scaleless ball python

Just saw on YouTube a scaleless ball python. What's your thoughts on the new breed? I thinks cool looking but they are ment to have scales. Kinda looks defenceless to me. I'll add a pix in a minute.

Here's the one from bhb.


http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0tl9a8lq.jpg

According to Brian they function as advertised just with a smooth shed. I think it allows the pattern and color to pop more... other than that....

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ight=scaleless

And to boot the price for one is 150k. Well that's what he said on the video I saw.

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Originally Posted by jasonmcgilvrey83

Kinda looks defenceless to me.

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Well, so long as they're in a properly maintained captive set-up, they don't really need any defenses, do they? That being said, there are many examples of other snake species having scaleless varieties that survive in the wild. Scaleless snakes aren't new, just new to ball pythons.

On first encounter, they do seem very odd, but they're also very cool.

Here's a great article by Mike Wilbanks that gives some indepth history of the morph and will give you a clear idea about why the pricetag is so high. It WILL come down drastically over the next few years, but since we're still within the first breeder-year of the morph being proven out, these guys can ask for (and get!) top dollar.
http://mikewilbanks.com/ballgame/201...st-holy-grail/

Thanks jlc I'll check it out

Good article! Scaleless snakes are definitely interesting to look at, and I like how the scaleless effect makes the pattern pop! I look forward to seeing how scaleless looks when combined with other ball python morphs!

I wonder what they feel like

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Originally Posted by raisinjelly

I wonder what they feel like

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I'm friends with a few breeders who have had the opportunity to actually hold it. From what I understand its very similar to shark. Sand papery from what I've heard.

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Originally Posted by Montypython696

I'm friends with a few breeders who have had the opportunity to actually hold it. From what I understand its very similar to shark. Sand papery from what I've heard.

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Maybe different snakes have different feels, but I think any "sand papery" feel would be from random scales that are there. Scaleless corn snakes, for instance, sometimes have a large smattering of random scales, which would make them feel bumpy. A completely scaleless snake feels like very soft, fine suede. I've held one of Brian's. Not his ball python, but one of his colubrids.

Your lucky jlc. Even tho I'm conflicted about the scaleless snake I would like to hold one. Good experance of what I don't know about.

Nasty. Like the naked mole rat of reptiles.

Thanks for the link, what an interesting read.

I just got to hold Brian's scaleless BP on Thursday and they feel like velvet I would consider the feeling closest to a crested gecko .. The color pops right off him to.. very amazing ball python.

I could not be any less interested in them. Another concern I have is these guys are ALWAYS going to be niche snakes, curiosities. There are a few of the bigger breeders hyping them up to the point that people would believe that in 15 years 75% of all Ball Pythons in collections are going to be scaleless. They are really not a "game changer" no scaleless reptile has ever been a "game changer."

This gene when combined with anything else will give a completely new perspective on them. All the fuzzy lines will be gone and color distortions as well. Everything will be clean and crisp. Imagine a pin that is perfect lines, or an albino that does not fade... I could keep going but I am sure everyone gets the point. These really are a game changer because it changes how every single morph looks.

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Originally Posted by Ransack

I could not be any less interested in them. Another concern I have is these guys are ALWAYS going to be niche snakes, curiosities. There are a few of the bigger breeders hyping them up to the point that people would believe that in 15 years 75% of all Ball Pythons in collections are going to be scaleless. They are really not a "game changer" no scaleless reptile has ever been a "game changer."

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It's definitely all speculation, for sure. And terms like "game changer" are pretty subjective without any clear definition. So what one person considers game changing may not seem particularly impactful to another. The scaleless morph MIGHT end up being nothing but a curiosity that interests few people. Or it MIGHT become a widespread and cherished morph. Either way, not everyone is going to like it. Not everyone likes pieds or albinos or any other morph that has "changed the game."

I have a 1.1 pair of scaleless texas rats on the way to work with and see what this whole mutation is like. It mainly is a curiosity thing, but also a uniqueness to them. I agree that its going to be a niche style animal. But to the people who think its inhumane, its just like albino in the wild - a mutation that would likely die off it was produced in the wild multiple times over. In captivity we can ensure they have the right requirements for shedding, we can control the substrate to ensure no infections, we can control food to ensure it cant harm them, and we can monitor immediate signs of health concerns.

That being said, the scaleless ball python is brian trying to make his money back on this very large investment (when he bought the weird ball python with the scaleless head - similar to the het scaleless rats and corns). There are a few breeders working with hets now, and they are going to attempt to get them into multigene animals this year or next I'm sure. Give it 10 years and if its still in the hobby, it'll probably retail for below 1000 IMO.