Metachrosis (aka “Whitewall”) Pictures

[Snakesitter]

One of the interesting quirks of Brazilians as a subspecies is their tendency to “lose” the color on their sides late in the day, an effect many keepers refer to as “whitewalling.” Under this effect, the color of the sides fades to an almost ghostly white.

Following are two recent, and rather dramatic, examples of this behavior. For each, I show the snake as it usually looks during the day, and then a late-day shot with whitewalls.

Drake, Day
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/02M-WN.jpg

Drake, Night
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/02M-WY.jpg

Ghandi, Day
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/12M-WN.jpg

Ghandi, Night
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/12M-WY.jpg

As with so many things about these snakes, fascinating stuff!

Thank you looking,

[TeaNinja]

i really like how the red fades to white half way down their sides. their colors are awesome.

[Lankyrob]

That is amazing!!! Makes me want one even more tho!

[stephanbakir]

Thats amazing, is it lighting or do the pigments themselves change?

[sickvenom]

Thats amazing, is it lighting or do the pigments themselves change?

it's not the lighting, it's he scale pigments.

[stephanbakir]

Thats crazy awesome

[Snakesitter]

It is indeed a cool feature of this species, and (as sickvenom noted) caused by scale pigments rather than lighting.

Thanks for all the interest!

[marvelfreak]

Cool i never notice it before. Now i'll have to check mine out before i go to bed tonight.

[Wolfus_305]

oh wow, that's awesome! Why does that happen? Does it have something to do with how they live in the wild?

[Snakesitter]

My best guess is thermoregulation. Dark during the day to absorb heat, light during the night to keep it.

[Wolfus_305]

wow, that's very interesting! is it only BRB's that do that?

[sickvenom]

My best guess is thermoregulation. Dark during the day to absorb heat, light during the night to keep it.

that's the theory, but i don't believe it's ever been proven.

[stephanbakir]

Either way its cool as hell

[sickvenom]

wow, that's very interesting! is it only BRB's that do that?

as far as i know - yes. but there are other species that can change other colors. there's actually a 'chameleon' snake from borneo.

[shaunyboy]

my irian jaya's do the same mate my friends bredl seem to change colour at night as well

with the irian's their silver grey day colours on their pattern turns to a beautifull light lavender at night their yellow also lightens up a lot

the Oenpelli python of australia is a chocolate brown at night it turns to a light grey colouration

i would love to work with these rare pythons

cheers shaun

[sickvenom]

my irian jaya's do the same mate my friends bredl seem to change colour at night as well

with the irian's their silver grey day colours on their pattern turns to a beautifull light lavender at night their yellow also lightens up a lot

the Oenpelli python of australia is a chocolate brown at night it turns to a light grey colouration

i would love to work with these rare pythons

cheers shaun

Uh no, yours do NOT do the same. The same would be yours changing to white, yours change to light lavender and light grey. Yours may change colors, but not to WHITE.

[Lankyrob]

Uh no, yours do NOT do the same. The same would be yours changing to white, yours change to light lavender and light grey. Yours may change colors, but not to WHITE.


Still the same process tho - arent you being a little picky?

[sassy_snake_lady]

Great pics, really good examples.

I love it when my brb does this. She looks like a completely different snake!

[Snakesitter]

My understanding is that some other species do this, but it's not as pronounced/noticable as it is in rainbow boas. Those in the know, feel free to correct me.

Thanks Sassy!

If anyone else has whitewall picts, share 'em!

[sickvenom]

Still the same process tho - arent you being a little picky?

yes i am being picky, but for a good reason. this topic is about 'white walls' in brbs. what shaunyboy brought up, is not white walls in brbs, therefore he is not seeing THE SAME phenomenon. his exact words were "my irian jaya's do the same."

the brb will change colors. i can't say for sure if shaunyboy's snakes are actually changing color, or it could just be a change in the color temperature of the ambient light. that will also appear to change the color of a snake (or anything for that matter.) i have never seen shaunyboy's species of snakes change pigment colors due to the time of day, such as brbs. not saying it doesn't happen, however.

[sickvenom]

My understanding is that some other species do this, but it's not as pronounced/noticable as it is in rainbow boas. Those in the know, feel free to correct me.

Thanks Sassy!

If anyone else has whitewall picts, share 'em!

as i already stated, there are other species that can change pigment color, but i am unaware of ANY species that display 'white walls' like the brb.

[shaunyboy]

Uh no, yours do NOT do the same. The same would be yours changing to white, yours change to light lavender and light grey. Yours may change colors, but not to WHITE.

i was reffering to " they go through a colour change " which is the same basic function the op's thread is about,no ?

i believe i even pointed out and NAMED the colours that changed on my snakes at NO time did i claim they turned WHITE

also i would guess the op's intention when posting this thread was to alert us to the amazing colour change his snakes go through not to point out " oh hey look its white ".

i may be wrong of course about the op's motives but i am NOT wrong when i say i never said they changed into the SAME colour as the op's snakes i merely stated they go through A colour change and as said i even preceded to NAME the colours

so i see no need for your PETTY post mate

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

One of the interesting quirks of Brazilians as a subspecies is their tendency to “lose” the color on their sides late in the day, an effect many keepers refer to as “whitewalling.” Under this effect, the color of the sides fades to an almost ghostly white.

