Snakes and Stones Pr. 2

[Bogertophis]

Gourds have such great textures & colors.

[Lord Sorril]

Gourds have such great textures & colors.

Yep, they sure do!

Photo #545

Spider/Highway (Gravel + YB) ball python, with some assorted stones (including Jasper, Agate, Petrified wood, and another I forget the name of..)

Side view below:

I call this snake 'The Dark One' because the Gravel gene is at a higher expression level than my 'regular' Spider Highways.

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #546

BP = Black Pastel/Piebald with a chunk of Montana Agate.

Breeders Note: I decided to put down my micro-hatchling problem eater. I force fed it for two weeks before it developed a neurological issue where it arched its body with its head facing down into the side of the enclosure. It kept tilting its head slowly to the left, and then slowly to the right. The morph was my highest expression Banana/Pastel/Hidden Gene Woma this season. The head tilt could have be related to the neurological effects of Hidden Gene Woma, however, as I avoid inbreeding as much as possible-I have only seen the slightest neuro effect from this gene in the past.

-In review of my records: all my micro-hatchlings this year were the offspring of 2 Lesser/HGW (Soul Sucker) females-and not all the micro-hatchlings had HGW. This may suggest a trend where HGW ball python females may be prone to producing smaller offspring, I will have to keep an eye on it...

[Bogertophis]

Too bad that one didn't work out, but "it happens".

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #547

BP = Enchi/Het Albino/Het YB or Gravel. Patterning on this Enchi is pretty obfuscated by the two additional genes.
The stone is a piece of Basalt with Quartz inclusions, this is a very common beach stone in my area.

Fun fact: I increased my rodent production due to the number of adult ball python holdbacks I am currently keeping for 2026 breeding projects...The rodents went through nearly 75lbs. of food in addition to table scraps last week.

[Bogertophis]

You have my sympathy on all those rodents! I sure don't miss raising them, which I did for well over 20 years. Nope, not a bit...

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #548A

BP = Ivory (Super Yellowbelly)/66% Het VPI Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost (Possible OG)/50% Possible Leopard/50% Possible Pastel/50% Possible Spider

Cross: Leopard/Pastel/Yellowbelly/100% Het VPI Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost x Spider/Orange Ghost/Yellowbelly/100% Het VPI Axanthic

Stones are UV reactive Chalcedony (probably due to trapped calcite inclusions).

In an effort to try and narrow down the genetics, I used my 365nm light, but very difficult to coordinate UV light intensity and camera focus on a moving target.

Photo #548B


Photo #548C

Tough to ID, can't quite tell...going to be a proof breed situation on this one...

[Lord Sorril]

I hope everyone (that celebrates) had a great Thanksgiving!

I have been pretty low on energy recently due to seasonal mold allergies. A foot of snow in the forecast tomorrow and that should calm them down...

Photo #549

BP = Pastel/Orange Dream/100% Het VPI Axanthic/50% Het Hypo
Stone is a mirror-polished Montana Agate. You can *almost* see my face in the reflection on the stone (not quite though-Muwahaha!).

[Bogertophis]

I was starting to think you went into brumation?

[Lord Sorril]

I was starting to think you went into brumation?

Nah, I have been focused on trying to find a new job. Biotech field has been in steep decline since January of this year...I am literally competing with hundreds of qualified applicants for every skilled position.

I am also taking care of wayyyy too many ball pythons. I am hoping I hit some target goals in 2026 so I can shrink my population of pythons and rodents--I am currently spending 50% more time, energy, and money than last year to maintain both sets.