which bp should I get?

[stanton3]

Hey guys, i'm new here and just now looking into getting my first bp! I'm looking for suggestions as to what kind I should get first. What would you guys recommend as a good starter morph that could possibly be a good base if I wanted to get into a little breeding in the future? I'd love to keep it under $200 if possible.

Thanks for the help guys!

[RoseyReps]

If you're looking to get into breeding, I would suggest getting a female first because they take longer to get of age for breeding. That being said, females run a bit more expensive than males. You should really check out http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/ and the genetics wizard on there and see what YOU want to make. Don't try and breed for what's selling good right now, as in 3 years (when your girls ready) who knows what will be hot. So breed for what you want to see in the cage Some low cost base morphs are Pastels, Mojaves, Spiders, Cinnamons, Pinstripes, Yellow Belly, and I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting. I would also suggest checking out http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...thon-CARESHEET and reading through most of the other stickies in the ball python section of this forum. Do plenty of research and reading! You can't learn too much

Oh, and

[BHReptiles]

I agree with what's said above. Start out with a female because they take longer to mature. Then when you're ready to add a male, you're female will be big enough to breed when your male is. That said, for $200, the list posted above is pretty complete. You can always start off with a female normal and buy a morph male that is codom or dom.The World of Ball Python webpage does a good job of telling you what morphs are dominant, codominant, and recessive. Now, if you wanted to get into a recessive project (albinos, pieds, axanthics, genetic stripes, etc) then I would get a het _______ from a reputable breeder with paperwork. Then when you're ready to get your male, you can buy a het ______ (same het as your female) to pair with your girl.

[S.I.R.]

I agree with the above posts. Remember that if you do decide to breed in the future, it can be frustrating and rewarding. That being said, get your female now and raise her up. As a beginner I would get a really good base morph that works with just about anything like a pastel, spider, or pinstripe. You will get a lot of bang for your buck. With those, just about any male you add to the mix with give some pretty awesome morphs. Good luck!

[BleedingOrange36]

Not to get off the subject of which snake to get..... But try and get all of your husbandry in place first. You will need a quality thermostat, thermometers, caging ( I would recommend a vision type setup that has the ability to stack in case you plan to add another snake in the future) and other misc. things to get started. Once you get that budget worked out, you'll know how much you have to spend on a snake.
Now to the type of morph.... I would look for the best looking female you can afford. No matter what morph you get, try and find the best example you can within budget, preferably from a reputable breeder. I would start at an expo to get an idea what sparks your interest. It's all about what you want to see in your cage!!

[SlitherinSisters]

I say get a codom, that way you can make supers in the future! Pastel, Mojave, Lesser, a pair of Yellow Bellies. Those are all in your price range and great base morphs to have.

[Mike41793]

I'd get a female yellowbelly or female cinnamon.

[stanton3]

Cool, thanks for the help guys!

I'm going to start getting my setup together tomorrow and try to hit a reptile show this weekend. I'm looking really hard at bumble bee's right now. A little more than I wanted to pay, but I really like the way they look and they seem to be able to breed into alot of cool morphs. Thoughts?

[Mike41793]

Whatever morph you choose, get a female. Females generally take longer to become sexually mature so while you grow her up you can decide what male you'll want to pair her to.

Im not a huge fan of spider combos but bees are well liked by many here!

[sharkrocket]

Make sure you know what you are looking for before you run out and buy the first snake "morph" you see on craigslist!

Make sure you know the signs of that morph so that they don't screw you, and also know what to look for health-wise. Do a google search for something like "how to tell if a ball python is healthy"