Following are two recent, and rather dramatic, examples of this behavior. For each, I show the snake as it usually looks during the day, and then a late-day shot with whitewalls.

Drake, Day
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/02M-WN.jpg

Drake, Night
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/02M-WY.jpg

Ghandi, Day
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/12M-WN.jpg

Ghandi, Night
http://premium1.uploadit.org/ViaWea/BRB2010Q3/12M-WY.jpg

As with so many things about these snakes, fascinating stuff!

Thank you looking,

that is a very significant colour change thanks for sharing

its a very interesting set of pictures and snakes you got there

cheers shaun

[sickvenom]

i was reffering to " they go through a colour change " which is the same basic function the op's thread is about,no ?

i believe i even pointed out and NAMED the colours that changed on my snakes at NO time did i claim they turned WHITE

also i would guess the op's intention when posting this thread was to alert us to the amazing colour change his snakes go through not to point out " oh hey look its white ".

i may be wrong of course about the op's motives but i am NOT wrong when i say i never said they changed into the SAME colour as the op's snakes i merely stated they go through A colour change and as said i even preceded to NAME the colours

so i see no need for your PETTY post mate

cheers shaun

not petty at all. i already stated why your wording wasn't correct. the phenomenon your snakes experience is completely different. it's nothing personal so please don't take it in that direction.

[shaunyboy]

[quote=sickvenom;604695]yes i am being picky, but for a good reason. this topic is about 'white walls' in brbs. what shaunyboy brought up, is not white walls in brbs, therefore he is not seeing THE SAME phenomenon. his exact words were "my irian jaya's do the same."

the brb will change colors. i can't say for sure if shaunyboy's snakes are actually changing color, or it could just be a change in the color temperature of the ambient light. that will also appear to change the color of a snake (or anything for that matter.) i have never seen shaunyboy's species of snakes change pigment colors due to the time of day, such as brbs. not saying it doesn't happen, however.[/quot

granted the colour change in morelia oenpelli is of greater distinction and probaly better documented but my irians still change colour i at no time said it was due to colour pigmentation

if my snakes change colour and the op's snakes change colour can it NOT be said they are doing the SAME thing ?????

i at NO point said they were doing it through the SAME proccess

again i will point out i was reffering to the basic principle of the thread imo it was colour change in snakes at various times of the day this is how i enterpreted the thread hence my reply

i will leave folk to make their own minds up as to the interest or value my post has added or subtracted from this thread and ultimitly the forum but i'll tell you one thing it must have added a hell of a lot more than your other post in the computer thread where you and your mate both pulled me up for of all things...wait for it.....

not using enough coma's.....!!!

cheers shaun

[sickvenom]

i will leave folk to make their own minds up as to the interest or value my post has added or subtracted from this thread and ultimitly the forum but i'll tell you one thing it must have added a hell of a lot more than your other post in the computer thread where you and your mate both pulled me up for of all things...wait for it.....

not using enough coma's.....!!!

brits aren't the only ones who can be cheeky,,,,,,,,,,,,,

(can't speak for the other guy, just myself.)

[shaunyboy]

not petty at all. i already stated why your wording wasn't correct. the phenomenon your snakes experience is completely different. it's nothing personal so please don't take it in that direction.


i just answered the post your reffering to and stated why my wording implied nothing wrong and was perfectly correct in its use for the purpose i chose to use it

i also pointed out i never once stated or implied my snakes colours changed via the same phenomenon

my comment was based on my interpretation of the " jist " of the thread,that being " coulour changes in snakes at certain times of day " as i certainly did not take it as a species specific thread or a debate on the phenomenon of why its colour changed.

i thought i was still on subject as the general idea of the thread was colour change

re personal
no worries there mate,i would say the last few posts has been 2 people debating a point imo a pointless point but thats forum's for you...!!

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

brits aren't the only ones who can be cheeky,,,,,,,,,,,,,

(can't speak for the other guy, just myself.)

i was being factual not cheeky mate you would soon know if i released my scottish cheek...!! :yes:

for the record i'm scottish no offence mean't but calling me a brit is like me calling you mexican or canadian just because the 3 country's are joined together and are the same land mass (i mean no offence to any canadians or mexicans i am merely pointing out the same land mass can home different nations)

we're a bit touchy about being called brit's

no offence intended to big rob and all the other proud english folk on here that know 4 nations make up the united kingdom who are beautifull proud country's in their own right


cheers scottish shaun :yes:

