PHFaust: Kevin McCurley has been a herp enthusiast since early childhood. His breeding efforts initially focused on Pituophis and other large colubrids, and over the course of time the collection grew along with an interest in pythons, particularly those with which fewer keepers were working at the time namely retics and ball pythons. During the past ten years, that focus on retics and ball pythons has brought myriad color morphs and combinations to the NERD collection, many of which were first bred at his facility.
KevNERD: Thanks!
PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Kevin Mc Curley to our Eighth Annual Chat Week
PHFaust: Thank you so much for joining us, Kev, and welcome!
daventx_nr: where do you see ball morphs heading
KevNERD: The next book will be better...just learning how to do it. Some mistakes but it would be hard not to have any!
KevNERD: Where do i see them heading?
daventx_nr: yes color etc
KevNERD: There are lots to choose from when thinking about your next one...
KevNERD: I think there are too many to choose from and it is only going to get worse.
daventx_nr: i agree
PHFaust: Kevin remember to type a GA when done with answer
KevNERD: They seem to be DOMINATING the landscape and people are changing what they keep to include them.
JTrott: Any chace of seeing an axanthic spider this year Kevin.....black widow?
KevNERD: GA
KevNERD: I think YES, this year has been slow for me...lots of my males are not keying in just yet. I think it will be a late one!
KevNERD: GM
PHFaust: Snow your question
snow82_nr: Ever had exp. with hot breeding
KevNERD: Hot breeding???
snow82_nr: and whats the differences
snow82_nr: venomous
KevNERD: Venomous...No, I keep some stuff...My main focus there is protecting TIMBERS and doing what i can to locate the last dens in the area. I bet I can breed the stuff but i am lost in sooo many other projects.
daventx_nr: we had some habitat loss here in north texas for a timber den
KevNERD: Timbers are in bad shape up here!
KevNERD: GA
herpkeeperz_nr: ?
PHFaust: Jtrott
havic: can you or do you have a video on your web page showing us newbies how to sex bps?
JTrott: I think Kev already answered it but, Any chace of seeing an axanthic spider this year Kevin.....black widow?
KevNERD: The axanthci spider is a very probable one
JTrott: you going to name black widow?
JTrott: just a thought
KevNERD: The axantchi spider will not be the black widow...
JTrott: super cinny spider?
KevNERD: I have to make something that gets that awesome sounding name!
KevNERD: Maybe, don't just know yet.
KevNERD: GA
JTrott: can't wait to see
KevNERD: Me neither!
KevNERD: U R WELCOME!
THISDUDE: any tips or tricks to get a wc male morph in the mood
PHFaust: Krn your tuirn
KevNERD: Ok, male wildcaught...has he been feeding?
KevNERD: You need his weight up first thing...unless you go him recently and he is cycled he needs the weight, then the cool to breed.
KevNERD: Skinny male that is not already cycled can be a tough one
KevNERD: Getting those few extra males can be what is really needed to get any male over the wall to the ladies.
krn: hey kevin Was it hard ot go about starting your own business? ?
KevNERD: Hard starting a business....
KevNERD: YES!! Don't do it unless you are the ONLY employee!!!
KevNERD: Keep it as a fun hobby...
snow82_nr: i hear that
jeffb: sing it brrother
krn: ok Thanks alot
JTrott: was it hard deciding if this is what you wanted to rely on to pay the bills I think is what he/she is trying to ask
KevNERD: Lots of red tape...I think the whole industry is suffering a bit with shipping rates, restrictions and all sorts of misery.
havic: can you make a how to sex a bp video on your web page?
KevNERD: I have never thought of the sexing video thing.... I suppose i could. We are makng a new site..the old present one is dated and missing LOTS of stuff...I have been bad, no focus with it for some time...
slshaw:hey kev. what are your thoughts on the red axanthic and het red axanthics? also what morphs do you predict will be most popular in the next few years?
KevNERD: Red axanthics.... I don't have any...but they could make something cool...still new...To me they remind me of a form of cinny..
KevNERD: i still don't know all there is to know about them..
