Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I look at dozens of normal of BPs and see little difference, other than pattern. What are some things a complete novice can look for on a normal BP that means it's extra pretty?
-----
...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."

That is extremely subjective .... Some would say a high gold or a reduced pattern, others may say - clear belly or extreme blushings and yet others would say unique pattern, high whites, lots of flames or interesting color. Sometimes it has to do with what you might breed it to. But really if you look at it and go - wow that's pretty - then it's a pretty normal.
-----
Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

What toshamc said!

I like lighter colored normals, and ones that have blushing... I'm also drawn to the more reduced pattern look as well.

I picked up this girl last night, I usually don't buy normals (since I breed my own), but I couldn't resist this little face!

-----
1.0 gorgeous spider ball python
2.2 het for axanthic
5.20 normals
Blazingreptiles.comup & running!

Great question - which brings me to mine. I'm new to keeping ball pythons, have only had my guy (supposed male - until I can get him probed to be sure) since July. I've been lucky so far in that I've had a couple of breeders willing to answer my endless questions about getting into breeding - a few years from now.

Right now I'd like to acquire a few nice females to raise to breeding weight (for as long as it takes, no rush here). I also have plans to pick up a couple of 100% het males, probably a pied and a hypo - probably butterscotch. Then breed those to my normal girls and hold back their girls and another few years of raising them and breed them back to their daddies. So, several years before I ever have a visible morph.

Here's to my question for those of you already breeding. Do you look for a particular look in a female (color variations, pattern variations, etc) for breeding, or is a normal is a normal is a normal?

If I could figure out how to post pictures, I'd post a picture of what I think is a stunning female that I will be getting in January. And she's totally not what I considered my preference (I prefer high yellow/gold - whatever the terminology is). This is a chocolate girl with gorgeous blushing and reduced pattern.

Robin

OK, let me see if I can do this. This is the girl I'm getting in January. IMHO, she is a very nice normal, but that's because she's beautiful to me! I would LOVE if she'd give me babies that resembled her.

OK, that second picture was my avatar, so a little small. Here's a bigger picture of it.

I think this little girl is a nice normal, but I'm prejudiced because she's mine.

-----
It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.