A $30 Piebald.... Or something?

[Shai Gurl]

Howdy there all , I surely hope this is in the right section... I'm having a bit of a problem over here, namely with a ball python over here, or at least it's coloration. I got it from a reptile shop in Colorado, out of a large pile of fresh CB babies... his patterning is wild, I almost thought it looked like a Mojave at first, or perhaps was an odd one in shed, there was BLUE on his back... Its a striking animal, has some of that ghosting in parts, some of which is kind of orange and has a white/gray spot in the middle. But the oddest part is it's back... Streaks and spots of white and blue-gray streak where it should be yellow (especially at the nape of the neck and 2-3 inches beyond that for the first streak), well, it breaks up the yellow or lines it in places. I am working on a picture, (me + camera + scanner = ... Maybe I should just get a pic going, develop it, and send it to a trust-able person in the herp community to scan it for me?); anywho feel I've put down a good bit of the information on what it looks like.... Has anyone seen something like this? I don't want to call it a morph or anything, or not at least its proven out some years down the road (or at least until it sheds a good several more times-so I can document as to whether or not its spreading, or going away, or prove is out), but at least I know its not normal for a baby ball to have such (really looks blue at most angles) spots and speckles. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

-Sara Eyre

 

[Seamus Haley]

Out of curiosity, which pet shop in Colorado?

I'm currently spending most my time in Littleton, just south of Denver, it's a bit of a drive to Wyoming, but not *that* bad... If you wanted someone to take a look, I'd be willing to possibly meet halfway depending on just how far away you are. I'm not an expert with ball morphs but I guess I know more than the average person and would certainly be willing to both take a look and offer my opinions and I do have a solid understanding of the physiological reasons for most color deviations (I also have a scanner and would be more than willing to scan any pictures you might have and send them to you via e-mail or post them online so that others could take a look).

Or, if you feel like a drive and call ahead to see if they would be willing to help, the crew at Pro Exotics has been working with ball morphs for a while now and, while I can't speak directly for them, they've always been enormously willing to help anyone with anything reasonable as far as I have seen in the past and might be willing to take a look for you if you were to call and arrange a time to visit. If they're willing, then it's well worth the trip anyway, the place is great.

-Seamus

 

[Shai Gurl]

Actually

I got the tike at the North store of Scales n' Tails... I lived in the Englewood area most my life but am now about 250 miles away in Rawlins, WY, quite a drive to just "take a peak." But your right, should have given Pro Exotics a ring as well and had them give me their opinion while I was in town. I won't be back down again for another few weeks - Next planned visit is 12-16 of June. At least the monster is a good eater, already nailed a decent sized rat pup (the ball is a tiny one). I've almost finished my roll of film, then will be taking it in for development... If that happens well before my visit to Colorado you think I could send a copy to you for scan and a quick check? Or would you prefer waiting until I get into town and do a quick meet-n-greet? Anywho, I really appreciate your assistance with this one, I'm a little too excited - The "What if it is this" and "what if its not" nerves and all, ya know?

-Sara Eyre

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, riddle them with bullets!"

 

[Seamus Haley]

I'd be more than happy to assist in any way I can, if the pictures are developed well in advance, I can have them scanned the moment that they're in my posession and then send you back the originals without the slightest problem at all.

I occasionally wander up to Blackhawk for the buffets associated with limited stakes gambling, if I end up going North anyway, I'll send an email via the BOI and let you know... If it would be happening before you plan on wandering down this way again anyway... A few hundred miles isn't that far out of the way...

 

[Shai Gurl]

Junes the next trip.

I'll definitely be down June 12th-15th, and it may take a while before the pictures are developed... I'd forgotten that I took some panoramic pics on my camera as well, and those take a bit longer for development, (couldn't help it, sun-scattered flats of Wyoming's Great Divide Basin - Can't wait until I have the time and opportunity to do the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone). Anywho, I took a ton of pictures so SOMETHING should develop right, or at least moderately right... I hope... I'll probably be hitting the rest of the herp shops up there to check out the rest of those babies, odds may be low to find another like my monster, but well worth the shot (heck, what if I found a female like my boy? Might just save me a good 2 years of breeding and raising for another $30 or less!!! Anywho, I'll keep you updated.

-Sara Eyre

"The more money I make the less money I seem to have to spend."
-Wise Ex-Co-Worker

PS.... Just in case my computer works, below is my pride and joy, Tsavo.

 

[Shai Gurl]

Got pics, they stink

I think I should stick to the sciences, photography is not my trade at all.... But I do finally have about 3 pictures that show the markings a little bit.... Anywho, I leave down to Denver on Wednesday, so I'm thinking it'd be better to meet somewhere? It'd be up to you of course, I don't want to impose or anything, just really curious about this little weirdo.


-Sara Eyre
[email protected]