The Wrought Iron Project
Chapter two
“In the still of the night, the clang of hammers breaks the silence. As the chimneys breathe fire, the blacksmiths forge a new Era for the Wrought Iron Blood Python project.”
It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago, we celebrated the results of our first Wrought Iron (WI) breeding attempt, which produced three perfect WIs, including a T+ Albino WI. After our initial success, the next goal was to produce more “perfect” WIs and combos with other mutations to ensure the viability and compatibility of the morph in the presence of different genetic mutations.Picking a good match for a new project is complicated. There are many variables to consider, and you must ponder each morph's pros and cons. My mind immediately went to two of the most iconic blood python morphs out there. The Goldeneye and The Matrix.These two morphs have been proven and bred for many years. No known issues are associated with either of these mutations, and both produce incredible animals in the incomplete and complete dominant form. To me, that sounded like a bulletproof plan.The breeding process was similar to the previous year. We used the same materials, methods, and parameters to maintain (as much as possible) consistent data and, hopefully, the same good results. The only variable would be the new Female.I selected a proven breeder 007 (Goldeneye-Matrix) Female and the Male WI for this year's attempt. As a bonus, both are 100% Heterozygous for T+ Albino.Here’s a quick rundown of what the process looked like:The breeding activity began in late September and ended in late November 2023. After four confirmed successful locks, the Female became non-receptive, and the male was not reintroduced after December 1st. The pair stayed together for 24 to 48 hours while the breeding activity was strong. On December 24th, 2023, the female Ovulated. The post-ovulation shed cycle began on January 7th and ended on January 22nd. On February 20th, 2024, the female laid 12 viable eggs and zero slugs. All eggs had strong veins and no decalcification areas on the shell surfaces. The ambient parameters were kept consistent, and no significant modifications were made before or after the breeding cycle.
BREEDING PARAMETERS
1) Room temperature at 78-80 F2) Hot spot of 82-84 F3) Relative humidity of 65-70%4) The snakes were kept in an ARS rack system in an 80 series tub (7.25” H x 26.25” W x 33” D).INCUBATION AND HATCHING
The incubator was a 36” C-Serpent Incubator hooked to a VE-200 thermostat. The egg box was placed on the mid-section rack of the incubator with the thermostat probe on top of the box to keep the readings as accurate as possible. A small “Accurite” Thermometer/hygrometer was placed inside the egg box to monitor both parameters. I also put two bowls full of water inside the incubator. One is on the top shelf, and one is at the bottom. These incubators have a small fan that helps circulate the air inside the incubator, preventing any hot spots by creating a constant airflow that moves the hot air from top to bottom. This also facilitates the evaporation of the water in the bowls, ensuring optimal humidity levels inside the incubator (80%-90%). 1) I split the clutch in half and placed six eggs per container. I used Sterlite 15 qt clear plastic boxes with the following dimensions: 16 ½” x 13” x 6 5/8” and NO air holes. These boxes are not airtight and allow sufficient air exchange between the lid and the plastic box, which is facilitated by the constant airflow inside the incubator. For the incubation substrate, I used wet perlite and allowed about a ½ inch of water to accumulate at the bottom of the substrate. The humidity inside the boxes was 95-99% at all times. The eggs are suspended above the substrate using a plastic mesh (plastic canvas) to prevent the eggs from touching the water-saturated perlite.2) The incubator temperature was set at 87 F. Throughout the incubation period, the temperatures fluctuated about 0.5 to 1 degree up or down, but never more than that. The lowest temperature registered was 86.5 F, with a highest of 88 F towards the end of the incubation period. The lower temps (86.5-87.5 F) were typical during the first 45-50 days of incubation. Only in the last two weeks did the temperatures rise more than 87.5 F, reaching 88 F. I also checked temperatures with an infrared thermometer to ensure these readings were consistent.After 64 days of incubation, on April 24, 2024, the first baby hatched.RESULTS
In contrast with last year’s clutch, these babies were ready to emerge from the eggs. All eggs showed slits within the first 12 hours after the first egg did, and in less than 24 hrs, all babies had their heads poking out the egg, making it relatively easy to tell which babies were WIs and which weren't.Once again, the “Blood Python gods” smiled at us with some outstanding odds. Seven of the 12 eggs were WIs. To make it even better, only one of those WIs is a “Regular” Wrought Iron, and two are T+Albino WI combos! The results are as follows.1) 0.1 T+ Albino
2) 1.1 Goldeneyes
3) 0.1 Matrix
4) 0.1 T+ Albino 007
5) 0.1 Wrought Iron
6) 0.2 Wrought Iron-Matrix
7) 2.0 Wrought Iron-Goldeneye
8) 0.1 T+ Albino Wrought Iron Matrix
9) 1.0 T+ Albino Wrought Iron-Goldeneye
Most importantly, ALL babies are PERFECT in every way and have not shown signs of anything negatively impacting them physically or physiologically.Having such a fantastic clutch makes us feel confident in the project's viability and allows us to move forward onto the next and possibly final chapter of this incredible project. More on that later. But in the meantime, allow me to blow your mind with the pictures of the clutch.
