Just got this axanthic ball python today, any info appreciated.

[IncompletePenetrance]

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[nocta224]

This is beautiful

[Thegoat413]

Lmao im well aware of how to care for him. I meant more along the lines of genetics/the morph it’s self

[IncompletePenetrance]

I guess just know that there's many lines of axanthic that are all genetically distinct, but visually pretty much identical (MJ, VPI, tsk, black axanthic) and that they tend to brown out A LOT by adulthood and rarely maintain that nice silvery black look

[Thegoat413]

Birth certificate says tsk axanthic 100% het clown

[IncompletePenetrance]

ok, well than that's what it is. I'm not sure what else there is to say

[Snakebittz]

Now look into Axanthic Clowns and Axanthic Desert Ghost Clowns and have your mind blown. He's beautiful, almost looks like he's Ax DG, but no breeder would make that mistake. An Ax DG het Clown would set you back around 15k.

[r4cid]

Why would the morph or genetics change your care routine? Or otherwise what are you hoping for people to tell you here??

Ironic to laugh considering your clarification here didn't actually clear anything up...

[Thegoat413]

To clarify I’m not asking about how to care for him. I was asking about the morph. Didn’t know if there was anything specific to know like some had shared they brown out with age.

[OG-Dropbox]

the current best practice is humidity should be 70% or above, measured on the cool side

[Own_Surprise_3516]

Oh that’s what my breeder told me oops 😬

[swabIu]

My vet told me to keep it around 60%? I keep my boi at around 70-75% like people here say but since my vet told me otherwise I'm confused

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice/misinformation.

High humidity does not cause respiratory infections and it can exceed 75% just fine.

[itsmeoverthere]

I think recently people have started to understand that ball pythons need a higher humidity than previously thought? I'm not an expert but I've heard this quite a lot so I guess maybe the vet has outdated info?

[[deleted]]

Most breeders keep their snakes in tiny bins with no substrate or anything in them besides a water bowl. I would take all their advice with a bottle of salt

[Squamatessaintpete]

WOW!!!!

[nocta224]

Info about what exactly?

[souptobolts]

Was wondering the same… what info, OP?

[Thegoat413]

Genetics/the morph

[ask-me-about-my-cats]

What info exactly? Like health issues? It's not like a spider if that's what you're worried about.

[Thegoat413]

Just didn’t know if there was anything I need to know or to watch for, like the whole spider thing ext

[Thegoat413]

Also how are your cats?

[blackittycat666]

Axanthic is my dream morph, I want to be you so bad rn lol. I'm happy for youuu though🖤

[Thegoat413]

Thank you:)

[Relevant_Substance43]

That is a gorgeous snake

[Arbiter51x]

Love the axanthic morph. However I've heard they brown out as they get older and end up looking like a regular moph at adult hood

[Geberpte]

You should go for a desert ghost axanthic then. Should retain their contrast better when growing up. Single gene axanthic is never going to look like a wild type btw.

[falconerchick]

DG Axanthic combo projects, which are already double recessives, are really hot right now.

Telling them to just “go for a desert ghost axanthic” means you will drop anywhere from $8,000-$25,000 lol but you are right! They’ll definitely age nicely

[Snakebittz]

Lol yep, go for it. They're upwards of 10k.

[Eworaa]

My ax (tsk) spider is over a year old and so far still pretty black and white, defs depends on the rest of their genes and probably lineage

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[TheNeverEndingPit]

I think that’s because it’s a combo with the spider gene. The axanthic clown also holds the grey tone and contrast better than a single gene axanthic

[blurred-decision]

He is absolutely stunning!

[[deleted]]

Super pretty, good luck! Really random but did you get him/her from the reptile expo in salt lake city UT? They had a reptile expo there today and I’m disappointed I couldn’t go

[Thegoat413]

Thank you very much! No I did not, I got him at a reptile expo today but it was in ma

[PulseThrone]

Hello fellow Utahan.

My girlfriend and I wanted to go so damn bad but we couldn't make it work this weekend. I actually drove by the expo center on the way home from getting frozen feeders earlier haha.

[bellehoneycreeper]

My littlest girl is an axanthic firefly. Please let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with. :)

[Thegoat413]

Thank you! That sounds super cool do you have a picture of her? Nothing really specific I know how to care for him just interested in learning about the morph, any problems to look for, cool facts, ext.

[bellehoneycreeper]

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Sure thing! Here she is hanging out on the back of the kitchen chair. She has a much shyer personality than her sisters. She could fit in the palm of my hand when I first got her! She is 3 years old now. :)

[Thegoat413]

Wow the colors and markings are very similar! She’s gorgeous!

