Is he a Morph?

Just today I picked up my first Baby Ball Python! I am absolutely in love with him already! I got him off of craigslist and I wasn't sure if he is a normal or if he is some sort of morph. He doesn't look as dark colored as the ones I usually see labeled normal. He has a bit of yellow in him and the bright stripes, as well as the white. I thought he might be a calico, since he has the head dot (look closely), but I can't be sure.

Any clue if he is a normal or not? I don't really care if he is, since I don't plan on breeding him, but I am curious anyways.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/SDC11002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Pets/Yes5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Pets/Yes2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Pets/Yes4.jpg

The last few pictures dull his color out a lot and make his bright bits look brown. But they are actually yellowish.

A pretty normal!

Just a little normal:)
If it were Calico you'd be paying A LOT more:P

yea looks like a nice looking normal... my het ghost has that head dot and the white around the alien heads, but that doesnt necessarily mean its het. but still a pretty normal :)

Thanks you guys. I figured he was a normal, but I was curious anyways! I know so very little about morphs and genetics and that sort of thing, as I don't breed and don't really have an interest in doing so. Still, I love him all the same!

Did the person you get him from say if he'd ever eaten for them? He looks like a fresh hatchling with only a meal or two (if any) in him at most.

I'd limit the amount of handling you do until he's had time to acclimate and eat successfully for you a few times - establishing a strong feeding response when they're this young, I believe is critical. And at this age, that means six quart tub, and minimal handling with the hatchlings that I hatch.

Congratulations on your new baby!

Yes, I asked and he has eaten three times already. I am waiting about a week or two to really start holding him. So far, he seems to be really curious and active, wanting to explore his cage instead of just curling up and hiding in his hide.

I just got him home yesterday, so I am waiting another day before I offer him food.

congrats on the new baby hes very nice normal

nope no morph, nice snake though.

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Originally Posted by quillian91

So far, he seems to be really curious and active, wanting to explore his cage instead of just curling up and hiding in his hide.

I just got him home yesterday, so I am waiting another day before I offer him food.

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@ first part

That would be a sign of stress. If the snake is out and moving a lot normally their stressed out. A happy snake is a snake u will see in the hide doing what it does best. Hide

@ second part

I would wait at least a week after you bring him home before offering food to give him time to settle in.

He should settle in though. And waiting a week is a good idea, just to be safe, because if he doesn't want to eat, would just add stress.

Normals come in such a wide variety. You've got a pretty nice one, I'd say.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

@ first part

That would be a sign of stress. If the snake is out and moving a lot normally their stressed out. A happy snake is a snake u will see in the hide doing what it does best. Hide

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What about at night ? I have only had mine for a few days..although he is 3 years old and still lives in the same home that he did with the previous owner, I got the tank and all...but anyway, he will spend all day in his hide, but shortly after the lights go out he comes out to explore.
He will usualy spend quite some time out at night, but tonight he was out for about 20 minutes then went under his water bowl. Its funny, when he comes out at night and I get up close to the tank, he will come right up and look at me for a bit like hes saying hello, he dont glass surf or anything, he just moves around his home checking things out like hes out for a leisurely walk, lol.

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Originally Posted by tonyaltn

What about at night ? I have only had mine for a few days..although he is 3 years old and still lives in the same home that he did with the previous owner, I got the tank and all...but anyway, he will spend all day in his hide, but shortly after the lights go out he comes out to explore.
He will usualy spend quite some time out at night, but tonight he was out for about 20 minutes then went under his water bowl. Its funny, when he comes out at night and I get up close to the tank, he will come right up and look at me for a bit like hes saying hello, he dont glass surf or anything, he just moves around his home checking things out like hes out for a leisurely walk, lol.

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sounds like he's either thermoregulating (cooling down against the cold water bowl) or he's hungry (searching for food)

Looks reduced...

A very pretty normal. You never know, could have a hidden gene in there somewhere. Of course, the only way to prove that out is breeding. He is such a cutie! I love the little ones.

I would give him a week before feeding too. Right now he's just checking things out and making sure his new home is safe. You don't want him finding a mouse, and freaking out because he thinks it's the mouse's home. Lol.

Good luck with him and Congrats!

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Originally Posted by aff19802

Looks reduced...

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Too many alien heads to be called reduced pattern - pretty nonetheless!