Color change in Jungle Carpet Pythons

[Mikoh4792]

These are not my pictures, nor are they my snakes. I just wanted to share this with those who might get into jungle carpet pythons to show that they don't all start out bright and yellow when they are young. When looking for a "high yellow" carpet python, understand that it takes about a year on average to start showing their true colors and about another year to reach full saturation.

HeadHunter Reptiles Progression of a HeadHunter Jungle (http://www.headhunterreptiles.com/?p=3181)

Ontogenic color change of Jungle Carpet Pythons at AAR (http://www.australianaddiction.com/JungleOntogenic.html)


A baby that went from this
http://www.headhunterreptiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shadow1-408x272.jpg

to this
http://www.headhunterreptiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shadow5-408x272.jpg

[Kera]

Awesome color change!

[franks]

Thanks for posting this Mikoh. Pretty cool to see.

[EL Ziggy]

Wow, that's amazing. You never know :)

[Kera]

Made me curious to look at the first baby picture I have of Bindi vs. now. Crazy!

[franks]

Made me curious to look at the first baby picture I have of Bindi vs. now. Crazy!

Lucky. I wish I had hatchling photos of my girl. Earliest I have is 5 months.

[Mikoh4792]

Yeah this reminds me to take pictures along the way. I like going back and seeing how my snakes have developed.

[red ink]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/morelia-spilota/90019-ontogenic-change-carpet-pythons.html

[jpsteele80]

Didn't know carpets had the ability to do that, thanks for the pic

[pet_snake_78]

Is there a big difference based on what breeder you pick or do you guys think most of "trophy" jungles are just a matter of getting the pick of the litter? I've seen some breeders with nice animals as the breeding stock but those guys were not really the big names, just guys at reptile shows.

[Mikoh4792]

Is there a big difference based on what breeder you pick or do you guys think most of "trophy" jungles are just a matter of getting the pick of the litter? I've seen some breeders with nice animals as the breeding stock but those guys were not really the big names, just guys at reptile shows.

The most important are the parents of a clutch and the genetics beyond them as well. Doesn't matter who the breeder is, if you breed two bright and yellow carpets together you will get bright and yellow babies(for the most part).

Though even when acquiring a jungle from a pairing that is bright and yellow, it's still a hit and miss since it takes time to show their true colors. There's also a chance of the snake browning over or flecking later on down the road.

[Jackins]

Wow.I had no idea that these guys had such vibrant colors. I might have to add them to a wishlist much later in the future.

[LifeCycle]

Wow, that's awesome! I always wondered that! Good to know!

[RBDTerrell]

Thanks for the post Mikoh. It's pretty cool to see how drastically they change.

[franks]

Maybe I am the only one in the world that feels this way, but I just love the way jungles look when they are black with thin yellowish- brown lines. The really dark jungles look so cool. I mean- those screamer yellows look amazing, I just also really like the way a "dirty" regular jungle looks.

[Mikoh4792]

Maybe I am the only one in the world that feels this way, but I just love the way jungles look when they are black with thin yellowish- brown lines. The really dark jungles look so cool. I mean- those screamer yellows look amazing, I just also really like the way a "dirty" regular jungle looks.

Same here. I like both the refinement that brings out bright and clean patterns and the wild type look of carpets that got me interested in the first place.

[Mikoh4792]

Another example

At three months

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t34.0-12/10565714_905555319460692_1746482218_n.jpg?oh=9e2ae 92cc2a6d083f96f2a52cd493966&oe=53C7BDB5&__gda__=1405616421_1fc7a4e4eac18fc1936d0d1be58e2f2 c


Two years later

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t35.0-12/10559502_905556566127234_1570492588_o.jpg?oh=25c74 a6d1de9c74e30f0d02c303d9072&oe=53C7C039&__gda__=1405640937_8e78136728b50bc7f8562ad22ead637 6

[Mikoh4792]

Frank

Very heavy black tipping/flecking...looks pretty cool imo

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10464392_10201311395427021_6554756009512784183_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10464277_10201311396627051_4956362819810034524_n.j pg

[franks]

Frank

Very heavy black tipping/flecking...looks pretty cool imo

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10464392_10201311395427021_6554756009512784183_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10464277_10201311396627051_4956362819810034524_n.j pg

Oh man is that guy yours? That's what I was referring to. I love that. And by the way- that male you posted right ol above might be the nicest looking jungle I've ever seen. I Google imaged them trying to find one I liked more.

[Mikoh4792]

ahha nope. Most pics were from facebook.

Yes she was owned by a friend of mine..who sold her because he's a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to jungles(she developed just a tiny bit of flecking and that put her under his standards). But supposedly she became even brighter and all that color masked the blemishes.

[Mikoh4792]

I just can not believe how drastic the change is. The only thing that lets me know it's the same snake is the pattern... but wow. At 3 months old it doesn't look like she's going anywhere and then boom at 2 years old she's a stunner.

[loud]

Very, very cool. I remember seeing those before and afters when I was first learning about JCPs, and was completely blown away. My JCP recently turned 1 year old, so I actually was doing some side by side comparisons recently!! Sharing them here, if that's okay

~ 3 or 4 months old (picture from breeder)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14670609591_5d3cd7a451_z.jpg

~ 5 months old (again, breeder's picture)
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14673806515_54cced78b9_z.jpg

~ 6 months old (when I first got him)
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14670623981_b3ac6aefe5_z.jpg

~ 7 months old
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/13189476675_a780f04dac_z.jpg

~ 8 or 9 months old
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/13656837313_4a59f353e3_z.jpg

~ 1 year old (now)
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/14322825047_3029d04b0e_z.jpg

He was growing slowly and not shedding as frequently in his first half of the year, but making good (and appropriate!) progress now. Can't wait to see how he turns out as a full grown adult.

Side by side comparison, 6 months vs. 1 year

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14670623981_b3ac6aefe5_z.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14483766523_97cc2dc747_z.jpg

[Kera]

Not sure how old, before I got her though. 7 months oldest
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b482/daywalker2812/30e67a7c-d25c-437f-a88a-f9a5e7ab46ce_zps49cbf98f.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/daywalker2812/media/30e67a7c-d25c-437f-a88a-f9a5e7ab46ce_zps49cbf98f.jpg.html)
Two days ago. :) (1 year and 2 months)
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b482/daywalker2812/aebc97a8-5214-45c8-9e06-f437366af9eb_zpse968f75a.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/daywalker2812/media/aebc97a8-5214-45c8-9e06-f437366af9eb_zpse968f75a.jpg.html)

[franks]

Wow loud- I love the pattern on your guy. He looks awesome.

Hannah this is the first pic I've noticed the black bar running through the eye- so cool. I love that. Does it do that on both sides?

[Kera]

I think it might just be the lighting, lol. I only notice her eyes being silver.