Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am interested in getting a ball but would not like to spend a ton of money, and was wondering if there was any morphs that arent really expensive?
thanks

There are a few "cheap" morphs out there. Just to name a few:
Burgundy - Normal pattern but they have no black or brown on their bodies. The brown is replaced with a burgundy color.
Reduced Pattern aka Banded - They have a reduced pattern and sometimes they have bands, hence the name. The colors are the same as a normal ball python.
Striped - They have the same color and pattern but they have a stripe running from thier head to their doral fin.
Granite - Same color as normals but they have a shattered pattern where the "alien heads" are on normals.
High Gold - As the name suggests, they have a very bright gold color where normals have the brown color. Other than that there is no difference.
Ringer - Like the Piebalds, Ringers have white on their bodies. But unlike the Piebalds, Ringers have very little white.
There's more but these morphs came to me the fastest. Check out the classifieds here at Kingsnake.com, there's a lot of nice snakes there.
I hope this helps,
James

The ones mentioned are not genetic morphs meaning that they have not been proven to reproduce themselves when line bred. Therefore they are pretty normals until proven. The least expensive Morph is the pastel wich sits around $1200 for a male. If you just want a pretty snake though go for one of the ones mentioned above.
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Nita Hamilton
4.13 Normal BP's, 1.0 Het Orange Ghost BP, 1.0 Het Pied 1.0 50% poss Het Orange Ghost BP's

Most of the ones I mentioned have been proven.
Banded - Dominant (RDR)
Burgundy - Simple Recessive
Striped - Unknown but has been reproduced
High Gold - Unknown
Ringer - RDR has produced "hets"
--James

Granite - Dominant (RDR)
So actually the only ones that havent been proven is the High Gold and the Ringer, since the Stripe has been reproduced as far as I know. Youre looking at about $1200 for a Pastel and a lot less money for the morphs Ive pointed out that are proven. Just thought Id point that out.
Thanks,
James

Some have been "proven" most say it is dominant if they get a couple babies that look similar to the parent. Genetic stripes sell for over 10K so I don't see where that is cheap and the only banded I would fork over a higher price for since I think it is the only one that consistently produces Banded are the Enchi Pastels wich are all banded. Most of the ones you see advertised are abberant babies that people lable so that they can charge $500 instead of $100.
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Nita Hamilton
4.13 Normal BP's, 1.0 Het Orange Ghost BP, 1.0 Het Pied 1.0 50% poss Het Orange Ghost BP's

Enchi Pastels are Enchi Pastels, Bandeds (Reduced Patterns) are Bandeds (Reduced Pasterns). And who said anything about the Genetic Striped Ball Python? I'm talking about the Striped. Normal pattern with a stripe down their backs. As far as I know they have not been proven but they have been reproduced. And yes Granites, Burgundies, Bandeds, and all the other ones I talked about have been proven and they are fairly cheap. If you want more proof just goto Ralph Davis's web site.
James

For Banded, the status listed is Status: "Could Be" Dominant or Simple Recessive or "Locality", Ummmmmm, to me that is unproven since it could be anything just like a classic Jungle ball. I haven't seen a burgundy for sale so I can't say to their prices, as for the others you mentioned, stripes, granites, high gold and ringers, some have been reproduced, but not with any acuracy, ringers come up from normal to normal breeding nothing is proven on them. I read often on ralphs site, I catch up on the journal every week. If you are wanting to buy for breeding purposes buy from a reputable breeder. I have "granite" looking balls too as well as high golds all are "normals" until I breed them and prove them out. If you are looking for a nice ball python, go find one you like if you are looking for a morph you will pay for one. Lots of people in the classifieds looking to sucker people in with adds for striped, banded, high gold, etc. all they are are nice normals, unless they have been bred out and proven.
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Nita Hamilton
4.13 Normal BP's, 1.0 Het Orange Ghost BP, 1.0 Het Pied 1.0 50% poss Het Orange Ghost BP's

"I haven't seen a burgundy for sale so I can't say to their prices.."

Here you go.
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/pythons/item.nhtml?profile=pythons&UID=110

Vin Russo is the only one selling any from a proven line.
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Charles Glaspie