KevNERD: new morphs?..
robertmcphee: What do you think the future of the "mini" boas will be, such as the Nicaraguans, Sonorans etc?
KevNERD: Mini boas are cool in theory.....
KevNERD: I think they may give us more reliable breeding with less slugs....
KevNERD: I also think they are almost too small....but I love BIG snakes...
KevNERD: I still think the regular colombian is SHARP!
KevNERD: The mini boas is starting to really take hold...but the regular colombian lines still have the BEST morphs to choose from...
Travis_nr: Hey Kev; you got any tips on switching a ball python from mice to rats
KevNERD: Mice to rats...
KevNERD: put some mouse shaving in its cage to make him want to eat and then rub down a rat with more mouse shavings and put it in the cage
herpkeeperz_nr: what are the best morphs for a new bp lover to start breeding with and what sex for each morph ? thank you
KevNERD: Pastels are GREAT and cheap for a good first new morph
UAWPrez: What's the name of your book and where can I buy it?
KevNERD: The COMPLETE Ball Python..goto my web site..newenglandreptile.com
Adam105_nr: Can you explain please how people say that het pieds are visible when the scientific deffintion would make a "het" completely impossible to see?!
KevNERD: The visible part does not have to do with the scientific...
KevNERD: I can not tell you why some or most have tell tale markers..
KevNERD: it seems to be almost a bleed though
KevNERD: the het part seems to still have a bit of control over the wild type look..
KevNERD: the clear belly..black edge...
KevNERD: but not all are that way!!!
KevNERD: There are some very normal looking animals that still are hets but do not show much of anything
KevNERD: lots of mystery with what is actually going on there!
KevNERD: GA
BIGDADDYBALLROOM: Are you working on producing more caramel glows?
KevNERD: Caramel glows.....I am trying to make spider caramels.... i got very frustrated missing my odds..
KevNERD: i did double het to double het for a total of 24 eggs(I think) and I got a single visible...a caramel glow and nothing else visible!!!!!!!
KevNERD: Gave up...for now!
RVAReptiles: this will be my first time breeding ball pythons, I have a female who has copulated many times with a male since november. I'm nervous about incubating eggs, any advice?
KevNERD: I spell out the egg thing in the book...
KevNERD: it is not HARD...
KevNERD: just read that part several times..
RVAReptiles: yeah i was reading that earlier
KevNERD: don't make it too wet!!
KevNERD: An egg that is drying out tells you it needs water....
RVAReptiles: I've got a home-built incubator, only shortcoming I see is that it pretty much seals up and doesn't let any outside air in
KevNERD: the safe temp is 88F..that gives you some room for fluctuations without cooking them!@
KevNERD: GA
herpkeeperz_nr: what do you think about a arctic/ axanthic cross?what are the feasible possibilities?
KevNERD: I don't think the artic is genetic as we understand it
KevNERD: It seems to be a thing..
KevNERD: just like classic jungles, maze balls...all that weird random stripe stuff..
KevNERD: breed a YELLOW belly to it and make more yellow bellies!!
red_nr: do you think paradox albino bp will prove
KevNERD: No, i don't think the paradox is inheritable
KevNERD: at least in that form
KevNERD: i wish it did!!!
KevNERD: GA
CJinNH: Kevin I literally got in a heated argument with a guy in a chat room about the ball python morph craze and he told me anyone who thinks they are ever going to make any money with ball pythons is nuts and he was predicting the crash of the morph market in the next 3 years... what is your opinion on that? this guy was serious too! oh Thanks for the GTP you sold me, he is doing good in his new home!
KevNERD: Come on chris
KevNERD: Well, we are seeing a form of the crash now...
KevNERD: people panic, they cash out..
KevNERD: they get into it just to cash out
KevNERD: they forget they are breeding living art
KevNERD: they want to make it and sell it..
KevNERD: I think some of those people are missing it..
KevNERD: I think many of the hobbyist that are just getting into are REALLY into their snakes and that is what i like!
CJinNH: yeah I see how that can affect the market, thanks, I'll try and stay on this side of that
KevNERD: I am my own biggest customer..
