Python regius Atlas of Colour Morphs Keeping and Breeding
Written by Stefan Broghammer
I began this review several times and scrapped the review within a day or two beginning it. This is part of the reason for the long delay in reviewing the book. NTV better known as Natur und Tier is a German publication company which publishes numerous magazines as well as books dedicated to all things herpetoculture. Their latest release Python regius
Royal python is the accurate translation of the scientific name (Python regius). When it comes to Stefan and his writing style it won’t matter what name you know this snake by in your personal circles. Within Python regius Atlas of Colour Morphs the reader is treated to a complete biography of a snake species found in no other text. Others have written books regarding the captive care and husbandry of the Royal python (Python regius). None has gone so far as explaining even a remote approximation of how the snakes arrive or have arrived at the vendors tables we all visit at the local reptile shows and expos.
Within the three hundred and sixty-five pages there are over one thousand one hundred pictures reflecting everything from field photography of habitat to some of the incredible vivariums that have been constructed by keepers. This of course belies the stunning amount of various color morphs currently available within the ball python market today. Some of which I’ve not even seen within the New World market as it were. Not only are educated on what genetics are/were used to produce the morphs we see today, we’re also introduced when possible to a complete history of how the morph came about.
Stefan never hesitates to share with us whom first discovered the possible genetic traits. He also shares with us who the responsible part was for establishing the morph and its current moniker. One specific instance of this was the Calico morph which was known to the author by the name of ‘Puzzle’ later when it was discovered to be a dominant genetic morph it took on the name of Calico and that name took off rather than the original name of ‘Puzzle.’
This is a book which is not a must-have, it’s an imperative to own this book no matter what aspect of herpetoculture you might be in at the time. We know the Ball python market isn’t going away any time soon no matter how many morphs are produced or how many breeders begin to responsibly breed this fascinating snake. Royal pythons are a cornerstone of herpetoculture if not the keystone species which attracts both new and seasoned reptile lovers. Stefan Broghammer outlines all of the technical aspects of Ball python herpetoculture outside of the morph creation in just as great detail as he does the morphological variations available today. If you already own a ball python then you’d be doing yourself a favour buying this book (click on the book cover image above) as it details common and not so common ailments, their causes and treatments and also Stefan shares with us his decades of insights on how to properly house and maintain the snakes for their optimal captive husbandry.