I have a "Ghost" problem!

I recently bought my first Ball Python and I was told it was a "Ghost". They said that he will lighten up as he gets older. Well, it has gone through several shed cycles and is not showing any signs of the "ghosting". He still has vivid colors. I contacted the seller I was assured it was a Ghost. I was told that it comes from a Ghost X Mojave HET Ghost pair. After doing a little more research I am leaning toward a Fire. He has a pale tongue as well. Can anyone help?

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ython/0003.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ython/0002.jpg

if the paring was true he is at the best a 100% HET ghost. personally im not seeing ghost.

Not a Hypo.. Not a fire looks more like a light normal..

Here is an adult Hypo
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSC_0705.jpg

I don't see ghost either, but it has a cool pattern nonetheless

If you're still unsure check to see if he sheds clear. Definitely a pretty snake though.

Definitely not a ghost, and it's probably not a fire, at best it's a het ghost or a nice normal.

Here's what a ghost looks like. Ours is less than a year. He's always had this color fading.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file..._1504640_o.jpg

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

If you're still unsure check to see if he sheds clear. Definitely a pretty snake though.

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What does "sheds clear" actually mean?
[and look like]

My Fire shed last month and the skin looks like nearly transparent wax paper with a scale pattern on it.

The Normal shed several days before the Fire and I can faintly see where some [but not all] of the dark pattern patches are/were.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Salamander

What does "sheds clear" actually mean?
[and look like]

My Fire shed last month and the skin looks like nearly transparent wax paper with a scale pattern on it.

The Normal shed several days before the Fire and I can faintly see where some [but not all] of the dark pattern patches are/were.

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ghosts shed with no shading or pattern.

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Originally Posted by decensored

ghosts shed with no shading or pattern.

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Hmmm.

Maybe I should take a photo of the shed skin and post it.
It's just all one non-color and the "scale pattern' I mentioned is the 3D bumps of the scales, themselves.

The snake is supposedly a Fire X Normal.

Thanks for the help!

edit...

Sorry I got confused between this post and the OP. Sorry

If the parents were a Ghost and Mojave het Ghost there is no way for it to be a fire...

Looks like a normal to me, but with the parents it would be 100% het for ghost.

I would not rule out the fire gene. I have a 2011 proven fire morph and she is very bright. Of course she is a hatchling, but she looks alot like yours. If I could figure out how to post a pic on here I would gladly show my girl....for the comparison.:P

I say a normal as well I got a ghost and will post a pic tonight of him against one of my normals that het for something.

Could anybody tell me how to post pics

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Originally Posted by brdash549

Could anybody tell me how to post pics

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Register with Photobucket for a free account, upload your pics via their webpage and then paste the URL to the photo you want shown using the little "insert image" icon above your posting box here, like this:

http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/...nn/spider1.jpg

Definitely not a ghost. Looks like a really nice light normal. Is is possible they called it a het ghost? Not saying that's what the snake could be, but some people have selective hearing and don't hear the het part.

My ghost that looks to be about the same size/age
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...rked/165-1.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...rked/167-1.jpg

Ya no way in heck that's a ghost. Here's one of my ghost with my Carmel girl.
http://img.tapatalk.com/a6898acc-0016-8cd3.jpg
I'm not seeing fire either. And if the pairing was a ghost x mojave het ghost there's no way fire can get in there.
Perhaps the seller was a little unsure of how things like that work or the morph itself. Id hate to think they sold you a normal at a ghost price.



Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

Whoops I see where The fire stuff came from now. Anyways not a ghost...


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

I would definitely be contacting the breeder you got him/her from and requesting a refund.

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Originally Posted by AJones

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ython/0002.jpg

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The head is not hypo at all...

Thank's to everyone for the comments. This is my first forum entry ever! It sounds like I was ripped off. It was defintely sold to me as Ghost. I even kept the tag from the container it came in. It also has the clutch information. The seller told me that I could bring it back to the next show and exchange it for my money. Unfortunately it is my daughters pet and she would be very upset. I guess I will consider it a learning experience. This is only a start into the ball python world.

I'm sorry that you got ripped off. Really, 90% of the people in this hobby are great and very honest, it's that 10% that gives us a bad name.

It IS a good looking snake, though, and I hope the experience hasn't soured you on the rest of us.

And that seller sounds like they were talking out of their rear. Hypos (ghosts) are hatched LOOKING like hypos, they don't 'fade' after several sheds. Yes, many morphs change how they look as they grow up (some brown out, some get brighter, etc), but hypos, from the day they hatch, always have that faded out look.

