Reptile & Amphibian Forums

that being said, I was curious what became of the "Derma Ball?" Did it ever reproduce? Im thinking it must not have gone well or I would have heard about it.....

As far as I can gather from various posts and updates, it is alive and ??possibly breeding??

Don't take this response as law...that damn snake is as mysterious as the identity of a super hero.

Personally, I hope it proves out.

-John

the hair club for men and is no longer a Derma ball. I hear with the long hair, he's decided to go on tour with White Zombie and Disturbed as a backup bassist. That's just what I heard though
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Most likely produced a lot of normals if breeding but I really have no idea.
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Vince Pramuk

Maybe the person who owns it can post an update for me/us. I dont think its a big deal if it didnt prove out... lots of breeders try to prove traits that end up nothing. Sure hope whoever gives an update! Dan

This is the last we saw of the Derma (in spring 2006):

forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=1024278,1024686&key=2006

If any eggs ever came of no one has said.

Also it was assumed that the Derma would be recessive and he had claimed he had Mom too - but if you follow the thread down - I asked if it was bred to back to mom but he didn't bother to reply.

So who knows - it could be dead or it could be doing fine. It seems to have dropped out of existence. Perhaps he powerfed a female offspring and we'll see Dermas this spring.
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Tosha

Did Spring start early in 2006?
March 6 is Winter.
Did I miss this on my BD?
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RicK & Caitlyn @ Ball Boutique, Inc.

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

hope we end up hearing an official update soon.

The last time I talked to Justin a few months back he told me he had normal looking, potentially "het" offspring from the previous breeding. He was trying to decide what to do from there as far as sell the derma and keep the hets or keep the whole project. I don't know what he ended up doing. He should be able to breed derma x "het" and find out what the story is next season when the female offspring get up to two years old assuming they eat well.

On a personal note, i think the Derma will prove to be recessive. After looking long and hard at scaleless texas rat snakes, they are practically the same thing only a different speices. I think he would be a fool to sell the project now, (im not calling names just lack of better words), I am not exactly a fan of the Derma but do think it will prove to be genetic.
Kim
N.A.R.C

I have always felt the Derma ball was cool and interesting. It annoyed me to no end how some people really attacked the owner of the derma ball. It is no a mutation or freak as any other ball python morph, except this one has altered scale production/formation instead of pattern and color. Scales are just modified hair, so a scaleless snake is no different than a hairless rat, mouse, dog, cat, guinea pig, etc.

Hence I see why the owner doesn't give updates on his projects in the ball python forum. I certainly hope he does well in his project and proves the derma ball out as recessive or whatever. I also feel he should stick with the project for a few more years. At worse, he will prove the trait is not recessive or genetic, but if it is, there is a potential market for derma balls. I doubt i would be able to afford buying one right away but it would be something on my 'must get' list, just as piebald ball pythons are. (not to mention that black and white spider posted here time and time again).
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PHLdyPayne