Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I am going to make the plunge on some snakes. I had a bunch of balls when i was a kid until I turned 18 and moved out...

Now Im 28 and want to get into some designr morphs.

I really love the vpi axanthics and the various pastels out there. Cant forget about the albino carmels too...

But anyway, my budget is tight and I am looking at getting some hets to possibly breed in the future and produce the results that I want.

Should I get 2 vpi 1100% hets and roll the dice with them or should I get a good pastel and het combo and get a gorgeous looking snake now and possibly breed some gorgeous snakes in the future...

My ultimate score would be a morph with a little het axanthic mixed in with maybe a het axanthic female or male... Which ever way the combo would work out to be a breeding pair...

Also please exccuse me if I am using the lingo wrong... Or I am hard to understand... Im a newbie to the morph game, not to having balls. LOL!

Not sure what your budget is but it sounds like you want something cheap that will produce something to look at first time breeding. These would include (Pastels, Cinnamons, Mojave's, Yellow Belly's and Spiders) You can find all of these for under $300 for 08's if you look in the right places.

Sounds like you like the Axanthic also. Not sure on the hets but the males will be cheap (around $100). Females probabaly $500 or so. A visual 08 axanthic will run you no more then $1000.

What I would do is pick up a two 08 Axanthic Het Females. At best these will breed in 09. You can also pick up a Male Pastel Het Axanthic in 09 to raise to breed to your hets in 2010.

You will end up with Pastel Axanthics in three years for a cost $1500-$2000. Not bad.

Just my 2Cents.

07s het axanthics should breed end of this year right? or am I wrong? I think the male would be ready... but the female not so... Please correct me if I am wrong...

Yes I really do want an axanthic, i love the vpi lines... Not the price tag... ;( LOL

I could get a 07 spider male, and a 07 or 08 pastel female maybe...

thoughts?

A one year old male, if healthy should breed fine. Not all but there are plenty of males that breed the following season after hatching.

You het male should breed if up to weight to possibly go through a long period possibly without food.

Your female is most likely not mature enough and if you got her up to weight that quick (1500 grams or so)that is one good eater. If up to weight many females will go at two years old. Thats my cutoff of when I allow to breed. More chance for major weight loss with higher possibility for throwing bad eggs.

Me personally, I think I would go buy a 08 Female Pastel Het axanthic. The pastel axanthics are sweet!

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/nerd/index.php/ball-pythons/axanthic-pastel-ball-python.html

What i'm saying is that, it takes time to get them to size. To get a ball up to 1200g you have to feed aggresively. That's an average of 100g per month. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's not as easy as one may think. Almost all balls go through a fasting during some timeframe of the year.

For instance i have several balls that fasted this past winter while others ate aggresively. Now those that fasted in the winter are now eating while the others are now going through their fasting. It's frustrating, becuase you think you have a project online and it's pushed back.

My best advice would be to get subadults and you can cut your time in half possibly for getting them up to size. They cost more than hatchlings but less than adults.

Pitoon

If you buy an'08 female,she does not need to be bred in '09.That is way too soon.There is plenty of time for breeding later.She will need to have good health,and it is not healthy for females to breed at 1yr of age.You have a very big chance of having a dead snake that is egg-bound.Good luck,but do not rush things.