With the pairing (if it is true), he should be 100% hypo. You could always work to prove him out by getting a female OG at your next show.
I almost want to ask what you paid BUT I have a feeling neither of us want to know/response;)

It's just a nice, light normal. Should be 100% het for ghost though.

What a rough way to enter the ball python world.

I understand about the wanting an exchange but your little one won't like it.

If you really feel your daughter won't understand if you take her snake back, talking to the breeder about a really good discount on another animal might be an option.

Otherwise consider it a learning experience, most of us have made at least one blunder early on in our career.

Best of luck no matter your decision.

Gale

Honestly, I wouldn't even believe that the pairing was in fact, a ghost to a mojave het ghost. That seller obviously doesn't know what they were talking about, who's to say they didn't lie about the pairing too?
It's sad that you can't trust people (well, some people).
On a good note, it is a very pretty snake!!

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Originally Posted by AJones

Thank's to everyone for the comments. This is my first forum entry ever! It sounds like I was ripped off. It was defintely sold to me as Ghost. I even kept the tag from the container it came in. It also has the clutch information. The seller told me that I could bring it back to the next show and exchange it for my money. Unfortunately it is my daughters pet and she would be very upset. I guess I will consider it a learning experience. This is only a start into the ball python world.

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Go ahead and go to the show *but* ask for a partial refund that reflects the snake's actual value.
[other dealers at shows will usually honestly identify/appraise your snake for you]

I seriously doubt the seller wants a crowd of onlookers and potential buyers overhearing their "mistake".

If they're honest, they'll cheerfully agree to a partial refund.

Either way, you win.
Your daughter gets to keep her snake, regardless of what the seller does and you may get a sizable portion of your money back.

It may not be a pleasant thing for you to endure but think of all the "newbies" who'll come after you laying down good money for an animal that isn't what it was supposed to be.

You could very well stop a potentially crooked seller in their tracks.

I certainly wish I'd taken an "expert" with me to my first show.

Since you don't want to take the snake back because of your daughter then ask the breeder for some money back.

Sent from my MB501 using Tapatalk

Alan is welcome to his money back....the wife guessed that he came from the mojo clutch...the last e-mail he sent us had the clutch id.... Alan originally said he thought he was a pastel....which he is not....he is far right in the picture..... the others are vanilla ghosts....any guesses what he is if he is not a ghost.....vanilla het ghosts are worth between 4 and 5 hundred...he paid 125...we thought he had too much head pattern to be a vanilla....all our past vanilla het ghosts from breeding to a super vanilla where ugly...we had him side by side with two other ghosts and picked the nicest one...I would love to have him back if he is a vanilla het. Ghost......


http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/IMG_0820.jpg

would the super vanilla be het OG also??
Just trying to figure out where the other half of the recessive is coming from.:confused:

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Originally Posted by BigDog

Alan is welcome to his money back....the wife guessed that he came from the mojo clutch...the last e-mail he sent us had the clutch id.... Alan originally said he thought he was a pastel....which he is not....he is far right in the picture..... the others are vanilla ghosts....any guesses what he is if he is not a ghost.....vanilla het ghosts are worth between 4 and 5 hundred...he paid 125...we thought he had too much head pattern to be a vanilla....all our past vanilla het ghosts from breeding to a super vanilla where ugly...we had him side by side with two other ghosts and picked the nicest one...I would love to have him back if he is a vanilla het. Ghost......


http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/IMG_0820.jpg

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I can tell you this....If my wife was selling snake "I" myself would make sure she knows what she is selling. You should never let you wife make sales if she doesn't know what she is selling. "The wife guessed it was from the Mojave clutch"???? What kind of .... is that? To think this if guy didn't have forums to find help on. He would have been shafted. This kind of stuff makes me angry! You should give him the animal he was sold and the snake he wanted for the inconvenience.

...For the record, it doesn't take a good eye for morphs to notice that snake is not a normal.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

would the super vanilla be het OG also??
Just trying to figure out where the other half of the recessive is coming from.:confused:

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this clutch was ghost x vanilla het. ghost.....The super breeding i was referring too was a few years ago....

So, this "ghost"was sold to the OP because your wife took a guess on the breeding pair??? My husband would NEVER attempt to sell anything unless he knew what it was, or atleast come find me/call me, whatever, to ask what genetics an animal was before any money/price is exchanged. And vise versa. It's not a good way to get your name out there with business dealings. I hope the OP either gets the snake that's deserved, or a good portion of the money back.

OP: I'm sorry this had to be your first experience to the reptile world. I can assure you that most breeders don't let mistakes like this happen, and if something does arise, are quick and happy to make things right. Good luck and keep us up to date.

