Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to thank everyone who responded to my post about the Paradox Crystal and those who have given me positive calls and emails! It is very exciting to see this project to start to develop.
For those who donot know, the Crystal Ball was produced unexpectedly by breeding a Mojave to "Special" Normal... I had 4 eggs last year which included 1 Crystal Ball, 1 "Special" Mojave, 1 Mojave, and 1 Normal... This year I bred the same parents and got 7 eggs two months ago today. The results being 3 Crystal Balls, 1 Paradox Crystal, 2 Mojaves, and 1 Normal... Very Good Odds!!! Watching them hatch was pretty unbelievable since I pretty much convinced myself that I would not get any Crystals... Since it was the same pairing, I hav no more knowledge of the genetics other than the fact that The Crystal Project is definitely proven genetic!
The original Crystal might be ready for breeding this coming season since she is weighing in at 1135 grams now. I still have not released any photos of the "Special Mother" and will not do so until I have a better understanding of the genetics... I will attach photos of each snake taken today along with some pipping photos taken over the last couple days.
Let me know what you think,
Tom Baker
HATCHING PHOTOS
First Head Out

First Two Out

Clutch Shot

Final Crystal Out of the Egg

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS
1st Crystal

2nd Crystal

3rd Crystal (Paradox)

4th Crystal

1st Mojave

2nd Mojave

Cool Normal

Crystal Group

Rest of the Group

Crystal Shot Taken Today

Jared Carr
C&C Reptiles

Tom, even the normal looks great Congrats.

Quig

Tom, glad to see that the Crystal is genetic. Good to see a West Coast guy make it big The Paradox is just mind blowing Tom, glad to see they all look healthy!

Dave

those Crystals are beautiful. Congrats.

ALL of the babies look great, it had to be something to look in on that clutch and see that many crystals. Then original Crystal gets getting better as she matures. Thanks, for sharing the pics.

Congratulations Tom ... what great odds ... and one outstanding clutch.
-----
gail

_____
SBF

Any males? or are you gonna wait until they get settled in before you sex them? They are smokin. Thanks David
-----
WRONG... The only time I was WRONG is when I thought I was WRONG but I was really RIGHT.....LOL...LOL...LOL

np
-----
Louie

Awesmome Beautiful
I realy like that first pic just cute
-----
1.2.0 ball python (aragorn, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 100% het pied (frodo)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy

"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Those are just amazing!!!!!! I want nothing more than a paradox too. GOOD GOD!
-----
Thank you,
Dave
www.DNReptiles.com

You're my hero.
-----
-Man fears the beast in the Wolf because he does not understand the beast within himself.

Really cool pics Tom

Kyle

And the original crystal seems to keep getting better looking!

Huge congratulations!

Chris Morasky

That is the COOLEST Ball Python I have ever seeen!

So when are we going to see the first one selling for $40,000 on the classifieds eh?
Haha.

I still can't get enough of that line man.
-----
-Man fears the beast in the Wolf because he does not understand the beast within himself.

so cool! Congratulations.
-----
Alice Cobb

Thanks for posting so many pictures Tom!! I REALLY enjoyed seeing ALL of the pictures... in particular the "special" normal in the clutch... I assume it carries mom's genetics... so mom is really not THAT different from a normal is it? At least outside appearance? She certainly carries some very interesting genetics.... Simply incredible.... I wish you the best of luck with the all of the babies!

As for last year's Crystal, she looks great! There seems to be more yellows coming out now... she is some awesome ball python!!

Keep us posted!

Best Wishes,
Bristen.

WOW! I don't post here much, but those things could get me hooked! Those are very very nice! Congrats! Andy Federico
-----

Have you bred the original female to a normal male to isolate her genes yet? Because it seems in my very novice opinion that in all likely hood the crystal is what happens when the genes of the two morphs mix (yes I know I am stating the painfully obvious here) so the homozygous form of the crystal mom may be something totally different than the crystal.
-----
I have Balls!

NP
-----
I have Balls!

WOW, WOW, WOW...what more can we say, but WOW! Tom it seems that Ralph must have misplaced his golden horseshoe, don't you think you should give it back! Awesome, I'm speechless.
-----
Debra and Diana
Camlon Reptiles

Email Camlon Reptiles

OUTSTANDING Tom , congrats !!! (n/p)
-----
John Berry Reptiles LLC

www.johnberryreptiles.com
www.investmentmorphs.com

That "cool normal" in the crystal clutch looks like the Mocha Ball Jared posted, the one that creates Imirs new white snake. Could the mystery snake for the Crystal Ball be a Mocha Ball??

Thanks for the responses everyone! It will be exciting to see where this project goes...
As far as the Mocha Ball goes, I don't really see the resemblance, but I am only going off of the head shot photo that Jared posted... SO they definitely could look similar if there is a full body shot available.. The Mother of the Crystal looks different...
Tom

http://imageevent.com/royalpythonreptiles/mochaballpython;jsessionid=tevtxy29s2.tiger_s

I really dont see it... They dont appear to have the same coloration... The pattern seems to be much busier on mine where the Mocha is more reduced (in comparison)... The Head on the Mocha is much cooler, almost having a faded Cinnamon type head, while mine is much more defined and "normal" in appearance... I'm not even saying there is no way they are related, I just personally dont see it at all...
I do have a female that I think looks very similar to the Mocha and is hopefully gravid from a Cinnamon... I will post a pic soon...
Tom

Only way to find out will be to arrange a breeding loan with Amir.
I think it would be worth it to find out.

-----
-Man fears the beast in the Wolf because he does not understand the beast within himself.

I love the crystal ball more than the babies momma (who is actually up for trade hahahahaha) CONGRATS

.
-----
www.ballpython.ca