Why do these snakes look different?

[aeronautica86]

sorry, I'm really new to snakes so this probably sounds like a stupid question...Why does one of these snakes look shiney and smooth, while the other looks dull and rough?

Is it something about the lighting/picture?


shiney:
http://www.cypresscreekreptiles.net/PJS-15F-04pop.html


dull: http://www.tropicalvision.com/images/collection/ballpythons/normal/4L.jpg

[SCReptiles]

for me, only the bottom pic is showing up. Only a guess, perhaps the shinny one just came out of shed and the other is going in.

[aeronautica86]

hmmm...yeah I can't get the other pic to work, so I just changed it to a link - click the link to see what I'm calling the "shiney" snake

so basically you're saying that the one in the picture looks normal?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Hatchlings are shiny. So are some that are past their shed dates. And so are some that are severly dehydrated.

[lolaophidia]

I agree that the first link is a hatchling. They've got smaller scales and will tend to look more smooth and therefore shiny. Provide more humidity and (fresh out of shed) your snake will have a more shiny appearance.