Snakes and Stones

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #252

This Mojave Het Ghost was very uncooperative for the photo shoot.

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #253

These rocks had some...character. I am going to post this photo in the rock tumbling forum and 'trigger' a bunch of people who are perfectionists.
The purple stone in the center is neat, the only one like it I've come across so far, too bad it is has lots of 'character'.

The Ball Python is a triple visual gene (no Het influence).
Brave souls: Can you guess what the morph is?
Hint: It does not have: Enchi, Blade, YB, OD, HGW, or Woma.

[Lord Sorril]

The Ball Python is a triple visual gene (no Het influence).
Brave souls: Can you guess what the morph is?
Hint: It does not have: Enchi, Blade, YB, OD, HGW, or Woma.

No takers eh? I don't blame you. My blind guess would have been Spider Enchi with another gene hiding. Of course Enchi was not involved: so I would be wrong.

The parental cross was a 1:1 Super Black Pastel Spider X Lesser

I have produced plenty of Spider Black Pastels in the past (Photos #14, 47, 51, 53, 91, 107, 134 etc), but, I had trouble last year finding info on what happens when you add Lesser (minus pastel): So I figured I would make one.

Note: The Black Pastel and Lesser in combination with Spider seem to be a bit lackluster for a three gene combo. I suspect it is produced regularly, but, frequently misidentified.

[Argentum]

No takers eh? I don't blame you. My blind guess would have been Spider Enchi with another gene hiding. Of course Enchi was not involved: so I would be wrong.

The parental cross was a 1:1 Super Black Pastel Spider X Lesser

I have produced plenty of Spider Black Pastels in the past (Photos #14, 47, 51, 53, 91, 107, 134 etc), but, I had trouble last year finding info on what happens when you add Lesser (minus pastel): So I figured I would make one.

Note: The Black Pastel and Lesser in combination with Spider seem to be a bit lackluster for a three gene combo. I suspect it is produced regularly, but, frequently misidentified.

I'm actually quite shocked. My guess would have been Spider, Black Pastel, but I didn't say anything and planned to just lurk and see what the experts said, since I know very little about identifying genes. I wouldn't have thought of Lesser. Lovely snake, and lovely rocks. The spots of potch remind me somewhat of the Cherry Blossom Agates. That purplish one is particularly interesting.

[Lord Sorril]

I'm actually quite shocked. My guess would have been Spider, Black Pastel, but I didn't say anything and planned to just lurk and see what the experts said, since I know very little about identifying genes. I wouldn't have thought of Lesser. Lovely snake, and lovely rocks. The spots of potch remind me somewhat of the Cherry Blossom Agates. That purplish one is particularly interesting.

Yeah, I don't bother to ID ball pythons any longer without at least knowing the lineage...lots of people these days crossing x6 genes and guessing at the outcomes.

Speaking of IDs there are also thousands of types of Agate in the world. I don't try and name those either, as someone from Massachusetts I have no native agates and no frame of reference unless I buy them pre-identified by someone with more XP.

On another topic I am fascinated by the variety of head stamps I run across in my collection. Since different lines have different characteristics and variation abounds...a head stamp hieroglyph record may not be much use for ID for another person. I don't have much time on my hands these days, but, I imagine if I built one it would look something like this:

If anyone has made something similar for their own collection for reference: I would love to see it.

[Argentum]

Yeah, I don't bother to ID ball pythons any longer without at least knowing the lineage...lots of people these days crossing x6 genes and guessing at the outcomes.

Speaking of IDs there are also thousands of types of Agate in the world. I don't try and name those either, as someone from Massachusetts I have no native agates and no frame of reference unless I buy them pre-identified by someone with more XP.

On another topic I am fascinated by the variety of head stamps I run across in my collection. Since different lines have different characteristics and variation abounds...a head stamp hieroglyph record may not be much use for ID for another person. I don't have much time on my hands these days, but, I imagine if I built one it would look something like this:

If anyone has made something similar for their own collection for reference: I would love to see it.

Actually, the more I look at that headstamp, the more it reminds me of my hatchling. She's one of those 'too many genes', though - but she has Spider, and probably Lesser (Parents had both Mojave and Lesser, breeder thought Mojave, people here say Lesser, and I don't know enough to have a concrete opinion). Hers just has a bit less there, but she does have Enchi as well, and Pastel instead of Black Pastel. Regardless, I'm particularly partial to her 'evil smiley face'.

[Lord Sorril]

Pastel. Regardless, I'm particularly partial to her 'evil smiley face'.

Hahaha yeah, it sure does!

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #254

Mojave Het Ghost and a Brazilian Agate that came out of tumble/polish near perfect.

[Lord Sorril]

People say Rock Tumbling is a hobby that relies on patience. I say Ball Python breeding is so much more extreme:
Hatch a female with 50% probability of a gene, take a guess whether or not she has it, raise her for 3 years, then proof breed her with the distinct possibility that you may not find out for at least another year.
THAT is patience!

It is such a relief when they prove out...

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #255

Some more New England Stones: these often don't round out evenly, and tend to refuse a polish. I think the color/patterning is interesting...my gf disagrees.
Ball python is a 'WT'.