Sample pages and introduction from Designer Morphs:

• Introduction page
• Sample page 1 – Ball python designer morph
• Sample page 2 – Ball python proven mutation
• Sample page 3 – Blood python mutation
• Sample page 4 – Boa constrictor proven mutation
• Sample page 5 – Boa constrictor designer morph
• Sample page 6 – Carpet python designer morph

Introduction

Welcome to Designer Morphs, the first guide book to help you identify all
 the known mutations, designer morphs and hybrids of the most popular
 medium sized boid species:

- Ball or royal pythons, Python regius
- Blood pythons, Python brongersmai
- Short tailed pythons, Python curtus & breitensteini
- Boa constrictors, Boa constrictor spp.
- Carpet pythons, Morelia spilota spp.
- Rainbow boas, Epicrates cenchria spp.

During the last two decades there has been tremendous growth in the
spread of basic herpetoculture. The knowledge to care for and breed
 most reptile species has become readily available. As a result, we are
 witnessing an ever increasing number of people, (in all parts of the
 world), collecting and keeping reptiles as standard exotic pets.

At the same time, there has been an explosion in the number of recognized
 snake mutations and morphs. This includes both those which are
naturally occurring and those which are created in captivity, including
 designer morphs and hybrids.

What started out as a personal research project of the latest boid
 morphs, turned into the catalyst for this book. Keeping up with the newly
 discovered and produced mutations requires constant attention. Much
of this information is spread all over dozens of web sites and many cases
 hidden away in personal breeder's collections. This book, Designer
 Morphs, is the focused effort of this gathered information and covers
 most of the proven, designer & more interesting unproven boid mutations
 known today.

It is my sincere desire that you enjoy reading about, keeping and breeding
these living gems. In my opinion, they are some of the most fascinating
 creatures the creator ever made.

To keep up to date with many of the newer discovered boid morphs and
 mutations, be sure to visit and sign up at the Designer Morphs web
 forums, www.designermorphs.com

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Striped Albino: Double recessive designer morph

Striped Albino, Photo Phil Buscher, snake courtesy
Ralph Davis/Ralph Davis Reptiles

Anther designer morph with a huge Wow! factor, is the genetic striped
 albino.

The genetic striped albino is a color and pattern mutation designer
 morph produced by breeding an albino (recessive) to a genetic striped ball
 python (recessive) to produce double hets for striped albino.

When breeding the double hets back to each other, there is a one in
 sixteen (1/16) chance of producing a homozygous genetic striped albino.

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Mojave: Co-dominant color and pattern mutation
Super Mojave: Dominant color and pattern mutation

Mojaves are an exceptionally popular color and pattern mutation. They
 are covered with rich creamy yellows and shades of brown coloration
 and have considerable lateral blushing.

Mojave ball pythons are one of the most valuable and versatile co-
dominant mutations when producing designer morphs.

Mojave Ball, Photo and snake John Berry/ John Berry Reptiles

The mojave ball has been used to create several exceptional designer ball
 morphs including:

- Blue eyed leucistic - mojave x lesser platinum & mojave x
  Russo line het leucistic.
- Crystal ball4 - aberrant female x mojave
- Granite mojave - granite x mojave
- Hypo mojave - hypo x mojave
- Hypo super mojave - het hypo super mojave x het
- hypo super mojave
- Pastel mojave/ pastave - pastel x mojave
- Spider mojave - spider x mojave
- Striped harlequin mojave - striped harlequin x mojave
- Super mojave/ blue eyed leucistic - mojave x mojave
- Yellow belly mojave - yellow belly x mojave

The homozygous or super form of the mojave is the super mojave, an
 almost all white leucistic type ball python with an attractive lavender
wash.

A further whitening effect is seen when the hypo gene is added and can be
 seen in the hypo super mojave (see under Designer Ball Morph section).

An additional interesting twist to the mojave mutation can be seen in
 both the parti mojave and in the paradox crystal ball, both are extra
 aberrant forms of a designer morph produced with the mojave trait.

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Lavender Albino Blood Python: Color mutation

This mutation is thought to be the same as the lavender albino trait
 found in ball pythons. To date this is the only lavender albino blood
 python known to be in captivity. Hets have been produced but they
 haven't been bred back yet. At this stage, it's assumed that the lavender
 albino blood python trait will, as in other albino mutations, prove to be
 a normal recessive mutation.

If, as with the lavender albino ball pythons, the babies are born without
 the adult lavender coloring, it will be fascinating to see how the blood
 python lavender trait colors them as they grow.

Lavender Albino Blood Python, Photo and snake
courtesy Dave & Tracy Barker/ VPI

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Hypo Nicaraguan Boa: Co-dominant color locality mutation
Super Hypo Nicaraguan Boa: Dominant color locality mutation

A proven co-dominant color locality hypo mutation from Nicaragua,
 Central America. Hypo Nicaraguans are very pretty true hypomelanistic
 boas with reduced black pigmentation and deep red, pink and orange
 coloration.

Just like other Central American boas, they are considered true dwarfs as
 they tend to stay small, with adult females around 5ft. They also tend to
 breed younger than the larger Colombian locality boas.

The dominant homozygous, super hypo form has cleaner colors and a
 more reduced pattern.

Hypo Nicaraguan - orange phase, Photo and snake
courtesy Vin Russo/ Cutting Edge Herp

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Albino Motley: Recessive x co-dominant designer morph

No matter what you mix the motley trait with it always produces some
 awesome results. The albino motley is a primo example.

The attractive albino motley is created by breeding an albino boa
 together with a motley boa to produce motleys heterozygous for albino.
 Further breeding the hets to any snake either heterozygous or
 homozygous for albino will produce albino motleys.

Albino Motley Boa, Photo and snake courtesy
Jeremy Stone/ Jeremy Stone Reptiles

There are several further related designer morph projects that can be
 attempted, they will include:

- Sunglow motley - albino motley x sunglow or dh sunglow
- Albino super motley - albino motley x albino motley

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Designer Morphs

The carpet python designer morphs and intergrades are the result of
 crossing two or more naturally occurring mutations, with the express
purpose of producing a specific designer snake, a so called designer
 morph.

With all the various jaguar carpet designer 50% / 50% crosses, there
 should be a clearer distinction between them all when the first
 generation is back crossed to produce 75% / 25% intergrades.

The following carpet designer morphs are discussed in greater detail in
 the following section:

- Diamond jungle jaguar - diamond jungle intergrade x
   jaguar carpet python
- Papuan jaguar - Papuan carpet x jaguar carpet python
- Jungle jaguar - jungle carpet x jaguar carpet python
- Tiger jaguar - Tiger carpet x jaguar carpet python

Diamond Jungle Jaguar Python: Co-dominant color and pattern designer
 intergrade

The diamond jungle jaguar is a terrific example of a jaguar carpet python
 designer morph. Produced by breeding a jaguar carpet python, Morelia s.
 mcdowelli, with a diamond, M. s. spilota x jungle carpet python, M. s.
 cheynei, intergrade. (Various percentages of jungle and diamond have
been involved in the makeup of the intergrades).

Diamond Jungle Jaguar, Photo and snake courtesy
Soeren Panse/ Precision Reptiles

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