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Originally Posted by twistedtails

I can tell you this....If my wife was selling snake "I" myself would make sure she knows what she is selling. You should never let you wife make sales if she doesn't know what she is selling. "The wife guessed it was from the Mojave clutch"???? What kind of .... is that? To think this if guy didn't have forums to find help on. He would have been shafted. This kind of stuff makes me angry! You should give him the animal he was sold and the snake he wanted for the inconvenience.

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We sold him the snake....
he e-mailed us a month or so later and said we sold him a pastel...she said it was from one of two clutches...and guessed that it was the mojo het X ghost because it was the first to hatch....and it was not a pastel....
this last time he e-mailed us he gave us the clutch id....

you have an interesting view on women.....
......

I don't think his posting has anything to do with his views on women. I'm a woman and posted pretty much the same thing he did.....

Actually on the pairing he is more than likely just a het OG.
My 100% het from Robin doesnt "look" like a plain normal either but she is until proven otherwise.:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigDog

We sold him the snake....
he e-mailed us a month or so later and said we sold him a pastel...she said it was from one of two clutches...and guessed that it was the mojo het X ghost because it was the first to hatch....and it was not a pastel....
this last time he e-mailed us he gave us the clutch id....

you have an interesting view on women.....
......

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I know it was you that sold the snake. I'm not a lame bud. I can figure it out from what you posted. My post was written for one person...YOU. The word "wife" BTW, can be replaced with; friend, partner, son, daughter, or whoever you involve in your business. I believe your view on women comment was just a below the belt hit because I pulled your covers. Admit you made a wrong, bad business was done and render the situation. Thats all you have to do here. Remember, how you handle this will play a serious roll in wether or not others do business with you.

This was just a quick pic of a known 100% het OG
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...-56-31_391.jpg

This is an OG
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...4-03075201.jpg

The het has changed a lot in the past couple months.:gj:

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Originally Posted by decensored

Here's what a ghost looks like. Ours is less than a year. He's always had this color fading.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file..._1504640_o.jpg

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Your ghost is floating in the air!!

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Originally Posted by babyknees

Your ghost is floating in the air!!

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:D:D:D:D:D

OMG, it IS!

Thanks for the giggle.

we always make good on our deals....offered him his money back when he thought it was a pastel ....today is the first time he has called our attention that he still has an issue.....

twisted
you pulled my chain i pulled yours back....the wife and i share this hobby....you where not nice....

reread your post.... u assume a lot ...
if you want to call me names meet me on a forum that allows it..... I will play...lol

If you share the hobby with your wife, then she shouldn't have made a mistake. It isn't very hard to pick out a Hypo from a Het or a Normal. He was only getting an opinion on here and still has an issue.

If he wants a OG still, you should offer him 50% off on a female OG or give him a female het OG free. It's what I would do.

A mistake was made, Fred tried to correct it. What more do you want? Damn. I love how some of these people act as if mistakes should never happen. It's not about the mistake it's about how you handle things after. Fred has tried.

You want a ghost? Send Fred the snake back, I will send you one. FREE.

Fred, I'll even buy it back from you ;)

Hey Rudd I want a free ghost!

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Originally Posted by Rudd

You want a ghost? Send Fred the snake back, I will send you one. FREE.

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:confused::confused::confused: How could you contemplate it as free when a ghost was what was paid for :confused::confused::confused:

Your right, I judge by how its handled and at BEST he got a HET ghost that his daughter is now attached to.
I am still trying to figure out how any BP keeper could confuse a ghost with anything else:eyepoppin
Not saying there cant be mistakes with more complex or multiple gene snakes but a ghost to a normal het:colbert:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

:confused::confused::confused: How could you contemplate it as free when a ghost was what was paid for :confused::confused::confused:

Your right, I judge by how its handled and at BEST he got a HET ghost that his daughter is now attached to.
I am still trying to figure out how any BP keeper could confuse a ghost with anything else:eyepoppin
Not saying there cant be mistakes with more complex or multiple gene snakes but a ghost to a normal het:colbert:

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Follow along, Fred offered him his money back if he returns the snake. I offered a free ghost if he returns the snake. Are we following? Daughter's attachment can easily be handled. Good lesson here for a kid.

Fred's wife made a mistake. Fred has tried to make it right, he's a stand up guy. There isn't more he can do within reason. Return to reality people.

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Originally Posted by Luke Martin

Hey Rudd I want a free ghost!

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Always with your hand out. Becareful, you never know what someone will put in it..:twisted: