2/15/07
Although this journal was created a few years ago, I have to date been horribly negligent in maintaining it. Recently I've had some new ideas which I believe will keep me inspired. I have for several years been seriously immersed in this business of keeping and breeding ball pythons. I always enjoy the time I spend working with the animals. I am excited, invigorated , and stimulated by the work. My mind routinely travels among the various issues and aspects pertaining to the husbandry and breeding of these animals My focus has been so intense that I feel that I have become part of of these systems, they are not systems I have created but have become part of something much larger. Ball pythons for me have become something like "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", only of course this is "Zen and the Art of Ball Python Care and Breeding". You can enter through whichever portal tickles your fancy, but eventually you always end up in the universe at large. In a sense, I envision the journal to an attempt to follow my convoluted thoughts beginning in the realm of all things ball python, and become more all encompassing as they radiate outward. As humans we have aa innate need to communicate, and just the act of putting our thoughts down on paper helps us clarify and organize them, it also serves to stimulate the furthering of mental processing. I believe that one of the most gratifying things for most people, is that rare occasion when you know that another person has totally and entirely understood some new thought or idea. The journal is created with the expressed intent of sharing with others having similar interests. By it's very nature herpetoculture is a very creative process. The act of creating is always exciting and for me just putting my thoughts down here in tangible form is enjoyable. I am open to input from readers via email. Please know that I am interested and will return all email at my earliest convenience (it may at times take me a couple days).
July 26,2005:
The past seven months have seen a few major changes here. In January I moved the animals into a new breeding facility. I was worried that moving them in the middle of a Montana winter might among other things have an adverse effect on breeding for the season. Now however things look so good that I'm wondering if I need to take them out for winter field trips every year. The other major change has been a shift in focus. After almost twenty years keeping and breeding tortoises I have decided to focus all of my time and attention on the breeding of Ball Python mutations. This was a very difficult decision. Most of the tortoises in my collection were bred and raised here. I also have ongoing relationships with many of my tortoise buyers that span 15 years or more. Part of this decision was based on the fact that I have become more and more busy as my breeding programs have grown and matured. I considered hiring an employee or two but do not want the headaches that come with it. I enjoy doing everything that this business requires, and I know that the quality I can offer my customers will not be jeopardized if I am doing it all myself. This change in direction will allow me to focus my efforts entirely on the business of keeping and breeding of Ball Pythons and related activities - such as raising rodents, building snake and rodent racks, sales, shipping, and customer support. So although I mourn the loss of my tortoises I am very excited about my increased ability to develop the Ball Python breeding projects. Ball Python color and pattern mutations have over the last fifteen years become very big business, and I have been blessed to be involved in some exceptional projects.
So, what are my 2005 breeding projects? One of the biggest things happening this year is the Albino Piebald combination. This has been a long time in the making with several disappointing years. In 2004 I finally got the first fertile clutch from a Pied to Albino breeding, only to watch the whole clutch go bad two weeks into incubation. This year however the Ball Python Gods have apparently taken me into their graces. I have two nice clutches of Pied to Albino in the incubator with one more on the way. I also have several clutches of Pied to Het Albino this year. I've long believed that an Albino Pied will turn out to be the best looking mutation yet - the Holy Grail of balls. At this time (8/01) it appears that Ralph Davis has in fact produced an Albino Pied, no photos yet, but I'm sure it's going to be a mind blower. I hope to produce my own Albino Pieds in 2007.........I can't wait!
Also this year I will produce my first Piebalds. These are offspring of het females I produced here in 2002. I bred those females to a gorgeous Pied male I purchased from Doug Beard and Janie Malsin in 2003. The first Pieds should hatch in early September. Will I get any sleep until then?
This also may be the year I prove the genetics on the Black Lace Balls. Two clutches to be laid in August will I hope clear up the mystery. I believe they are the result of the interaction between the pastel jungle gene and another "unknown" recessive gene. The Black Lace is I believe double heterozygous for both genes (which of course would mean that there are several other possible future combinations of the two genes).
To round out the year, I should have some nice pastels and het albinos to offer. The business of breeding Ball Pythons can at times be a bit "iffy", but this year at least it looks like I may be able to pay some bills.
Thanks for looking,
Dan