Here is a pic I just took of the VPI Snow Ball I produced in 2002 here at RDR. Yes he does have some yellow in him, the yellow is not “patterned” like the Jolliff Snow Ball…..it is more “random” in the VPI Snow Ball……….as he has matured………..he has developed some yellow scales…………and they are totally random………he was born on 8/20/02 and he is white!.........The Snow Ball is the most extreme example of two simple recessive traits combined on a ball python……….crap on the Snow project all you like…………it’s here……….and it’s expensive……….it takes years of work and a ton of luck just to produce your first Snow………sure I have some yellow on my Snow ball……….should I chalk it up as a failure and cut my losses because people are disappointed in it?.........I don’t think so………co-dom has us all in way too much of a hurry$$$$$$$$$$$…………co-dom will be long gone while simple traits will still be around and “un-touched”……….you can breed simple traits together and make the double hets for YEARS and still be unsuccessful at hitting the “1 in 16” snake……..co-dom is great………….but it will become boring and saturated………..but I like “boring and saturated”…………almost as much as I love “spoon feeding” the non-believers……….I can respect anyone’s opinion on what mutation “does it” for them and what mutation “don’t”……….if you think Axanthics suck......great………don’t buy em’……but until you are lucky enough to have a few different types of white snakes in your collection and really get to see “in person” the differences between them all………….I suggest just sitting back and enjoying the show………..as T Barker always tells me………….”It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”………..I don’t know if I’m supposed to take that as a threat or not?................but she’s right….........the ball python “market” is sloppy and unorganized, yet it still grows stronger and bigger every year…….
Now think about this………what would “The Ball Python World” be like with out VPI, NERD, Pete Kahl, The Snake Keeper………….it would be nothing………..there would be nothing at all to be excited about……….who would make the cool new mutations?..........nobody?............because the new people would not have anything to work with in the first place?............piss and moan about the breeders all you want………they ARE the “Market”........
This is just a small rant that isn’t aimed at anyone………….I’ve been asked to post some pics of the VPI Snow Ball………I’ve been asked if I was dead?……so here I am……….I just got back from some killer games of volley-ball……….it was almost 80 degrees here today in Maryland……………
I want to wish everyone GOOD LUCK this season on all of their cool ball Python projects!!.............
And I would like to challenge somebody NEW to rise up in the ball python world this year………get your own “gig” and become one of the “Faces”……………why would I like to see this?.............only because I can’t remember a new name in the biz with a "fesh new" approach since some butt head named Ralph Davis exploded on the scene and kicked everyone’s BUTT!!........but remember.........."get your own gig"........anyone can spend the dough and make the snakes......
Rock On Everyone!!
Ralphie
