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normal ball pythons

P

pony1964

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Someone please explain to me why "normal" ball pythons are considered "trash" in the breeding aspect when I was under the impression that all "morphs" orginiated from "normals". I run a shelter where "surrendered" reptiles are brought and when I try to find them good homes, I am told they are "trash"????? Any of these balls, were orginally bought at herp shows where the owners were told they were "het" for whatever and spent a good buck, but due to unforseen circumstances had to surrender them to a shelter. Because we do not breed< I have no idea if they are really "het" for anything. Please explain this thinking to me??? Pony1964
 
I wouldn't consider them 'trash.' Normal females still form a very important component of breeding plans. Since many traits are dominant or co-dominant, you can breed a morph male to a normal female and get morphs in the first breeding (e.g. mojave x normal = 50% chance each baby will be mojave).

Perhaps this mentality is more for male normals? Male normals are relatively useless for breeding, because in most cases you can buy male morphs for very cheap (e.g. male pastels or male yellowbellies go for $100 now, which in some cases is cheaper than what you can buy a male normal for in a pet shop).

Any snake owner worth their salt will never call any animal in their collection trash. If someone calls one of their animals trash, then the animal was an impulse buy, or the person thought they could get rich breeding them. These people do not care about the animal, nor are they typically knowledgeable about their care.
 
snowgyre said:
I wouldn't consider them 'trash.' Normal females still form a very important component of breeding plans. Since many traits are dominant or co-dominant, you can breed a morph male to a normal female and get morphs in the first breeding (e.g. mojave x normal = 50% chance each baby will be mojave).

Perhaps this mentality is more for male normals? Male normals are relatively useless for breeding, because in most cases you can buy male morphs for very cheap (e.g. male pastels or male yellowbellies go for $100 now, which in some cases is cheaper than what you can buy a male normal for in a pet shop).

Any snake owner worth their salt will never call any animal in their collection trash. If someone calls one of their animals trash, then the animal was an impulse buy, or the person thought they could get rich breeding them. These people do not care about the animal, nor are they typically knowledgeable about their care.
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Nice post Vanessa :thumbsup:
I think that about sums it up right there.^^

I would just like to add my emphasis on how the people calling their animals trash are really the ones who are trash. I have had animals that cost me money and I didn't even "like" them....ie cats! Lol

I would NEVER call one trash though! No reason for that at all.....
 
Thank you snowgyre and radera for your reply. I agree, they are not trash and make lovely pets, whether you breed or not. Mary Ann
 
I love normals. I intend to use normal girls to breed my morph boys to.
 
pony1964 said:
when I try to find them good homes, I am told they are "trash"?????
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Probably just from some seedy local "breeder" looking for cheap morphs.

I've heard several times now that some big breeders kill normals right out of the egg. I hope it's not true, but I wouldn't be too surprised.
 
If they think THAT badly of them, just GIVE the poor things to someone who'll love them!
 
SpitZu said:
I've heard several times now that some big breeders kill normals right out of the egg. I hope it's not true, but I wouldn't be too surprised.
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I hope not either. I mean, if nothing else, at least don't let it go to waste and feed it to a monitor or kingsnake or something. Of course, that being an absolute last resort if you can't give it away to a good home (very unlikely since there's always an outlet for baby normals if you look around).
 
I feel and have found that "normal" females can influence the look of morphs when combined. I have a normal girl I can't wait to put with mojo's and lessers, as I feel she will significantly improve the look of the offspring. As to the trash comment, I completely agree that someone who would call any animal trash is in fact trash themselves and someone I wouldn't even sell feeder rodents to. I also like the one persons trash is anothers treasure comment. The ONE snake in my collection who will be with me for the remainder of her life is a normal, every morph I have will most likely be replaced with a combination morph down the road, but my girl Smokey has a special place here and always will.
 
MrBig said:
The ONE snake in my collection who will be with me for the remainder of her life is a normal, every morph I have will most likely be replaced with a combination morph down the road, but my girl Smokey has a special place here and always will.
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Same here! Isabelle, my normal girl, will always be with me. I wouldn't sell her for $1,000,000. She's the one that got me into this mess! :eek:
 
Unfortunately, this seems to be an eventuality with all reptile breeding. People make fantastical morphs, and suddenly the normals they used to make that morph are underappreciated. I would never call any animal trash, that is just downright mean, no matter how "plain".
 
I have five normals right now in ball pythons mainly rescues but I don't treat them as trash, I also recently got 6 other pythons/ boas that I not going to be able to keep long term run due to the size they get ( didn't know as much about them when I got but I had agreed that into keep any snake that could get over the 7 ft mark.) I also lack the long term room/cages to house suck snakes. they still not trash just my trash cans ( eat what I offer the bp and they refuse or too large fo the bps ( such as large rats. ))
 
My three favorite snakes that will be with me for life are all normals. And I really hope it isn't true that some breeders kill the normals, that's just appalling. I've actually found it's easier to find homes for the normals than the morphs. I've sold all but one of mine this year and whatever males I have get taken by a small pet shop that takes good care of all their animals. Whoever calls any snake trash should never have any. They sound like their just in it for the money because any person who really loves them could never think that.
 
Just an example of someone in a "get rich quick" scheme.... people love somehting when they think they can get rich breeding them, but as soon as they find that it isnt all that it's cut out to be, they lose interest and throw the "trash" label on them. People like that are destroying the hobby.... Period
 
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