US Designer Chondros – part 2
The topic of US designer Chondros is so extensive that many articles will appear in the coming months.
A central element will be the Morelia viridis breeders of the last 40 years, as well as some of the most spectacular lines that have emerged with the enthusiasm of these people.
Lines that have also found their way into Europe and Germany and have been and continue to be promoted by well-known breeders.
Before the first part of this series begins, we would like to thank those people and institutions without whose support and permission this series would not have been possible.
Herpetoculture Magazin: https://herpetoculturenetwork.com/
Bei Kauf-Interesse: https://www.magcloud.com/brose/issue/1850727
The Herpetoculture Network: https://www.facebook.com/theherpetoculturenetwork/
Creating Mr. Blue A (Not So) Short History
Ich möchte Tim sehr herzlich bedanken für die bereitgestellten Bilder und die Erlaubnis zur Veröffentlichung.
Mid-Atlantic Arboreals: https://www.facebook.com/midatlanticarboreals/
Vibrant Viridis, LLC: https://www.vibrantviridis.com/
The story of Mr. Blue - Part 2
A (not so) short story by Tim Morris
Mid-August - showtime!
Together with my two nephews Sean and Christian and my partner, I made my way to Orlando.
On the very first day of the fair, I looked for the Trooper stand.
I found it at "Ophiological Services" (OS) - A collaboration between Eugene Bessette and Trooper Walsh.
Numerous green tree pythons of all ages were displayed on their table.
I still remember my partner marching straight up to Trooper and saying, "So... you're not selling to anyone, right?" (She knew the story what Trooper had told me at the zoo).
With a sheepish grin - similar to that of the Grinch - Trooper looked at her and said, "How can I help you my dear?"
She began to inquire about the Green Tree Python.
She leaned more towards yellow neonates, whereas I liked the red and maroon ones (at the time though for NO particular reason).
Trooper began to convince her that a red and maroon animal would be more attractive and that the color change from youth to old coloration would be incomparable.
After Trooper's persuasion, we decided together on our first Chondro, whose color was chestnut/red.
It had the illustrious name: TW 13.93.
It was hatched in February 1993 - and of course it was expensive.
So that was the result of the first day.
On the second day, I also spent a lot of time at the OS stand.
During a break, Trooper reached under the table and pulled out a transport container.
He handed it to me with the words: "Here, I want you to take this."
In it was the smallest hatchling green tree python I have ever seen. It was a twin whose partner had died early.
Trooper continued, "I'm not sure he'll make it, but I'm sure you'll give him a good home."
This little guy was: TW 2-27-93.
Years later, he became the father of "Mr. Blue".
His name: "Legend".
Sometime later, Trooper said that he had made a misjudgement with this animal - he had never assumed that such a special animal would develop from this tiny creature.
Over the next few months I worked on raising both neonates.
When I looked through the records Trooper had given me, I realized that the two animals came from the same clutch.
During this time, it was my heart's desire to share the development of the two neonates with Trooper.
Especially about the dwarf who "would probably remain unspectacular", as Trooper said at the time.
In the spring of 1994, Pete Kahl came by and offered to sex them out.
It was a couple!
So I thought about swapping one of the neonates for a non-blood animal in order to breed with both of them.
Trooper was initially hesitant about a swap.
In any case, he made it clear that he had no interest in the dwarf.
In August of the same year, we agreed on a deal.
He took the female 13.93 and I received TW 48-93 in exchange.
This girl was to be part of the legendary clutch that also produced "Powder" and "Joan Collins".
Trooper and I had no idea that this exchange would lay the foundation for Mr. Blue.
Fall 1995
I was still volunteering at the zoo and with Pete Kahl.
Pete had an extensive collection of snakes housed in OSB terrariums and some Neodesha terrariums.
Neodesha Plastics, based in Neodesha, Kansas, was owned by a man named Ted Pietz, whose company had made a name for itself manufacturing ABS truck bed liners for pickup trucks.
Along the way, he experimented with building terrariums.
All Neodesha terrariums were equipped with the latest temperature controllers from Microclimate, which is still based in England today.
I bought two tree python terrariums from this production.
In October 1995 I started the first breeding attempt with my two Morelia viridis.
At this time, the male was 2-27-93, about three months before his third birthday.
TW 48-93 hatched on April 25, 1993, so was not even 2.5 years old at the time of the first mating.
She was young, grew quickly and was definitely the right size for breeding.
The completely stripped skin measured about 1.80 m and I assumed that the skin was about 10 % longer than the actual body length of the female.
The male was added to TW 48-93 on the evening of October 18.
The first mating took place the same night.
In October and November I observed numerous other copulations.
At the end of November the two were separated again and on December 4th I was able to observe a swelling of the middle of the body (in connection with ovulation) at TW 48-93.
To make sure that the "deal was sealed", I put the male back in with TW 48-93 on December 15. I was unable to observe any further copulation, which is why I separated the two again on December 28.
A major hurdle for the green tree python is hatching its eggs.
Anyone who did not have a Forma Scientific incubator at the time was well advised to have the female incubate the eggs.
After reading several articles by Trooper on breeding a variety of boas and pythons, I made it a point to not only keep careful records, but also planned to install sensors everywhere as best I could to monitor the temperature.
End Part 2
Click here for the original article: Creating Mr.Blue