Next purchase?

If you had a small collection and you were given a set $ amount. Would you buy, a single 3 gene quality male that would go good with your current single gene females or buy a 2 gene male and a 2 gene female that would likely produce the male you were thinking about in the first place down the road? I pretty much know which way I am going but wondering what other people on budgets do to increase the quality and numbers of your collections.

I originally wanted to get a single gene male and single gene female for my first breeding experience. After some luck in my search I found a male and female both with the single gene I wanted PLUS each one has another gene altogether. And all are co-dominant. So I have a shot at some great 2 or 3 gene babies. IF I get really lucky and hit the 4 gene, it will be a morph the world has not yet seen and hopefully my name will be added to WORLD OF BALL PYTHONS website. I know I'm being cryptic, I just don't wanna give it away. . . .yet. Since I only have 2 snakes nearly all of the babies might end up being multiple gene holdbacks or possible trades. This way I'm breeding my own collection of breeders instead of buying them. I might pick up a big female pastel and/or normal just to hopefully have 2 clutches. Can't go wrong with pastel. So exciting.

Personally, if I was on a tight budget, I would go for two double gene snakes. When I purchased my most recent male Ball Python, I didn't have breeding in mind; I purchased a single gene Mojave. Now that I am looking at it from a breeding viewpoint, it makes more sense for me to have purchased a double gene male, and either a couple single gene females or one double gene female. I would do that if I could start all over, BUT, unfortunately, I get quite attached to an animal once I get it. I do believe in quality over quantity though, therefore if I found a stellar single gene snake, I'd be willing to pay a little more and wait a couple years for some of it's double gene offspring (rather than buy two not-so-stellar double gene snakes). I'm not in it for the $$ though, so I don't see it as "wasted time."

I think if it were me, I'd probably go with a two-gene couple that would suit my needs (actually, I totally have one in mind) but I don't think you could really go wrong with a three-gene male that suits your needs. Would probably really be a worthwhile investment down the line too.

I would buy what I like, and not worry about number of snakes and/or number of genes.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I know I'm being cryptic, I just don't wanna give it away. . . .yet.

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Did you not literally just post about this 2-3 days ago...mystic potion bumble bee or something along those lines.

You prolly should buy females to raise up and worry about the male around a year or so later.

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

I would buy what I like, and not worry about number of snakes and/or number of genes.

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Quality is key with anything I want or buy which is based on what I like. The only snake I have that was on a whim was the first bp I brought home from a local show. While patiently waiting a few months for the female in which I paid for a female hatchling from. To lay her eggs, hatch successfully, then get a few meals in her, with the understanding if she didn't go I could put that towards something else. Shipping day couldn't come fast enough lol. I couldn't wait any longer to get one in the house so purchased a black pastel F while checking out the show. I have a triple gene male I am keeping an eye on and if his not sold when funds hit my account I will snag him up. If he is gone I will probably look around for another male I like and if it happens to be 2 genes I will probably add a female as well. To me quality is key not quantity, I will gladly pay more for a top notch animal. I really think about what I add to my collection and I try not to duplicate any genes I currently have in my collection because I have a good chance of reproducing it or hitting something even better. I will however buy an animal with multi genes that carries a gene that I already have but it wouldn't be the exact same morph.....Example I have a nice pastel but I bought an insane reduced bee.

Start Small and slowly Learn, watch, And listen to your peers who have failed before us so that we can today enjoy all that Ball Pythons have grown to offer.

Like jinx said dont worry about males until the female ball pythons second year unless ofcourse the females are breeding size. I like the idea of you fifth choice though buy a lot of female normals and breed your male to all of them and keep the females back :gj:

I agree with jinx. Buy 1, 2, 3 females. It'll be at the earliest a year and a half to 2 years before you can even breed them. Then regardless of how many females you buy you can put to the side 10,20 or even 50 bucks a pay check for the next year or two. Then guess what... 20 x 26 = 520 that's a good double gene snake. 50 x 26 = 1300! That'll be a damn good looking male for 1300!

I have 3 or 4 females that will be up to size by next year, that don't have a dedicated male ATM. I have no normals, in my collection as of yet. The closest would be a pair of het pieds that hopefully will be producing their first clutch and my first bp clutch every. I'm not opposed to having normal females at all this is just more a hobby for me then anything and having something different then the norm is what route I've taken so far.

That really depends on whether the genes are recessive, co-dom or dominant and what is already in your collection.
A HumbleBee to breed to my OG, and a Red Axanthic are high on the wish list.
The work Corey Woods has done with his RA's really got me thinking about the possibilities.
The Desert gene is another I like just not enamoured with the females being sterile and potentially dying if attempting to breed them.

For us, we focus on having a few 3-4 gene males and then single to double gene females. With having your powerhouse in your males, you can spread them out and have insane combinations from just a few single gene females. Hope that helps! Post pics of what you decide!

That's what I did. I have about 8 single gene females and when they're ready to breed, I'll try and get two or three multi-gene males. I do have two female normals who are ready to breed to practice with. :)

M

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Originally Posted by digizure

That's what I did. I have about 8 single gene females and when they're ready to breed, I'll try and get two or three multi-gene males. I do have two female normals who are ready to breed to practice with. :)

M

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I really think this is the best plan, as it spreads the most genes around and gives a lot of versatility!

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Originally Posted by Raven01

That really depends on whether the genes are recessive, co-dom or dominant and what is already in your collection.
A HumbleBee to breed to my OG, and a Red Axanthic are high on the wish list.
The work Corey Woods has done with his RA's really got me thinking about the possibilities.
The Desert gene is another I like just not enamoured with the females being sterile and potentially dying if attempting to breed them.

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All the females that I have are co-dom besides my het pied.

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Originally Posted by Joshua Jasper

For us, we focus on having a few 3-4 gene males and then single to double gene females. With having your powerhouse in your males, you can spread them out and have insane combinations from just a few single gene females. Hope that helps! Post pics of what you decide!

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Having a power house male is exactly what my plans are. One that will go good with any females I put him with to add some variety to present collection with a decent chance of hold backs. I will make sure to post pics of what I get.

What about the recessives? You could always get a new recessive and start in the het or possible het route! :banana::banana::banana:

I would hold off the recessives because it's a long process unless you have $$$ to splurge. I have been considering on purchasing a pied and/or clown because they're cool to keep and they could be my "side project."

M

The snake I originally wanted was gone already go figure (hypo pastave) I could have gone with another one but none looked as good as him........so this is what I went with instead

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...esser-male.jpg
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...sser-male1.jpg
Hypo Pastel Lesser male
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...st-femalea.jpg
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...ost-female.jpg
Mojave het hypo female

Photos are from breeder since they will be being shipped out on Monday. Now to get some more hypo females my wife is going to love me this year lol.

:-) excellent choice! Hypo are the best!

Glad to see a couple of people suggesting ghosts. I think that the answer to the OP poll dpends on what you already have and what you plan on breeding in future. With a lot of recessive projects on the go I am less interested in multiple gene males but I would like to increase the number of quality single or double (especially super or recessive visual) gene females here as most of my visuals are males. I am hoping to add in a female pied, clown and BEL (super lesser) as priorities since I already have a few visual ghosts (of different lines/types) plus a visual axanthic female, although i would like another of those too...