Zebra bees.....making them...

[kevinb]

So my gf and I are getting ready to have a serious sit down and talk about what we would like to produce our first breeding season once we get more bps. I'm hoping to have about $10k to drop on about 5-7 high end females and combos. The males will come later on. She is dead set on one combo and that is the zebra bee (axanthic bumblebee). Here is my question. What would be the best way to get there?

1.) Pastel het ax X Spider het ax
2.) Pastel het ax X bumblebee het ax

The second would cost a bit more but there would be a chance of super pastel axys.

What is YOUR opinion?

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[rjk890]

If you are going with a Pastel het Axanthic male, I would pick up Pastel het, Spider het, SuperPastel het, and BumbleBee het Axanthic females.

You would be better off picking up a BumbleBee het Axanthic, and then just getting Pastel het, and Super Pastel het Ax. females.

Otherwise, I strongly suggest picking up a male Pastel Axanthic, instead of the Pastel het Ax.

[kevinb]

Wow over my head. I totally didn't even think of full on pastel axanthic and spider axanthics. That would pretty much ensure I hit the odds.....I'm really thinking spider axanthic and pastel axanthic pairing now. Thanks!

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[wwmjkd]

I'm sure you will have a few responses to this query, but the first thing I'd do is find a breeder working with good quality axanthics. I believe (but could be mistaken on this) that bailey reptiles, with the moniker muddoc on this site, is one of the most prolific axanthics breeders and works primarily with the VPI line, which are the best axanthics in my opinion. if I'm not conflating different businesses, they have some amazing axanthic combinations. I also know Justin Kobylka is working with a newer and darker black axanthic. check out his website to see if the more pigmented version appeals to you (or I guess more importantly, to your girlfriend). both of those lines appear to eschew the unfortunate 'browning out' that often happens with axanthics. if you really have that much disposable income earmarked for ball python breeding projects, I'd look to acquire your founding stock from either of them or someone else with a comparable reputation.

once you settle on a breeder, I'd start with bees or spiders that are het for axanthic. it's probably the cheapest route since quality visual axanthics still go for about the same as bumblebees. but with that kind of purse, your options aren't too limited. perhaps look for a female pastel het axanthic first, get her up to size, and a few years later you can pick up a spider het. you know the breeding formula. how you arrive at the end result is up to you.

in any case, I hope you don't invest too much too quickly. and I'm not just referring to a monetary investment. you've already had the unfortunate experience of beginning a collection only to later realize it was not compatible with your living situation. certainly not blaming your mother, as it's her house after all, but I hope your next investment is a lasting one.

[twistedtails]

Well, I would steer clear of het to het breedings. The offspring will not bring as much return as producing 100% hets. Not to mention you could breed for years trying to hit your desired combo and not make it. As you can see below the results are much better using at least on visual. Your 10k will dwindle fast though. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Here are you odds for Pastel het Axanthic x Bumblebee het Axanthic...

Genetic Wizard 3.0 calculations by


Here is your odds with one visuals, Pastel Axanthic x Bumblebee het Axanthic...


Genetic Wizard 3.0 calculations by

[Emilio]

I'm going to be breeding my Bumblebee x axanthic this year in hopes of producing a het axanthic bee, pastel het axanthic and spider het axanthic.. I'm really looking forward to pastel and spider axanthics can't go wrong with them either.Its a win win!


Good luck producing one of the nicer combos in my op.

[jjmitchell]

If the goal is axanthic bees or killer bees, I would spend the extra that you would spend on a super pastel het axanthic, and buy a pastel axanthic(female proba)bly to a spider het axanthic male. This does 2 things it doubles your odds of hitting an axanthic bee, and if you produce a male axanthic bee gives you a female pastel axanthic to breed son back to mother to have a one in 8 on axanthic killer bees. It sounds silly but on my projects I will buy visual females and if I cant afford visual males, I will buy a het I can easily replace the male in one year and have a visual breeding size male ASAP, females take so long to raise up that buy visual male and het female, that adds 2 years to a second generation project while females grow up.....

[Jessica Loesch]

I'm going to be breeding my Bumblebee x axanthic this year in hopes of producing a het axanthic bee, pastel het axanthic and spider het axanthic.. I'm really looking forward to pastel and spider axanthics can't go wrong with them either.Its a win win!


Good luck producing one of the nicer combos in my op.

This is basically what I'm doing next year. Breeding my male axanthic to my female bee, get a het, and then go for the axanthic bee the following year....

Not to derail, but I hate the term "zebra bee." Just saying

[ReptilesK2]

Goodluck on your axanthic project! I am also trying to get axanthic combos!

[kevinb]

The purchases won't be being made until me and my gf move out and have a place that allows snakes amd a multitude of them. We will both be LPNs by then so we will be sitting better money wise then now. We are just getting our ducks in a row so we don't halfarse it when the time comes. You can never do to much research or plan to far ahead.

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