6. Banana
Morph Encyclopedia: #0006
Thomas Eagle - Eagle Reptiles
Banana
“Coral Glow”
Base Morph Incomplete Dominance (Co-dom)
INTRODUCTION:
The Banana Ball Python is not only one of the most well known morphs in the reptile hobby, it is one that has intrigued breeders for many years with its complex breeding ratios regarding offsprings sex.
VISUAL DESCRIPTION
Head: The head of a Banana Ball Python is usually lightly tanned orange crowned by faded colouration and a slight headstamp, if any. Unsymmetrical spotting is a good marker from a Banana clutch.
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Body: The body of the Banana Ball Python continues to show spotting completely randomly over the yellows, oranges and deep-lilacs of the Banana colouration. “Alien heads” are still displayed as with a Normal Ball Python with bright blushing between.
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Belly: The Belly of the Banana Ball Python is usually heavily patterned along its edges and a crisp, faded yellow down its center. Spotting can also be thick or absent along its belly.
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Tail: The tail of the Banana Ball Python follows the Bananas colouration along the usual thick dorsal stripe of the Normals pattern.
Other:
- Spots: Banana Ball Pythons exhibit random spotting, which can range from patches of individual scales to whole clusters of black pigmentation. Spotting tends to stick to the dark “puzzle” pattern between “alien heads” though a few display them throughout the entire body.
Super: The homozygous or “Super” Banana, usually retains its yellow coloration later into life, has a brighter “alien head” pattern, a noticeable faded head and fainter lilacs.
Known Issues:
Gene resides on a sex chromosome - The gene has not been definitively located, however based on Warren Booth’s work and the heritability pattern, it does appear that the gene is primarily located on the X chromosome (except when it “jumps” to the Y chromosome).
In practice this leads to the following outcome when breeding Banana Ball Pythons:
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Females produce an equal sex ratio.
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Male Bananas produced by a female Banana are Female Makers.
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Male Bananas produced by a male banana are Male Makers.
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If you have a Male Maker all bananas and combos will be males while the rest of the clutch (non banana offspring) will be females
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If you have a Female Maker all bananas and combos will be females while the rest of the clutch (non banana offsprings) will be males.
However, without further proof breeding, a Banana Ball Python can not be confirmed “female/male maker” as there are exceptions where you may produce a male from a female maker or a female from a male maker. Data made public averages this to occur around 3% of the time.
Useful links:
Compare to a Normal Ball Python
Who doesn’t love the Banana gang?!
How to tell if your Blue Eyed Leucistic is also Banana
Evolution: A paradigm shift in snake sex chromosome genetics
Other images of Bananas :
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Image from Hackett’s Royal’s
Multiple Gene Bananas:
Banana Piebald
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Banana Enchi
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
7. Spider
Morph Encyclopedia: #0007
Thomas Eagle - Eagle Reptiles
Spider
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Base Morph Incomplete Dominance (Co-dom)
INTRODUCTION:
The Spider Ball Python is a pattern and colouration altering morph that is credited by many as being one of the morphs that helped the hobby take off. The name Spider comes from the black “webbed” patterning between the “alien heads”.
VISUAL DESCRIPTION
Head: The head of a Spider Ball Python is usually dominated by bold markings with a darker spot on its crown that makes them easily recognisable from their non-Spider siblings.
Image from Nathan_e
Body: The black “puzzle” pattern along the body of the Spider Ball Python is heavily reduced, as is markings within the now enlarged and golden “alien heads”.
Some Spider Ball Pythons exhibit large (high-white) sections of white scales whereas some show non (low-white) at all.
Image from Holly Jenkins
Belly: The Belly of the Spider Ball Python usually shows faded or patchy continuation of the black body markings, with spots varying between individual animals. Large contrast in colours can be seen along its edges, especially in high-white Spiders.
Image from Holly Jenkins
Tail: The tail of the Spider Ball Python is usually heavily ruled by mostly unbroken pattern that wraps from one side to the other.
Other:
- Super: Super Spider (Spider X Spider)
Yeah let’s do this: here’s the Super Spider
Image from Matt Huck at OWAL Reptiles
Known Issues:
Wobble - The Spider Ball Python (and other morphs) has a genetic disorder referred to in the hobby as a “wobble”. “Wobbles” can range from almost unnoticeable to worryingly severe on an individual basis and is one of the largest debated and controversial topics in the reptile world, with many experienced breeders and keepers on both sides of the debate. While all Spider Ball Pythons “wobble” to a degree, extreme cases are rare and most will live a normal life. “Wobbles” are often more noticeable during feeding and agitation and can be affected by stress and husbandry.
Ethics of Spiders and Spider Breeding
Useful links:
Compare to a Normal Ball Python
Other images of Spiders:
Image from Nathan_e
Multiple Gene Spiders:
Spinner Blast ( Spider Pinstripe Pastel)
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
Orange Dream Spider
Image from Deborah Stewart at Stewart Reptiles
8. Fire
Morph Encyclopedia: #0008
Thomas Eagle - Eagle Reptiles
FIRE
Image from Kieran Tapley
Base Morph Incomplete Dominance (Co-dom)
INTRODUCTION:
The Fire Ball Python is known as a “enhancer” morph, with it being used in many combos to clean up patterns and make colours more vibrant. Baby Fire Ball Pythons can vary in tone and can be hard to tell from a Normal Ball Python for inexperienced breeders, but with pretty much each shed the browns become more yellow and by adult age can easily be told apart.
VISUAL DESCRIPTION
Head: The head of a Fire Ball Python is usually topped with a heavily faded crown, often with a lighter spot in its center. Lips and nostril scales can range from a shocking yellow to a tanned white.
Body: The body of a Fire Ball Python follows the “alien head” pattern of a Normal Ball Python but much brighter tones are displayed.
Belly: The Belly of a Fire Ball Python is usually clean and crisp with faded patches of pattern visible along its sides.
Image from eparkinson
Tail: The tail of a Fire Ball Python is similar to that of a Normal but following the colourations of the Fire gene. Usually patterns come to an end with a solid stripe or tight beading.
Other:
- Super: Super Fire (Fire X Fire) Black Eyed Leucistics
Known Issues: N/A
Useful links:
Compare to a Normal Ball Python
Other images of Fires :
Image from unkn0vvn1221
Image from Debbie Clarke
Multiple Gene Fires :
Butter Fire
Image from saleengrinch
Blackhead Firefly
Image from saleengrinch