I think the first think you should look for when picking out Ball Python morphs is quality. Often times I see new keepers picking up cheap pastels, spiders or pinstripes that aren't really the most gorgeous example of a morph. When I go ball pythons shopping (haha) I look for the best looking example of that particular morph. I like my spiders to have close to zero spots and high white sides. I like my pastels to have a lot of blushing and hold their yellow color.
I feel like there are too many people out there breeding low quality animals together to produce low quality offspring. Not saying you are going to do this or anything, but it is something to consider when you are bringing new animals into the world.
The next thing to pick out would be your favorite morphs. there are very few combos that are lethal but there are quite a few that have related birth defects. There are many videos and threads about various birth defects. I personally am going to avoid pairings that are prone to birth defects, but it doesn't always mean they won't happen. There have been quite a few birth defects this season that have been reported in a particular thread.
I'm not trying to scare you off from breeding, but you really need to do your research and be completely 100% ready for all scenarios. By breeding your animals you are taking on a huge responsibility. Just be prepared!
I am excited to start my first year of breeding this year. This is my 4th year of owning snakes and I don't think I would have wanted to breed any earlier. My girls I got 2-3 years ago are growing up nicely and I should have 4 females ready for this winter.
Play around on worldofballpythons.com and find which morphs and combos you really like. save up for baby snakes and raise them up to breeding sized adults. It will take some time, but it will give you experience raising babies and give you plenty of time to get all your ducks in a row. These animals are super fun and breeding can be a very rewarding experience!
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