White belly/clear belly?

[Bhikku]

Sorry if this is a common question (tried to search it and didn't come up with anything) but what is the significance of an otherwise normal-looking BP with a "clear belly" or "white belly"? Is it a genetic marker?

I ask because my new ball python seems to be normal, but she's got some very vivid markings/coloring, and I'm pretty sure she's got a white belly (though I'll have to check tonight and see)...

[dreese88]

If it looks like a normal, but has a white belly with no spots, it's still a normal. The pattern and color vary greatly on normals, so why can't bellys? It could be something to dink around with though.

[OhhWatALoser]

people used to or still do believe that it means its a morph because alot of morphs do have a clear belly. but just a clear belly by itself means nothing.

[Bhikku]

What does the term "dinking" mean with regards to breeding? I have seen it thrown around quite a bit here, but I don't quite understand the definition.

This is the snake in question, by the way:





Her color is a really high contrast, but I guess that will brown/fade out as she gets older? I'm sure she's just a normal, she was just a regular old pet shop python I paid $80 for. I was just curious.

[dreese88]

Usually dinking means to breed it to something and then breed offspring back to whatever animal it is that may have any oddities that could be genetic, just to see if they are. Breeding offspring back may not be necessary if they exhibit the same traits as the dinker animal, but could help to see if it is something with a type of super.

[Bhikku]

Usually dinking means to breed it to something and then breed offspring back to whatever animal it is that may have any oddities that could be genetic, just to see if they are. Breeding offspring back may not be necessary if they exhibit the same traits as the dinker animal, but could help to see if it is something with a type of super.

Thanks, good to know! I plan on acquiring some morphs eventually and starting a small-scale breeding project.

[SlitherinSisters]

Some people have some really amazing dinkers! If you do a search you can find all sorts of threads like "show me your dinkers". I've got a few that I'm definitely going to dink with, I'm not really expecting anything, it's just projects I'm doing for fun mostly.

This is my poss het clown, he's got a sweet black back going on and he's really dark. He's also really reduced, your snake also has a reduced pattern.


This is him with my pastel, it's not a great comparison for him because my pastel is so darn bright, but it's a cool pic none the less


This girl has a weird orange glow to her. She's a normal from a pastel clutch. I'm hoping she will make some awesome looking pastels.


Her next to the ph clown for color comparison.

[Bhikku]

Awesome snakes Stephanie! I do plan to dink around with Naga once he/she is older (and once I have expanded my collection a bit). The pictures are from a camera phone and don't really do her justice. I'm sure some of it is just baby-bright markings, but she's got a really clean pattern that I just love.

I'm infatuated with that "Disney" spot in the middle of her back. If I could get that marking proved out all along a snake's back, I'd be a very happy camper.

Thanks for letting me know about the reduced pattern, I am still not really sure what all of the BP morph/breeding terminology entails, so I know nothing about my snake's look at all except that it's beautiful. She almost looks like a Cinnamon.

Need to get him/her sexed first as well!