Quality?

I'm a newbie to ball python morphs and just recently acquired two from a breeder in my area. One is a male spider, the other is a female spotnose. They both have great temperaments and I think they're both gorgeous, but I don't have enough experience to tell the quality of them and was wondering if some people with more experience could give me their opinions. Also, if you'd be willing to explain your answers so that I can start learning what to look for (good or bad), I'd be really grateful. The breeder seems to know his stuff, but to a newbie like me, just about anyone with more experience would. :)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ps5f63e1f9.jpg
Male spider hatched 7/15/12 He's gotten bigger and has more yellow and white splashed up on the sides, but the gold and bronze coloring has stayed nicely.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ps2553bfb6.jpg
Female spotnose hatched 8/11/12.

Thanks in advance!

I don't know a lot about the spotnose, but I REALLY like the pattern on your spider boy.

Both look good :gj:. It's hard to find an ugly spider lol.

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Originally Posted by h00blah

It's hard to find an ugly spider lol.

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I agree with hooblah :) the spotnose is average quality but its hard to find high quality spotnoses unless your buying from Ben Rennick haha

Thanks, snakehobbyist. I got pick of the clutch from that one and he's absolutely stunning.
Thanks as well for the other responses. I'd like more input on the spotnose. What makes her average and what do you look for in a high quality one? She's my first spotnose and from a small breeder, so I wasn't expecting big name breeder quality. Like I said, I'm trying to learn what to look for. Also, I think she may be getting ready to shed. She's got an iridescent shimmer on her head that doesn't show in the picture and she's a little hazy color-wise. I just got her today, so I'm not sure when her last shed was. I can ask the breeder tomorrow. He's been really great about answering my questions.

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Originally Posted by Parysa

Thanks, snakehobbyist. I got pick of the clutch from that one and he's absolutely stunning.
Thanks as well for the other responses. I'd like more input on the spotnose. What makes her average and what do you look for in a high quality one? She's my first spotnose and from a small breeder, so I wasn't expecting big name breeder quality. Like I said, I'm trying to learn what to look for. Also, I think she may be getting ready to shed. She's got an iridescent shimmer on her head that doesn't show in the picture and she's a little hazy color-wise. I just got her today, so I'm not sure when her last shed was. I can ask the breeder tomorrow. He's been really great about answering my questions.

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If she is about to shed then post some more pics when she is done shedding :) you should just look up some of Ben's spotnoses, he is one of the main breeders focusing on this morph and he has the top quality imo but its just my opinion :rolleyes:

I'll do that (post pics). I looked, but he doesn't have a lot of pictures on his website and I don't really know what to look for to compare, which is why I'm asking.

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Originally Posted by Parysa

I'll do that (post pics). I looked, but he doesn't have a lot of pictures on his website and I don't really know what to look for to compare, which is why I'm asking.

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Yeah well just like every other morph, people have their own opinions on what they like. To me i like spotnoses to have a more abberant pattern and lighter coloration except for the dark spotnose that ben has discovered is my favorite but thats a morph that interacts with the melanin so its kinda its own morph. Definitely post some pics when she sheds and it will be easier to tell her true coloration :D

I prefer a more connected dorsal stripe. The brighter the dorsal stripe, the better. It shoud glow! Can't really see the color well with those pics, but not many folks work with the spotnose morph. Either way, congrats :gj:

Thank you guys. I appreciate the feedback. I'll try to get some better pictures of her. I don't have a good camera, so it may be difficult, but I have a friend who does, so maybe I can get him to help me out. I want to see what she looks like in natural light, but it's been raining here for the last two days and I don't have anywhere in my house that has good lighting.

Just went in and looked in on her and the picture really did wash her colors out. She's got the same coloring as my spider and her dorsal stripe may actually be brighter. I won't be able to directly compare till I get done quarantining and can put them right next to each other, but their colors are very similar.

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Originally Posted by Parysa

Just went in and looked in on her and the picture really did wash her colors out. She's got the same coloring as my spider and her dorsal stripe may actually be brighter. I won't be able to directly compare till I get done quarantining and can put them right next to each other, but their colors are very similar.

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Well that sounds like a good sign :D i cant wait to see some more pics!!

Here's the one taken by the breeder that sparked my interest, so a better picture of her. The only difference I can tell as far as color in reality is that she's more gold/bronze and less orangey on the sides than it looks in the picture. She's on the right in the top photo and the one on the bottom as well.

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

Sorry I can't help with the spotnose question, as I don't know myself, but I think she's a lovely girl. She looks like she's been eating well too from your pic!

Thanks, Badgemash. She's been eating a small-med rat per week. She's a pig compared to my spider.