Morph Help!

Well, I've been in the market for a blood python for a while now. I went to my local herp shop and, SUPRISE, there they were! VPI stripe morph blood pythons. As soon as I saw them, I put down half to hold the best lookin one I could find. I picked him up today. I am trying to get some information on whether or not he is a true Stripe Morph. I spoke with the owner of the shop and he said that he bred them himself from a pair of stripes he got direct from VPI. After doing a little digging around on the VPI web site I saw the he looks VERY similar to a "borneo python", yet hatchling stripe Blood Pythons look very similar as well! I am also interested in getting some information on this morph. Is this a dominant or ressicive trait? Am I gaurenteed a morph out of the pick that I got or is it possible I got a het? Either way the snake is beutiful! I will be posting pics later on tonight! thanks alot ahead of time!

Well, first you need to accurately determine whether or not they're blood pythons (Python brongersmai) or Borneo short-tailed pythons (Python breitensteini)...

There are genetic striped morphs of each, but unless you know 100% for sure what you're getting, it's just a fancy normal until you do some selective breeding.

K~

If I post a picture will someone here be able to positivly ID it, or should I bring it somewhere locally to do it?

it wouldnt hurt to post a picture.

The brongersmai lack a small ring of scales (suboculars) around the eye and the supralabial scales come up right to the eye - the curtus and breitensteini have a prominent ring seperating the supralabials from the eye.


No suboculars
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/2/nosubs.jpg

Suboculars
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...suboculars.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2425.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2426.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2427.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2428.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2430.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2431.jpg

Looks like a borneo to me.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_2433.jpg

Pretty Borneo...but doesn't look like a genetic stripe to me...

K~

Well, now I need an opinion. I bought this snake as labeled "Stripe Blood Python". I put down money on the animal thinking it was a true blood python and a stripe morph at that. Nobody once mentioned to me that these snakes were actually borneo pythons. I know there isn't too much of a diffrence between the two but, I would much prefer a blood python over a borneo. Is it just to walk in and ask for my money back? I know I should have done some deeper reaserch into wich one was wich, but they look so alike! Hopefully someone here that acutally sells these animals can give me some feedback! Thanks again!

Keep in mind that genetic striped reds usually start in the $500+ range. If you're bent on getting a red instead, I guess do what makes you happy, but that's a lovely little Borneo...don't knock 'em if you haven't tried 'em!

K~

He's a really pretty snake, but if he's not what you want, then I think you should politely and intelligently explain the situation and if necessary, ask for your money back or some of it back as the snake was sold as something else.

I would take the snake back if it was not EXACTLY what I wanted, also keep in mind, whomever sold it to you, must not know the difference between short tails and bloods. I would go armed with info to show that it is not the species he/she sold it as. Also, was there proof the snake even came from VPI stock for sure? Any proof of it being genetic stripe? I would think if he bought its parents from VPI line he would know what species he is selling you.