Well, let me start off by saying that I was pleased with my breeding results this season. We moved into a new house, most snakes where moved into Freedom Breeder racks and I had temps to figure out in my new snake room. All this happened DURING breeding season !! I actually would of been thirlled with just a few clutches, but had over 12. Cant wait til next season, now that everything is established. Still the Ball Python gods can humble you. One clutch I bred a nice Albino to my Het. High Contrast Albino's. I got 5 eggs and only 1 Albino. A second clutch I bred a Pastel Jungle to a normal. I had 8 eggs and only 2 male Pastels. Another clutch I had 5 eggs from a Pastel to normal with 5 eggs. 2 went bad during incubation. The 3 remaining hatchlings where all normals. Im not complaining, like I stated earlier, I would of been happy back in March with a few clutches cause of all the changes that happened to these guys DURING peak breeding. The rest of my clutches I did well on with the expected ratios right on or slightly in my favor. Sales where great as well. I sold ALL my Albino's within 24 hours of posting a ad. I guess going after quality pays off. I sold all but 1.2 Pastels. Sold every single Het. Albino female. Most with in their first shedding !! NO complaints there !! So, a few humbling bumps, but ends with 2 thumbs up. Id also like to thank all my customers who purchased. Ive been blessed with some really awesome customers this year. Im ready for 2005 !!
Now on to my BIGGEST event to happen this year. At the beginning of this past breeding season, I set a goal. I wanted into a TOP project that very few had. Im not complaining on what I have, but I was looking to make the next step up in my Ball Python breeding ventures. As some of you know, there was one project I tried to get in. Due to forces beyond my control, it seems unlikely. I still may have a shot, but it doesnt look good. There where 2 other projects I wanted in. One was I wanted a Genetic Stripe. Probably my favorite recessive morph on the market. And the 3rd was the Woma Ball Python !! Why ? I felt this was a project either overlooked OR purposely overlooked due to the breeders. How ? I havent seen a single Woma advertised for sale !! I knew only a few had some, and my conclusions where verified. Another reason why I liked the genetically banded morph was because there is a super to them, unlike other morphs. This also means the females will always be just as valuable (if not more) than males. I think this hurt some Co-Dom and Dom morphs market this past year. What's the super ?? The Pearl Ball Python !! My interest gained as I saw the fuss everyone made over the Pearl BHB had on his table in Daytona and the comments made to me about the Pearls NERD hatched out from the Woma to Woma breedings. Then I saw pics of the Pastel Woma. WOW !! I like them better than the Bumble Bees. But I figured it would be next to impossible to obtain a male Woma. Then I found out VPI hatched a few out and this was the only male they had advertised for sale (and maybe a first). Tracy made the deal go threw for me and now Im a proud owner of a male Woma Ball Python ! Darn proud to be in the select few that has one. This guy is a summer hatch and showing great growth, so hopefully Ill be hatching out my own Woma Balls NEXT year !! These look alot like Spiders, but do have some differences. But the HUGE difference is it has the super form and Im already more impressed the very few Woma crosses that have been produced to date. A BIG THANK YOU to Tracy and Dave Barker of VPI as a goal I set last year finally came true. I plan on having more to share, but we'll have to see how everything pans out over the next month or so. Ill share here when I know. BRING ON 2005 !!
Im inclosing pics of my Woma Ball Python (photo courtesy of VPI).
