Almost a year later and have a few questions.

[bwardo2010]

Well last January I was thinking about buying a ball python and decided that I wanted a spider. I bought him from Mark Petros, and could not be happier with him. He is 100% gentle and has never even struck at me. Until recently he hammered his food. I started to feed him rats and he would eat them but the last couple he has refused, but as soon as I put 2 mice in his tub he drilled them. For the people who have pure mice eaters, have yours eaten rats before then stopped or could it just be that he didn't like those rats compared to the ones he had eaten before?

With that being said. I have recently been thinking about buying another ball python. I'm not necessarily looking into breeding, yet. I am a senior in college and going to masters school next year. However, after I graduate if I still have an interest in breeding then I would possibly do it.

I like the looks of lessers, pewters, and good quality pastels. But I don't like how pastels "Brown out," do lessers and pewters dull out too?

Sorry for this being a long read, but I am excited to get fully involved into this hobby!

[MrLang]

do lessers and pewters dull out too?

Yes - a lot of morphs do.

On the rat vs mouse thing, once they get to adulthood it is very common for them to decide to eat less. They have very slow metabolisms and simply don't need to eat a lot. The mice just dart around and move in a way that makes them irresistible to the feeding response - it doesn't necessarily mean your snake needs the nutrition.

[Neal]

Yes - a lot of morphs do.

On the rat vs mouse thing, once they get to adulthood it is very common for them to decide to eat less. They have very slow metabolisms and simply don't need to eat a lot. The mice just dart around and move in a way that makes them irresistible to the feeding response - it doesn't necessarily mean your snake needs the nutrition.

x2. The brighter ones kind of suffer the most unless Lesser or Pastel is tossed in, then it can hold color sometimes. I've seen this go both ways though.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I have seen some pastels hold a beautiful yellow all their lives.

Instead of shopping for a baby pastel, start asking to see parents. That will be your best indicator.

Lessers I find stay bright from most of their lives.