ashflower
08-11-08, 01:24 PM
Well, I'd like to say first of all that I'm a pretty well-informed newbie... but this is my first post at a herp forum, and I might say some dumb stuff. I just need somewhere to write down all the thoughts I've been having and get some practical feedback.
I've really gotten interested in herpetoculture recently, though the fact that I am still living with my parents keeps me from getting any herps of my own. Yeah, it's stupid and unfair; the only thing I'm allowed to have is fish, but fish are not really that exciting for me.
So I'm trying to really prepare myself and get as much information as possible about keeping and breeding herps, specifically ball pythons, when I do have my own place (hopefully sometime next year). I'm dead set on having, or eventually breeding my own blue-eyed leucistic ball python. I've read about the designer morphs, and there are a few ways you can create these. But the least expensive method is breeding two Mojaves together, and 25% of the babies will be super Mojaves, or blue-eyed leucistics. That's clear enough. But I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with breeding this particular morph. I'm thinking it's probably best to stick with breeders within Canada who could find me a pair of Mojaves - I'm not too comfortable with the idea of shipping from the U.S. or anywhere else. That's very expensive anyway.
BUT.. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get my Mojaves first of all. I'm toying with the idea that I should just get a single normal male first, to get myself into the whole concept of caring for a BP. Then decide what to do from there - whether I'm really ready to invest in a pair of Mojaves with the intention of breeding them.
So my questions are:
1) How clean will the white be (theoretically) if I cross two Mojaves? I've seen some leucistics that were a beautiful pure white, and others with some dark spots on the head and over the body. Has anyone proven-bred ONLY pure white leucistics with any of the specific pairings with the co-dominant trait for leucism? (i.e. is it best to cross two yellow lemons, two lesser platinums, two Mojaves, one yellow lemon to a Mojave, etc. etc.)
2. Is it a good idea to get started with a plain Normal male BP? If I do, then adding a female of any interesting morph will at least help me out, by producing hets for that morph. Or should I get a Normal female, and decide later whether to get a male morph? Does it really make a difference?
3. On the issue of inbreeding, and keeping bloodlines pure - I am definitely in favour of keeping bloodlines separate as much as possible (I'd rather breed cousins than siblings - does that make much difference?) But in the case of just starting out with a new hobby breeding project (5 year plan), I'll probably have to breed some siblings, if I want to get any results without spending thousands of dollars on the snakes alone.
4. Where would it be best to look within Canada for a pair of Mojaves? I could probably relieve someone of a male normal on Kijiji or a local breeder for not very much $$, though I'd want to ask where they got that snake, and its health history.
5. In case I want to really get complex with the breeding projects, I'm also thinking of adding a female albino to the collection. Working with recessive traits is more difficult than co-dominant (I would imagine), but I think it would be worth it - many people love these snakes, and I bet I could find someone who could use a pair of het albinos. Which brings me to the point that after inbreeding several generations, some albino balls have been born with just one eye. That's messed up, I don't want any part of it. How many generations before that could happen?
Phew.. Ok, if you read all that, I salute you.
Any advice would be really appreciated.
I've really gotten interested in herpetoculture recently, though the fact that I am still living with my parents keeps me from getting any herps of my own. Yeah, it's stupid and unfair; the only thing I'm allowed to have is fish, but fish are not really that exciting for me.
So I'm trying to really prepare myself and get as much information as possible about keeping and breeding herps, specifically ball pythons, when I do have my own place (hopefully sometime next year). I'm dead set on having, or eventually breeding my own blue-eyed leucistic ball python. I've read about the designer morphs, and there are a few ways you can create these. But the least expensive method is breeding two Mojaves together, and 25% of the babies will be super Mojaves, or blue-eyed leucistics. That's clear enough. But I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with breeding this particular morph. I'm thinking it's probably best to stick with breeders within Canada who could find me a pair of Mojaves - I'm not too comfortable with the idea of shipping from the U.S. or anywhere else. That's very expensive anyway.
BUT.. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get my Mojaves first of all. I'm toying with the idea that I should just get a single normal male first, to get myself into the whole concept of caring for a BP. Then decide what to do from there - whether I'm really ready to invest in a pair of Mojaves with the intention of breeding them.
So my questions are:
1) How clean will the white be (theoretically) if I cross two Mojaves? I've seen some leucistics that were a beautiful pure white, and others with some dark spots on the head and over the body. Has anyone proven-bred ONLY pure white leucistics with any of the specific pairings with the co-dominant trait for leucism? (i.e. is it best to cross two yellow lemons, two lesser platinums, two Mojaves, one yellow lemon to a Mojave, etc. etc.)
2. Is it a good idea to get started with a plain Normal male BP? If I do, then adding a female of any interesting morph will at least help me out, by producing hets for that morph. Or should I get a Normal female, and decide later whether to get a male morph? Does it really make a difference?
3. On the issue of inbreeding, and keeping bloodlines pure - I am definitely in favour of keeping bloodlines separate as much as possible (I'd rather breed cousins than siblings - does that make much difference?) But in the case of just starting out with a new hobby breeding project (5 year plan), I'll probably have to breed some siblings, if I want to get any results without spending thousands of dollars on the snakes alone.
4. Where would it be best to look within Canada for a pair of Mojaves? I could probably relieve someone of a male normal on Kijiji or a local breeder for not very much $$, though I'd want to ask where they got that snake, and its health history.
5. In case I want to really get complex with the breeding projects, I'm also thinking of adding a female albino to the collection. Working with recessive traits is more difficult than co-dominant (I would imagine), but I think it would be worth it - many people love these snakes, and I bet I could find someone who could use a pair of het albinos. Which brings me to the point that after inbreeding several generations, some albino balls have been born with just one eye. That's messed up, I don't want any part of it. How many generations before that could happen?
Phew.. Ok, if you read all that, I salute you.
Any advice would be really appreciated.