Questions about Ball Pythons (health, breeding, etc.)

[gambite]

When I got this Ball Python, it has what looked like a dried up spot on its nose. It shed, but the spot remained. I thought that maybe it was a stuck scale, and tried moistening it while he was shedding. It didnt help though, so I just left it be. However, I was looking at him today, and it looks like it came off. But now there is a raw, red area where it was. Should I do anything? Some kind of cream or something?

Pics:
Before: http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/1396/hpim1290bc0.jpg

After: http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/8731/hpim2003ff4.jpg

Also, if you look at this guy's head/neck, there is a lot of yellow but no brown. I am pretty sure he is CB. How hard would it be to breed this coloration? What kind of female should I look for if I want more of it? How hard is it to breed BPs in general? What is the procedure? Is there a risk of them killing each other?

 

[GailC]

Looks like a scab that fell off. I'd just make sure it styas clean and dry. If it gets irritated you can use a bit of antibiotic ointment.

 

[gambite]

Will it eventually grow new scales in that spot? Or will it stay bare?

 

[sassysmama]

It will most likely make a scar there. Although, with every shed the scar will get less prominent. I have a boa with a scar on her face that was very noticeable when I first got her, but over about a year it has become much less apparent. I wouldn't worry about it healing, just keep it clean. A very good thing to use for cleaning it is ChlorHex, if you can get it. It's a blue solution that we have in our vet's office, and you can dilute it by adding an equal amount of water. You wouldn't need much, just a few mls to mix up and dab on with a q-tip. Betadine would also work. I probably would not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, although I know some people swear by those. Also, you probably know this but be very careful not to get any cleaning agent into the nostrils. You should also try to find out what caused that. Could be an improper shed due to low humidity, or rubbing it's face something, or an injury from a rodent, although it doesn't really look like a bite. Anyway, it is important to figure out why it happened so you can prevent it in the future.
I know nothing about breeding, but it can't be too hard, because there are tons of ball pythons. I will say that not all patterns and markings are genetic, so there is always the chance that you can get two snakes with a pattern that you like, and then breed them and not have any babies with the same characteristics. The high end morphs are expensive, but there is not really any money to be made in normals.
-Ally

 

[snakemaster1]

Here is a link to a excellent care info page for ball pythons

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&id=59