KevNERD: there will be a point stuff is sooo cheap I will just make it and never sell it..
KevNERD: kind o funny how normal females are sooo expensive and the morphs(some) are soo cheap??
KevNERD: I think some of us have to get used to prices coming down...once we accept some it it may be easier..
KevNERD: there are still many desirable morphs out there that people crave!!
KevNERD: Don't make enough and the value will hold!!
PHFaust: Matt your turn
KevNERD: I think you have to invest wisely
KevNERD: GA
Matt...Hennek: What does your nomral day entail...i.e describe a normal day in the life of Kevin
Matt...Hennek: (and a followup question...is there a homozygous spider?)
KevNERD: My life is just retarded...
KevNERD: I have a retail store that I generally check out in the am for problems...then i peek in at my snakes..and look for rodent floods?
KevNERD: I peek on my snakes and see if any are breeding..
KevNERD: my phone hates me and calls to me all the time...
KevNERD: I freak out for the sake of freaking out..
KevNERD: i run into walls
KevNERD: i cry a lot
Matt...Hennek: lol
KevNERD: i suck my thumb
KevNERD: and wet my dress...
KevNERD: I am prety hyper and my stress level is up there...trying to make this whole thing work is HARD
KevNERD: I have a 14,000 sq ft building with a giant mortgage...lots of employees....
KevNERD: lots of trouble
KevNERD: and I must play METAL!!!!
KevNERD: To get rid of it all!
KevNERD: but i do get distracted and i do have terrible odds!!!
KevNERD: There is no super spider that I know of yet...
KevNERD: I don't know why...
KevNERD: and some bad luck to boot!
KevNERD: GA
Matt...Hennek: ok...thanks kevin...hope to see you and kara one of these days
pac-man: hey kev!i introduced my baby male and baby female to each other today on my bed...i put the male next to the female and he didnt even relizeshe was there but she got really mad (i had aggression problems with her wen i first got her)is thisa normal??are there any better ways to introduce thm to each other?im just trying to get my female to be used to him because im hoping to breed wen they are old enough.and what is your opinion on houseing a male and female baby to gether?
KevNERD: as far as babies...they d not really care about each other
KevNERD: they are just another thing in the environment..
KevNERD: it may react the same to a pet hissing roach or a ball rolled near it..
pac-man: my female didnt like him being there tho not sure why
KevNERD: they like to check things out but they don't really need to know each other..
KevNERD: if you keep tow in the same cage they may get used to touch making them a bit more relaxed
KevNERD: Your animals on the bed were out of their element and you should not let that one reaction bother you!
KevNERD: Next?
PHFaust: Geofri your turn
geofri: Kevin, what would you suggest as a first breeding project? I am 16, and pretty new to balls, i have 3 females i got rescently(normals), to use for future breeding. I have a pair af het albino balls on hold, from a freind, do you see them holding their value into the next few years?
KevNERD: Albinos..YES!
KevNERD: They are gorgeous and they are exotic looking!
KevNERD: Pieds will always be good..
geofri: what do you think the will sell for in say, 5 years?( the albinos)
KevNERD: I would go for a pastel to to get things going and to give you some results to keep you excited!!
KevNERD: Albinos...in 5 years...$750.00
geofri: would that be hatchling males?
KevNERD: They will hit a value that demand will exceed production
KevNERD: yes...
KevNERD: I always talk in terms of babies...
KevNERD: I hope i am WRONG..I think they will always be worth $1,200 once there are lots of them
KevNERD: next?
geofri: thank you very much kevin
bps4ever: What do you find the ideal weight to be for a female BP to breed?
KevNERD: 1200 grams or bettter..
bps4ever: thx alot
KevNERD: I have killed a few females that were just too small...I have made plenty of mistakes..I am impatient!
KevNERD: Too small...hard to expell a large egg...can equal egg bound or sudden death!
KevNERD: next?
Reptilefreak16: Kev, with all of the color mutations being created from line breeding,do you see genetic mutations of the ball python,caused by line breeding causeing a severe problem down the line with ball pythons, or have they already started?
