True, she could be younger. Perhaps closer to 8 months old. I'd call her an early 2012 hatchling.

Excellent book! I happen to have a copy myself It is a great resource for learning about the keeping and breeding of these animals.

You are in a good spot if you are interested in breeding, as it takes a couple years to raise the females up to breeding weight. This gives you plenty of time to decide what morphs you want to breed for, and allows you to get all the necessary equipment in order. I think most of us who end up on this website eventually end up with plans to breed, whether as a business or just for fun. Whichever you choose make sure you do it because you love it! Don't get caught up in the dollar signs

I started with one about 4 years ago. Now I'm at 27. Not all ball pythons though. Perhaps you will be captivated by some other species