In terms of the what the potential is in herpetoculture for Blood and Short-Tailed Pythons, today is just day one. All three species are multi-faceted in breeding potential. You can selectively breed for color and pattern, breed for morphs, and my favorite thing is combining the two. They offer the best of both worlds.
These three species are very unique in that "normals" can be equally or more stunning than color and patter morphs, and when those two elements come together the results even get ohs and ahs from a non snake person. We are just starting to scratch the surface in terms of what these pythons have to offer.
Shorties really open the door for people with all different interests. Whether you like morphs, or natural varieties there is something out there for everyone. Earth tones, fire engine red, or ink well black is just the tip of the iceberg. We are just being to explore what morphs can do. Adding subtle genes like Matrix into Batik and Golden Eye has produced incredible combinations. Each clutch is and each animal within each clutch is different. As we add genes and add color we are starting to reveal some amazing things.
Take a look at these three Red Blood Pythons. From left to right, we have a CBE Super Stripe, Batrix (Batik Matrix) and T+ Golden Eye. Start playing with just these genes and the possibilities are endless.
It really is an exciting time to be working with these animals. People before us have laid the ground work with these animals, getting wild caughts established, breeding techniques, nailing down their care requirements and we are hoping to take these pythons to the next level.
Eventually we will get into genetics but that is a post for a different day!