What is the best example of....

[Royal Hijinx]

I have got to thinking and would like some others input. I try to get the best examples of the morphs and combos in my collection, but I see a ton of what I consider poor examples of a given morph or combo on the market (browned out Pastels or Bees, Enchis with lots of spots, etc...).

Seems a lot of other high-end bred animal breeders would try better to hold to a standard for the particular morph/breed and not breed the poor examples. Seems in the BP market, folks will breed whatever in hopes of turning a buck.

I understand the "they are beautiful in their own way" side, but that really does not cut it in other markets. There are and probably should be standards of excellence. I believe these exist in the BP world, but often are not really made clear. I am not talking about Citrus Pastel is better than Lemon is better than whatever, I am taking about the best examples within that particular morph or line.

SO.... if you read all that and are with me, please post up a pic or several from your collection (or that you have permission to post) that you think exemplifies a particular morph or combo, and WHY you think that. Of course, opinions will rule here, but it would be nice to see of there is some consensus on certain things. I think it could be a very educational exercise.

I will start with the Fire Yellow Belly I have coming from Mark Petros:



This guy has what I believe this combo should give. The genes work well together to highlight each other as manifested in the bright color and pretty extreme blushing (he is RINGED with it). The Fire has also contributed a very clean pattern and the Fire head stamp. I contend this is a VERY high quality example of this morph combo, and I have seen others that while they contain the genes, do not appear to me to be the best mix.

[Royal Hijinx]

The other impetus for this was I always see people asking if a BP barely makes the cut to be a particular morph since they are trying to get a good deal on it. I am generally of the opinion that if it is not clearly a good example of that morph or combo, you should likely not be breeding it.

There are exceptions like Calico and Pied that can throw exceptional animals despite the perceived quality, but for the most part quality in = quality out.

[Kinra]

Okay, I'll bite. I have a few that I think are great examples of a particular morph.

To start, I have this pastel female that I got from Garrick DeMeyer. She is super bright yellow with some nice blushing. This is what I look for in pastels and this is what I think makes a great pastel. When your jaw drops every time you look at it then you know you've got a good one.




Then I have a pastel yellow belly that is outstanding. He is super bright yellow at 4-5 years old with some great flames and blushing.




I also have a bee that is a little better than average (can you tell I like pastels ). She is very bright yellow, but she does have some spotting.




My male spotnose represents his morph really well too. His black is jet black, he has a head marking and a light coloration that just keeps getting better. He wasn't this nice when I got him.


Both of my spiders are great examples too. My female is a high white with no spotting and my male is very golden with no spotting. The spotting is key for me with spiders, the amount of white and over all color isn't as important.
female:


male:


The rest of mine are about average or a little better than average. I've been trying to collect high quality breeding stock but I haven't been 100% successful.

[coldbloodaddict]

I am sooo picky about the Morphs I had to my Collection…I only want the very best examples for breeders!

Some people just buy morphs for all the wrong reasons…Very little research, cheap prices, just rushing to get something to breed and make money…

I was lucky enough to work for Brian Sharp Reptiles when I was starting my Ball Collection…I got first pick of the clutch from everything I got from him…I have also dealt with a lot of other local breeders and 90% of the animals I have purchased were handpicked by me.…I also like to be able to see the parents in person that helps decide what babies to pick!

I do the same thing with stuff I produce…I keep the best of the best for myself!!!

On the flipside what I think may look good may not to someone else…For Example…I love busy patterned dotted up Enchis…I don’t really like reduced animals…The busier the better for me!!!

[Royal Hijinx]

So it seems you at least agree you have standards for your morphs, so please share some. The point here is to make a bit of a library of opinions.

As for the Enchi, then the question becomes what ARE the benchmarks for a a Enchi and what are features that can be left up to personal pref.

For example, I have a Siberian Husky and any eye color or combination of eye color is acceptable by breed standard, but a Malamute would be considered at fault for having blue eyes. Other than average size, they are basically the same dog.

[ReptilesK2]

My Fire - He has incredible colors, faded head, and a neat pattern.

My Enchi - To me he has the perfect color for an enchi and has a nice reduced pattern.

My Pastel Lesser - He has ridiculous blushing and very bright high contrasting colors.

My Pied - He has patches of color instead of it being clumped together, which I like but there are so many variations of pieds that people like.
Also I like mid to high white pieds over low white ones. He also has a nice neck stripe!


I basically listed all of my male ball pythons! LOL.

[jdouglas]

I honestly can't agree that their are truely standards in the bp breeding world. At least nothing like the dog breeding world.

It is rare to have dog breeders attempting to create new morphs constantly. And when they do they are considered to be mutts for 10+ years before someone decides to accept it.

In the BP world breeders strive to create new and unique morphs. Something out of the ordinary. Something everyone will want to have. By doing this it doesn't create the same pure line breeding that you see with dogs.

So in this world Uniqueness is key, I don't see how you can not agree that even uniqueness within a certain morph cant be desired? When the final goal of the BP world is to create such uniqueness.

I can agree that in certain morphs like the pastel that one that browns out is less desirable. But with any other morph I just don't see it. Whether they are brighter, duller, busier, reduced, high or low colored, blushing, contrast. etc. That these traits make them each unique.

However I do not breed, this is just how I see it.

[pigfat]

I'll agree with jdoug. I know there are certain "standards" of some morphs but theres also a lot of opinions on which type looks better. I would be just as happy with a pastel who may have a little more brown but crazy blushing, but that isnt consindered a good example of a pastel.

[RobNJ]

It is true that standards in the BP world are entirely subjective for the most part. I tend to like dark and busy, sometimes I like light and reduced. Sometimes I like holes, spots and dots while on other things I like clean and solid. I'll contribute a few pictures of morphs that I bought because I particularly liked those examples. You'll have to excuse my poor picture taking...

Red Axanthic from Oz of Ozzy Boids


Pastel Butter from Jon Courtney of Cold Blooded Addiction


Genetic Stripe from Ian of Outback Reptiles

[Royal Hijinx]

I see that side as well, but to make another analogy, I have been perfectly happy with many a mutt but they are not good examples of a morph or breed.

The bigger point here is for folks to post up what THEY consider to be good examples. I would not be surprised for a consensus on some morphs to emerge with enough data. Also it will make kind of a one stop shop to answer new folks questions about what makes a good morph.

Of course, there are differing opinions. But there should be aspects, as I said before, that are at least personal "standards" and other aspects that are up for debate. The more folks that make it apparent as to what they are looking for, the data will begin to show trends.

So, I guess I am asking what YOU look for in these morphs (with examples) and then we can debate whether or not we agree. I do not agree that zero consensus can be reached on some of the morphs.