Super Lessers vs. Lesser/Mojave BEL

[Ally.]

So I just got my female lesser who's up to breeding weight. I'm planning on breeding her this year to get a BEL, which I've wanted since I knew what they were. I was planning on pairing her with a lesser male, but I don't actually have one yet so I could change my route at any time. I've been hearing lots about the super lessers having bug eyes and the mojo/lessers not being very clean so now I'm confused on which way to go.

I was wondering if those of you who have either could post pictures so I can have an idea of what exactly I'd be producing with each pairing. Pictures of mature snakes would be preferred!

Thanks in advance!

[Serpent_Nirvana]

I went the mojo/lesser route to avoid any potential for "bug eyes." I don't believe they have any real effect on the animal's health, I just don't really like the way they look.

My favorite holdback from last year is named Crossed-Eyed Mary, because she is, indeed, a little bit cross-eyed. However, it's actually become less noticeable as she's grown bigger.

They do have a very faint yellow dorsal stripe that I think you may be able to appreciate in this photo of Mary. (You can also kind of see her cross-eye ... It's on her left [your right]).





Here was the 2011 group as babies (minus one who hadn't come out yet)





One from this year (same pairing). I don't think it came out in this pic, but I did notice some very very faint pattern on the heads of the babies this year that I don't quite recall seeing when they hatched last year. I think there is some variability in the amount of pattern that shows through.

[loonunit]

you could also pair with a het russo or a mocha.

[Ally.]

Awesome! Thanks for those pictures. The yellow dorsal stripe is very faint and Mary still looks really white to me. I'd much prefer that than taking a chance with bug eyes. It's the patterns that I'd like to try to avoid, which is why I personally don't want to go the super mojave route.

[satomi325]

So I just got my female lesser who's up to breeding weight. I'm planning on breeding her this year to get a BEL, which I've wanted since I knew what they were. I was planning on pairing her with a lesser male, but I don't actually have one yet so I could change my route at any time. I've been hearing lots about the super lessers having bug eyes and the mojo/lessers not being very clean so now I'm confused on which way to go.

I was wondering if those of you who have either could post pictures so I can have an idea of what exactly I'd be producing with each pairing. Pictures of mature snakes would be preferred!

Thanks in advance!

LesserxMojo are still rather white and clean. It's mojoxmojos that have gray/purple heads.
I'm planing on doing Lesserxmojave this winter for BELs as well.

[heathers*bps]

I haven't produced a BEL yet, but I will be trying this coming up season, pairing mojo/lesser and in the following year will be butter/mojo, if I decide to use my butter girl for that pairing.

[loonunit]

Since I just got curious and googled, here's a clutch of super mochas (lattes):

http://heathersherpsblog.blogspot.co...stics-101.html

And here's a mocho mojave.

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptiler...a-Mojave-Pics&

I'm not seeing any mocha lessers, but I bet they'd be clean. Worst you might get is that thin yellow dorsal stripe, but it's already so faint in the mocha mojaves. Lesser might clean it out completely.

[Ally.]

Since I just got curious and googled, here's a clutch of super mochas (lattes):

http://heathersherpsblog.blogspot.co...stics-101.html

And here's a mocho mojave.

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptiler...a-Mojave-Pics&

I'm not seeing any mocha lessers, but I bet they'd be clean. Worst you might get is that thin yellow dorsal stripe, but it's already so faint in the mocha mojaves. Lesser might clean it out completely.

I didn't even know about the mochas! That's definitely good to know.

There's not a lot available around here for breeder males. As of right now, there's a breeder lesser I can get my hands on, and a friend of mine has a male mojo I could use but my female would have to go to her for the pairing and to be honest, I don't feel to great about that option. I was trying to avoid having a snake shipped to me, but if I don't want to use that lesser, I may have no other choice.

I have someone telling me to pair a lesser with my girl and he'd purchase a baby from me if I got BELs, but I don't know if he'd want a lesser/mojave. But in the end, it's really what I want since I'm trying to produce one for myself.

[iCandiBallPythons]

Nothing wrong with having a snake shipped to you

[Ally.]

Nothing wrong with having a snake shipped to you

No, I know there isn't. I had my pieds shipped to me and everything went perfect. I was just hoping to deal with someone in person instead. It can be easier that way (but not always).