Reptilefreak16: genetic mutations other then color
KevNERD: I don't think we are seeing many problems with line breeding...at leat not yet..
Reptilefreak16: ok,thanks
KevNERD: The caramel has some weird thing with the kink thing.... so that is good to outbreed...
KevNERD: my womas make a white snake that is just not right..
KevNERD: if we do see some problems it will be kinking....
Reptilefreak16: kink in the tail?
KevNERD: so i am outbreeding to see if that fixes it..
hunterjackson: Sout Carolina has now proposed legislation (Bill 959) making it illegal to keep many exotic animals, with the list not being complete, allowing Natural Resources to add animals anytime they wish. What is the best way to defeat this?
KevNERD: getting killed
BrianPotter: Do you think Ralph Davis should keep his shirt on more often at shows? And if so.....why? Also do you think that Ralphs crew is possibly a satanic front trying to unite the youth of America one herper at a time? The picture of my Pinstripe in your book is my favorite part.....great snake man!
KevNERD: I think that ralph should jut suck it up and start going out in a dress...in one of his thongs..
KevNERD: just take it like a man...maybe...no undies even...
KevNERD: then we will really know he does not care what anyone thinks!!!
KevNERD: Your pin is very sweet BTICHICO!
Nokturnel Tom: Ball Pythons may dominate the world of morphs, but do you think things like the Granite IJs, Jaguars, and Rainbow Boa morphs will ever get the attention the Ball Pythons get now and do you think these other snakes will have the potential to expand into multi morph combos anything like Ball Pythons? Know of anything most of don't that may create a huge buzz in the hobby??
KevNERD: Hey tom, no I don't think the carpets or rainbows will ever get to the ball level..
KevNERD: They are nice but the ball python can and never will be beat, period!
KevNERD: So much we can do and so much we ARE doing with them!
Vernon: kevin you still think the albino balls are well worth it for someone just starting out
KevNERD: Albinos are def good to start with!
Vernon: thanks I have just bought my first pastel ball male and about 6 normal females for next year and now Im looking for my first big step albino pair
heg: kev what can you tell us about the albino sunburst line, i hear about it but i never see any at the herp shows? second what is the best way to get females together fast? in mumbers? and thank for your time tonight
KevNERD: albino sunburst???
KevNERD: I do not know...sounds kind of goofy???
KevNERD: A real nice albino??
KevNERD: Get females toggether fast???
KevNERD: raise up babies..they make the best investment!!
KevNERD: They are used to your climate and housing...
heg: ok thank you
KevNERD: they will cycle better for you than getting adult females from here and there!
Vernon: kevin what is the ideal weight to breed your ball python females?
KevNERD: 1200 plus grams
Geckosgirl: Kevin, thank you for being here and sharing your experience with us.. I have a male 800 gram spider ball. I have bred him to a 2400 gram normal and awaiting eggs that are a bit over due. He is on loan now to a 1990gram female orange ghost. Another breeder has told me that spider males will not produce until they reach 1000 grams or over . Is this fact or fiction? Also as we are adding on more expensive morphs can you recommend any good security measures to prevent theft besides alarms and video on property?
KevNERD: Not true one bit..
KevNERD: a spider male will go even smaller..let's say around 700 grams will work..
Geckosgirl: i didnt think so but wanted to ask someone like you to be sure
KevNERD: a bit of age helps!
KevNERD: Any security is good!
Geckosgirl: so far hes locked up 2 times with the 2400 gram for 12 hrs each time, and once at that amount with the ghost
KevNERD: An alram is great and how about a video recording things taht people do not know about?
KevNERD: next?
Geckosgirl: ty kevin
KevNERD: breed that male more...
KevNERD: I like to see six copulations to feel REAL good about my breedings..
KevNERD: breed him more!!!!!!!
KevNERD: that is a good way to get bad eggs(duds)
Vernon: kevin hows the best way to get your new book online?
KevNERD: go to my site..
KevNERD: newenglandreptile.com..i can even sign some obnoxious message if you would like!!
soderstrum: What up Kevin in your opinion what morph is doing the best in the industry thus far? Also what morph is your favorite?
