KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s largest ball python breeder created a new mutation of the species two days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, but explains that the whole process took two to three years to complete.
Calling the mutation “Ironman”, the snake displays a yellow-orange body with a strong black line on its back.
“I called it Ironman because I am a Marvel fan. Plus the snake does kind of remind me of Ironman.
“There is also another breeder in the United States which named his morph Batman,” Arawin Raj Pillai, the owner of ARP Exotics told The Vibes.
A morph is what ball python enthusiasts call mutations of the species.
In simpler terms, a species can come in different morphs, with each mutation having different colours and patterns.
The Ironman morph was not Pillai’s first, but the process was far from easy and fast.
He says he has created around six or seven morphs, with Silkyway and Ironman being the most recognised among the global ball python community.
“Different morphs are also different genetically.
“To give an example, it is like labrador retrievers which may come in black, yellow, brown and white.
“In the wild, the ball python morphs that exist are usually Normals and Pastels.
“Then of course there are combos, like Ironman which needed five different types of morphs to create.
“Some morphs are harder to breed. You can get the right snakes to create the mutation, but the result may not be what you expect.
“The Ironman morph had a one in 32 chance of being created.
“If the hatchlings are not the morph we are seeking, we have to wait until the next breeding season next year,” he added.
Pillai who lived in Johor Baru during his secondary school days was passionate about keeping pets.
However, when he came to Kuala Lumpur to further his studies, his living conditions did not permit him to keep pets. Thus, he turned to exotic pets.
“When I was keeping ball pythons then, I was aware of the different morphs which existed.
“However, they were expensive, costing almost RM4,000 to RM5,000.
“So I decided to breed them myself,” he explained.
He also said that now, the exotic pets industry is a growing one.
Given that more people are living in strata properties, the usual dog or cat may no longer be the best option, resulting in some considering keeping certain exotic pets which are easier to maintain.
“However, because it is a growing industry, it also means we have to do a lot to educate our customers.
“Some don’t understand why there may be a hefty price tag on certain ball python morphs,” Pillai said. – The Vibes, May 22, 2021
