OK, just a little blurb to tell the story of how "The Boaphile" has come to acquire his first Ball Python in nearly 20 years. "Nearly 20 years" you ask? Oh yea baby. I had Ball Pythons back in the 80's before many of you had darkened in the door of kindergarten. In fact, I bred them as well, producing one clutch of 6 baby Balls in 1988. This when I had only produced five litters of Boas up until that point. There were zero "investment" animals at that time except Albino Burmese Pythons. A few fellows in California had spent a great deal of money on Albino Boas and sold one each to first Paul Miles and then his next door neighbor, Pete Kahl, but those critters were not producing anything yet that would be available to the masses.



So I had my Ball Pythons and my Boas. I had time to take my animals out and handle them a lot more than I do today. I would take out the Boas and they would seem to enjoy a walk in the snake room. The Balls however, did not. They would be Ball Pythons balling up most of the time and when they did stretch out, these particular Balls would bite. So my early experience with Ball Pythons, in my formative years, was not as fun for me as the Boas. I wanted to specialize and get really good at one thing, so I chose Boas, or some might say, the Boas chose me. That's how it started.



For many years I would breed my Boas and watch what the Ball Python mad scientists were doing with Balls. Unlike the unfounded accusation by one fellow, I was never one to believe that the Ball Python craze was a "fad". In fact, many friends that I have who have Ball Pythons will tell you how I frequently vocally marveled at what was going on with the Ball Pythons. In fact, I have made many posts on the Ball Python Forum right here at kingsnake.com shouting my praise of the wonders that are everywhere in the Ball Python World, and this apparently to the consternation of some thinking that a Boa guy should stay out of the Ball Python play ground. Just because I am not playing the same game, doesn't mean I don't have a admiration for the sport that is Ball Pythons.



The fact is that the Ball Python industry has helped drive the Reptile Hobby to the level it is at today. That is inarguable. I frankly do not get the bitterness that some appear to have that many of the Boa keepers have also gotten into the Ball Pythons. The fact is that there wasn't anyone that I am aware of that was really concentrating on the Balls until the Albino Balls came on the scene. Even then, the numbers were limited. Then as more and more morphs appeared, more and more had stronger interest in these masters of pattern and color. The Ball Pythons. So while many Boa people have come in late, many of the other long term Reptile people where fanciers of other Herps before they succumbed to the nearly irresistible lure that the Ball Python boom has been.



I think that any interest in any form of Reptiles that is expanded is good for all of us. The more and crazier stuff that you Ball Python guys make, the better it is for us Boa guys. We can't keep up to be sure, but we shoot for the stars and make ever more interesting Boas just the same. Much of what we know about genetics we owe to the leg work that has been done by Ball Python people. The incredibly discerning eye that Ball Python people use has increased the number of Boa people that look at their Boas with a far more careful gaze, hopefully revealing more and greater things to come in the Boa world.







I had watched the Ball Python explosion mostly from afar choosing to stick with my Boas, but then everything changed. One year at Daytona, I happened by Brian Bs. table, where Bradley Boa was loitering, and there they were! The very first Pinstripe Balls I had ever seen! Wow! Now that is something I had to have! How much was it, I asked Brad. 30K I believe was the answer. Though I wanted one in the worst way, I did not want to breed them so an "investment" price would be out of the question for me. I told Brad that I wanted one. He knew it and soon was making them himself. In 2005 or so Brad called and said he had a Pinstripe Ball for me. I asked the price. Still more than I wished to spend on one. I told Brad what I wanted to pay and assured him I would buy one when one was waved under my nose at that price. Later, I told Craig Kade, a good friend of Brad the same thing. A couple months ago, Craig beat Brad to the punch calling me to tell me he had that Pinstripe for me! That was a happy day. I love that little Ball Python.







However, just to be perfectly clear. I own one Ball Python. Only one with no plans to personally dive into the Ball project. So you can all sleep soundly tonight. The Boaphile does not intend to become the "Ball-O-Phile". That just isn't going to happen. In the mean time, I know you Ball Python guys have been admiring a few Boas yourself... Come on in! Boa guys will welcome you with open arms! The water is warm, the babies are more numerous, though less prolific, more difficult to photograph, and then you will need larger and new cages! We are only limited by what we can imagine...







Oh and this... A Ball X Boa cross of course:




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