KevNERD: what morph????
KevNERD: Bumble bees RULE!!
KevNERD: Hard to beat that combo...
KevNERD: gives people something to work for that they can actually achie3ve!!!!
KevNERD: what morph??
KevNERD: I think the desert ghost has some real good bennys in store..
soderstrum: thanks
KevNERD: I think the combo stuff is going to be the reall thing...having three four or five in the same snake is going to make some insane stuff..
KevNERD: i like anything that make sthe pattern go down or look real odd.
KevNERD: too many good morphs....
KevNERD: the coral glow bumble bee is too die for..that thing is unreal to say the least..but there are ltos of good ones ut there to aspire to!
KevNERD: next?
RETIC9_nr: What retics do you think will hold their value and do you find it easy to sell the morphs? (make any money on them)?
KevNERD: GOLDEN CHILDS!!!
KevNERD: Period!!
KevNERD: it is the ONE no question!!!
HerpKeeper_nr: u think
RETIC9_nr: golden child?
KevNERD: I think the ivory with the platinum hets(het ivory) are going to get things stepped up!!! They re real sharp and the hets are KILLER YELLOW!!!!!
KevNERD: Goto our website and look for the golden childs..
KevNERD: the new site will have them everywhere!!!!
KevNERD: They are rare and they are gorgeous..and they stay smaller..
KevNERD: next?
joseph02: Hey Kevin, Tony Hurt here. When are we going to see pics of the banana bee?
KevNERD: It is NOT a banana bee...I made that morph first..it is a coral glow...
KevNERD: i will take new pics....she is SMOKING!
KevNERD: Send me an email...I will make you some!
KevNERD: next?
JDouglas: Can a female breed a dozen or so times and still not produce
KevNERD: YES she can...for years even!!!
JDouglas: Is this common and what are some causes?
KevNERD: females breeding and not going???
KevNERD: I don't know...
KevNERD: we often make them too fat...if tempos are wrong..
KevNERD: she is not happy...
KevNERD: too skinny..
KevNERD: not enough fat reserves..
GailT: Kev ... what is the white stuff in my snakes cages ... it's hard, lumpy and it doesn't taste very good ... 
KevNERD: It is cream cheese..
KevNERD: what did you think it was..
Matt...Hennek: mmmm....cheese
KevNERD: the problem is that you did not find it when it was ripe..
KevNERD: you have to get it just in time...
KevNERD: the white stuff....is NOT CALCIUM FOLKS!!!!!
KevNERD: It is old stale cream cheese!!!
Sicilyjn_13: really?
GailT: thanks Kev ... ball king, morph god ..
KevNERD: EVILMORPHGOD..and don't forget it!!
Gailyn: Do bp's enjoy living together (i.e. more than one in a cage)? Or is it better to always house them separate? Should you let the female keep the eggs or incubate?
KevNERD: Do balls enjoy living together...
KevNERD: I think adults do...
KevNERD: they may feel safer when grouped...
KevNERD: I don't think they are stupid so they must experience boredom...
Gailyn: Really? Just provide extra hides then...
KevNERD: anything to break up their day helps..
KevNERD: So i would say yes!
KevNERD: next
KevNERD: Yes, extra hides will allow them the space they may need...
KevNERD: next
MikeRusso: HI Kevin, This is sort of off topic but I was wondering why we don't see you at the White Plains Herp show any more??
KevNERD: I have been sooo busy..i will be back...but i got burned out to say the least...build a big giant building!
joseph02: Kevin, what stage of follicle size [in ball pythons] do you feel that the females will start eating again?
KevNERD: let's say...12mm-20 mm is prime time and then they may shut down..
KevNERD: some may eat a bit more with bigger follicles...some may never eat at all!!
KevNERD: Thanks everyone!!!!!
KevNERD: Now I can go eat!!
KevNERD: Night!!!
PHFaust: On behalf of Kingsnake.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Kev for being part of our chat week. Kev thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Ball Python Morphs
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Cindy
PHFaust
