesser/Yellow Belly (no surprise) x Ivory/Spider
I'm starting to feel pretty confident that I can visually ID Gravel vs. Yellow Belly now. :)
I can't find any clear information online if HGW + Spider together truly form a lethal combo.
In the event I produce any HGW/Spider morphs: I will keep you updated.
Though...I'm not sure what they are supposed to look like....Anyone got any links to images of HGW/Spiders?
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Photo #580
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ddsr6n.jpg
BP = 66% Het Gravel or Yellowbelly (I'd guess neither)
Stone = Brazilian Agate
Breeders Note: My clutch #3 seems to having some difficulty with late stage hatching. Out of six eggs I have half the clutch out, and the other half is struggling.
I think cutting eggs is a rookie move if there is nothing wrong with them.
In this case: I cut a tiny 2mm notch in the top of each remaining egg. I won't cut more than that in any event.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
Breeding ball pythons isn't all fancy morphs and sunshine...
My three remaining eggs from Clutch #3 appeared to have died.
I know most people would discard them without checking, however, that seems like a waste-and accomplishes nothing. I got my gloves dirty and took apart the eggs to examine the issue.
All 3 embryos had reached ~40 days of developmental growth and then all growth ceased completely, nearly all absorption from the yolk stopped. I know that the embryos were still alive into the 60-70 day range because I could poke the eggs and feel them move.
All of them are solid white with one of them having a near invisible Spider/HGW confused patterning.
One of the embryos is still technically 'alive', however, without being able to absorb the yolk it cannot reach full development. It seems impossible that it will survive. I will attempt to maintain it in optimal conditions for a short of period of time to find out if the primary lung is functional-and if this creates any form of improvement.
I did not feel the need to necropsy the two dead embryos because it appears they are in nearly mint condition. This appears to be a purely developmental obstacle. With such a small data set I can't say with certainty that Spider/HGW is embryonic lethal, but my evidence strongly supports that conclusion.
I took some photos for my records, but I think they are graphic and inappropriate for this thread.
If you would like to see them: You are welcome to message me in private--and I can send them to you.
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Breeding animals is definitely not all "sunshine"...it does sound suspiciously like a genetic issue. Better luck next time.
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Re: Snakes and Stones Pr. 2
For those interested: The embryo I attempted to salvage from Clutch #3 did not have fully functioning lungs.
When I disconnected it from the ChorioAllantoic Membrane (egg respiratory life-support) I noticed it struggling an hour later and promptly euthanized it.
In Other News:
My clutches #4 and #5 were laid within a day of each other.
Both clutches were maintained at the same regulated temperature 87-88F.
My Clutch #5 hatched out completely at Day 61 while my clutch #4 showed no signs of pipping.
I thought the temps. inside the egg bin for clutch #4 might be wonky....so I tested the eggs (temp gun) and they were all reading 87F.
It took 10 additional days of incubation time for my clutch #4 to pip.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ays_yu61fs.jpg
I don't mind them being 'fashionably late', but, 10 extra days of cooking seems a bit much. :)
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