Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Reduced Pattern? Tiger? A pretty freak? What is he? I vote Tiger, but I'm hesitant to label him that yet? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris

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I honestly dont know if the tiger would be considered a morph..just selective nice pattern normal. just my opinion.

is that the same one i am always telling you that i love the look of? almost looks like the same girl. lol

He is a crazy cool snake, huh? I've got a really nice girlfriend for him, too. =)

Thanks,
Chris =)
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How about a really nice looking normal ball python! Seriously, not to make fun of the whole ball python morph craze, nor your post, for which I am sure you just wanted a straight answer, but I have stopped coming to this forum (I used to be a regular years ago) because its all about who has the hottest new morph on the market and what morph brings in the most money as an "investment" (gosh, I hate that word when describing living beings). Most of these so called $$$ morphs are really nothing more than nice variations of a standard looking ball python that people are crazy enough to actually shell out thousands of dollars for; but hey, more power to them (hope these same people are making their alimony and child support payments!). I think we have lost site of what brings real joy to this hobby...or maybe I am the one who is not "with it". I work with some of the world's rarest reptiles including venomous species (hot, hot, hot) and one of my favorite reptiles is my 35 year old normal, but beautiful, ball python. This animal has done more to turn people on to reptiles than any of the show stopper herps I use.

Sorry, I know that this is probably not what you were expecting but I just felt like I had to put in my pidly .02.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I said that a while ago and got ripped apart. Especially when I knocked the word "investments." But I have accepted this and realize ball pythons are one of the best snakes known for paying their own rent space in a collection. And I have to admit the "air jordan's" of snakes have started to grow on me. Get with it Rob lol : )

Geeesh harsh little rant. lol
Cj still love this snake. I love all of them actualy. from normals to spiders and especialy pieds. A morph is a morph of course of course. And yes to some people they are an investment. and to some people they are a means to be able to buy even more snakes. I know if there was a way for me to be able to afford all the very striking and different looking morphs out there then i would do it. and if breeding lets say pieds so i could see some of the offspring to be able to buy some other snakes then i would do it. Yeah there is a craze when it comes to all these morphs but all this breeding is being passed down to people who are not so serious about it and all this knowledge that is being passed down is making taking care of ball pythons easier for the average person. And prices will eventualy come down. I highly doubt prices for spiders will stay as high as they are and for the rest of the morphs also. Since being in love with ball pythons i have noticed a huge declne in prices of certain morphs. i remember not to long ago when i would see hatchling pieds for over 14000 now you can get them for half that price if you look.
ANd now my odd little rant on the rant is over.
GOOOOOOOO sox

I, too, will be rooting for the Red Sox (unfortunately, the other "sox" team from Chicago can only dream of when that big day will come). Rob

LOL . redsox need to win one of these years i guess this might just be there big chance

You have any pics of the girl you are going to mate him with?
Let me just say i want first dibs on one of the offspring when you do breed them. lol I just love the looks of that guy so much. lol

Oh yeah and once again
GOOOOOO SOX

I'll keep you in mind. =) However, I can't promise he's genetic. I'm actually selling him, but my wife is angry at me for even thinking about selling her favorite snake. If I do end up keeping him, I'll breed him in 2005. His future girlfriend won't be ready until 2006 - 2007, so I'd need to search for a 2005-er.

Thanks Again,
Chris =)
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you should never sell a snake like that. lol he to nice looking

That's exactly what I posted for! I like answers. That's the only way to grow, right? Questions? Answers? More questions? =)

I both agree and disagree with your rant, though. I think that these wonderfully exotic animals should be fun to own. And part of what makes them fun is their wonderful exoticness. Different patterns. Different colors. Different combinations. When you were a kid, didn't you ever compare baseball cards or glass marbles with other neighborhood kids? "Wow! An original CJ Bianco rookie card!"

We're just older kids with more expensive collectibles. Plus, now we can make our own cards. But the issue here is making these cards for cash. Is it morally wrong to exploit these tender animals and play God with genetics for the sole purpose of fattening our wallets? Maybe.

In my opinion, if you love these little guys, go for it! It's a bonus when you're lucky enough to make a living working with something you love. If you're in it ONLY for the money...burn in hell.

Just My Thoughts,
Chris
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Keeping normals or morphs currently is a matter of economics for some and a grand genetics experiment for others. The one perspective no one has really touched: as more morphs are bred and the price diminishes so will the demand for wild caught/collected. Kingsnake is only a portion of the overall ball python world and yet it has generated huge interest in morphs. Why did this not happen ten years ago? The Internet is the reason since we can see pictures and share information faster on morphs usually only shared amongst friends and family.

One upside about the ball python market is the amount of money that is spent on it and the attention it gets. Breeders and hobbyists who normally stayed sequestered in their own homes content with their private collection of animals are more open about what they have and are more motivated to protect that interest. Think about the organizations who are attacking our hobby every day (PETA, HSUS, etc). They have been marginally successful in some areas because we were mostly hobbyists who were unorganized and lazy in getting involved and we did not have the resources or willing to put forth the resources to defend our rights.

Now take that same group and tell them that their $20,000 "investment" is at risk. You can expect what response you would get then. Whether you are willing to defend for your right to keep herps on the grounds of "freedom", protecting your financial interests or whatever at least more of us have reason to defend our ownership and are more motivated than ever before.

Either way you look at it, the ball python market has changed the way people look at herps. Good or bad, it helps insure they are hear to stay.
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Support your local herp society
www.chicagoherp.org

nm

This is the only industry where I can brag about how much my Balls weigh. And that's important to me.

Chris =)
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And some people want brass balls. hell i just want pied balls. lol
And chris, I am already going to hell. LOL
Sox are kicking but.

Great! A roommate! =)

Chris =)
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well CJ, if we are going to be roommates in hell i bring the beer and you get the pizza. going to be hard keeping the beer cold down there though. i am sure someone will ship us some ice or something. lol

You hit the nail on the head, man.
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