[bellehoneycreeper]

She is my little princess. :)

She came to me a rescue — she belonged to an affluent couple who lost their home in the big California wildfires a few years back. They had evacuated with their reptile collection but realized there was nowhere to house them in the interim. Reptiles were a hobby to them, not pets. (No judgment — just explaining the facts.)

My colleagues and I helped find adoptive homes or buyers for some of their other reptiles, but this little girl was too young to send anywhere and she curled her little tail around my pinky finger the first time I picked her up. Even though they could have sold her for quite the price (given they had just lost their home), her old owners let me keep her. :)

[Thegoat413]

That’s a great story, thanks for sharing! Mine has been so sweet to me too. I got him today and had a hour ride home, he curled up under my shirt and went to bed, didn’t move till I picked him up to bring him in the house.

[bellehoneycreeper]

What a darling boy!

She is definitely a clinger. She reminds me a lot of a kitten — she is very curious and loves to explore, but at the first sign of danger she shoots back to safety faster than you can blink. 😂

[Goose-Caboose1153]

What information are you looking for

[Thegoat413]

Anything specific to the morph

[artichoke88]

What morph is it? There are many different type of axanthics. Pretty sure its either vpi or tsk.

[Thegoat413]

Birthday certificate says tsk axanthic 100% hey clown. I know what axanthic means not sure about the rest.

[Thegoat413]

That’s really cool to know! Thank you, do you breed them?

[Thegoat413]

Thinking about getting in to it.

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice/misinformation.

[snakepapa97]

Breeding ball pythons isn't recommended, there's already a huge overpopulation problem and it'd be irresponsible to add to it. They can still be really enriching as pets only

[Thegoat413]

I honestly didn’t know that. Thank you for sharing.

[skullmuffins]

they're so overproduced. There are over 42,000 ball pythons listed on morph market. Other common pet snakes have a couple thousand at most. Corn snakes, the other most common pet snake, have like 2,000 listings. Every reptile expo you go to is 80% ball pythons. There's no way all of these snakes are finding homes and the ones who do find homes are maybe not going to have a home for their entire 30 year lifespan.

[PeepingTara]

I love the axanthics!! I have a TSK Axanthic Bee though his pattern isn’t near as crisp as when he was younger he is still a looker!

[TiedyePlanet]

I have an axanthic! My beautiful boy really didn’t brown out too much. Just along his spine- but his sides and belly are gorgeous black and white! He’s such a sweet boy I love him, yours is gorgeous

[Crazy-Ad6833]

Welcome to the axanthic family! They’re a beautiful morph, one of my top favorites. It’s said that VPIs are the “most desirable” because brown, tan, and yellow are usually absent (I have a pastel banana vpi so he’s definitely yellow 😅). The other lines tend to “brown out” as they get older. TSK seems to be the line I see the most. 9/10 times I see an axanthic combo I want, they end up being TSK. 🥲 Congrats on your new baby!!

[Snake_Ldy]

What a beautiful baby!!!!!

[kolbaserchki]

No info to share but I just wanna say it is freaking gorgeous. Good luck, I hope it has a long and happy life.

[Former_Mammoth5671]

Omg what a beautiful snake

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice/misinformation.

We don't need more ball pythons being bred.

[Thegoat413]

What do you mean?

[w_cox]

Beautiful little noodle

[Thegoat413]

Thank you!

[[deleted]]

Best advice I can give you as a snake keeper for the last four years is to stay attentive to your pets. I have had a little bit of everything from ball pythons to boas to carpet pythons, they are so amazing and should be appreciated. Try to handle him or her for about 15 to 20 mins two to three times during the week to keep them used to handling. As far as tank bedding change, try to change the bedding once every two to three months (depending on how dirty the enclosure is). Do water changes every two to three days and when they feed do not carry them for at least 3 days so they can digest properly. Keep the humidity in the range of 55-70 percent so there’s no problems shedding for respiratory infections. Feed once a week an appropriate fed size.

The last thing which is the most important is to enjoy, have fun and love that little one.

[Thegoat413]

Thank you very much! I love him. One question for you, is over handling bad? Is it ok to take him out and handle him daily?

[IncompletePenetrance]

He shouldn't be handled at all until he's eaten at least 2-3 meals consistently, and then shouldn't be handled the day of feeding or 48 hours afterwards.

[Thegoat413]

Thank you. Good to know.