Wrought Iron
This is the classic WI pattern: dark and bold, solid black marks on the side, and a white background with dark speckles. The dorsal pattern is a mix of dark brown and black on top of a light brown/sand background coloration. Red and pink infiltrations occur throughout the light background and are more intense around the face and neck.
Wrought Iron-Matrix
This new combo is fantastic. The way Matrix interacts with WI is subtle yet consistent, making it somewhat easy to identify. The dorsal pattern becomes more uniform, and from the middle section to the tail, the dorsal marks become busier and more pixelated.
In comparison, the black marks that appear solid on normal WIs have many white speckles on the WI-Matrix—making it look busier and lighter. This is one of the most notable features of the combo.
Now, if you are still struggling to identify the differences between normal WIs and Matrix-WI, here is the trick… look at their belly! On Normal WIs, the belly is doted and busier (right), while the WI-Matrix has a very clean belly (left). This is by far the best way to tell them apart. Unfortunately, the tongue on these combos is darker than you would expect on Matrix animals, making it a not-so-ideal indicator of Matrix in the combo.
Wrought Iron-
Goldeneye
In my eyes, these two genes blend to perfection. The WI-goldeneye has a distinct head stamp, with a black stripe running from the snout to the base of the head. Two minor “fanged-shaped” marks cross between the eyes, ending in a “T” shape at the base of the head.
The coloration is also unique. The dorsal pattern is striped, wavy, and light, ranging from yellows to light browns. It is surrounded by a jet-black to dark brown color that bleeds into the lateral pattern. The sides have nice “flames” that blend with the darker color of the top. Finally, the lower blotches are pure white with nice round black “eyes,” creating a mesmerizing contrast. To top that off, their heads are vibrant and glow with an almost neon-orange tone.
The belly is less busy than normal WIs but not as clean as WI-Matrix combos.
It’s incredible what two genes can do when combined. In this case, I think it is pure magic… but that is not all; what if we add a third gene? T+ Albino, maybe?Well, here is the next generation of awesomeness and, to my knowledge, the only ones on the planet. Please enjoy them as much as I do. These are genuinely the Crown Jewels of my collection. 
T+Albino Wrought Iron-Matrix
T+ Albino Wrought Iron-Goldeneye
T+ Albino Wrought Iron-Goldeneye (left) and T+Albino Wrought Iron-Matrix (right)
So, what else is left to do after this massive accomplishment? Well, If you've been following the WI project for a while, you probably know it had a rough start. So, when Tracy Barker entrusted me with the project to help understand these weird eye anomalies, I planned three phases to achieve specific goals. 1.- Produce "normal-eyed" Wrought Irons and collect data to understand eye-related issues and their possible causes. 2.- Produce Combos to understand the interaction and compatibility of the WI with other mutations and assess any health issues.3. Produce Super Wrought Irons to determine viability and assess any health issues. As you can see from this update, the first two phases are completed, and no health issues were found with the first two clutches. With solid data and outstanding results, it is time to move on to the third and last step of the plan—Super Wrought Irons.Although this last step is NOT mandatory, it is essential to understand the project's potential and limitations (if any) before opening the floodgates to more people. Knowing if the Supers are viable and safe to produce will provide valuable insights to prepare those interested in acquiring a Wrought Iron to plan their breeding projects accordingly. But that, my friend, is a write-up for next year. This is how I conclude the second chapter of this fascinating journey. Thank you all so much for your support and patience with the project. Tracy and I feel very optimistic about the future, and if everything goes well this season, you will soon be able to enjoy these fantastic snakes in person.Keep pushing the boundaries!
Ernesto Hinojosa.