[sickvenom]

i just answered the post your reffering to and stated why my wording implied nothing wrong and was perfectly correct in its use for the purpose i chose to use it

i also pointed out i never once stated or implied my snakes colours changed via the same phenomenon

my comment was based on my interpretation of the " jist " of the thread,that being " coulour changes in snakes at certain times of day " as i certainly did not take it as a species specific thread or a debate on the phenomenon of why its colour changed.

i thought i was still on subject as the general idea of the thread was colour change

re personal
no worries there mate,i would say the last few posts has been 2 people debating a point imo a pointless point but thats forum's for you...!!

cheers shaun

nothing at all wrong with what you posted, shaunyboy. i was just trying to differentiate between the two scenarios. colors are changing in both circumstances, but the 'reason' and method are different. i thought of this analogy, maybe it will make sense - a man who shaves his head is bald. a man who goes bald due to heredity reason is also bald. both men are bald, but they became so by different means. all you 'curb your enthusiasm' fans know what i'm talking about.

[Snakesitter]

that is a very significant colour change thanks for sharing

its a very interesting set of pictures and snakes you got there
Thank you, Shaun!

[marvelfreak]

Been a very busy week. Any way i check out my BRB and he does it every night. It's so cool even got some pics. Just got to get them down loaded.

As far as snake that change color Bloods and Borneos colors will change with their moods. When they get piss or stressed their color will get darker.

[bo2as]

as far as i know - yes. but there are other species that can change other colors. there's actually a 'chameleon' snake from borneo.
my hog ilsand boa can have a pretty dramatic difference in the shade of his skin... he get really dark sometimes and really light others i should try to get some pics to show the difference :) Tese animals are sooooo facinating i love it! :)

[red ink]

wow, that's very interesting! is it only BRB's that do that?

Morelia carinata does it as well, not to that drastic extent to go white but from a rich chocolate brown to grey.

Certain locality forms of Antaresia childreni have also been noted to do a shift from daytime colouration into a lighter form of the base colour at night.

Locality forms (Southern NG from memory or is it North???) of white lipped pythons (Leiopython albertisii) have been known to go gold at night from black during the day.

[red ink]

the Oenpelli python of australia is a chocolate brown at night it turns to a light grey colouration

i would love to work with these rare pythons

cheers shaun

You and every reptile lover in Australia as well mate... sadly that dream is a long long long long long long long long long way away....:no:

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Thanks for posting that! I never new that could/would happen and I just got a baby one maybe 4 weeks ago so i would have thought something was wrong if id seen it. i haven't seen her do it yet, actually she hasn't even shed yet. She did turn a very noticeable gray color last weekend but now shes just a little bit darker then when i first got her, Im not sure why.

[Snakesitter]

She might be headed into shed, KD35. Check her belly: if pink, that means she is.

[Snakesitter]

BTW, great comments all! Nice to see this type of color-changing discussion. Please add picts if you have them!

[marvelfreak]

BTW, great comments all! Nice to see this type of color-changing discussion. Please add picts if you have them!

The white wash is the first pic. The other two are what his color looks during the day.
12742

12744

12745

[Snakesitter]

You sure the last one isn't an intemediate shot? He seems to be lightly whitewalling in it.

Either way, great shots, and thanks for sharing!

[marvelfreak]

You sure the last one isn't an intemediate shot? He seems to be lightly whitewalling in it.

Either way, great shots, and thanks for sharing!
It could be coming out of the white wash the second and third pics were taking in the morning while i was home from work on break.(around 8:00am)
Here's a midday pic.
12753

[stephanbakir]

Great pics. Did you make the tub yourself?
Saw one of those for sale at my local herp store for 120$ lol

[marvelfreak]

Great pics. Did you make the tub yourself?
Saw one of those for sale at my local herp store for 120$ lol
Here's the break down on his tub.
Tub 106Quarts Wal-mart $11.00
Reptile Bark a 4 quarts bag $10.00
The branch is a bird perch $8.00 (petsmart) just drill holes slide the ends in and put the wing nuts on. The nuts come with the perch.
Three hides plastic flower pot 3 for $2.00 at dollar store.
Water bowl plastic pet bowl $1.00 at dollar store.
Heat pad $20.00 Reptile basic.com
Total $52.00 then just drill holes for air flow. This work great for babies.:)

When they get bigger they will all get move to a 4x2x1 Boaphile style cage.

[Snakesitter]

Nice breakdown! Boaphiles are cool, good choice.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Here's the break down on his tub.
Tub 106Quarts Wal-mart $11.00
Reptile Bark a 4 quarts bag $10.00
The branch is a bird perch $8.00 (petsmart) just drill holes slide the ends in and put the wing nuts on. The nuts come with the perch.
Three hides plastic flower pot 3 for $2.00 at dollar store.
Water bowl plastic pet bowl $1.00 at dollar store.
Heat pad $20.00 Reptile basic.com
Total $52.00 then just drill holes for air flow. This work great for babies.:)

When they get bigger they will all get move to a 4x2x1 Boaphile style cage.


I like that set-up. Im seriously considering moving my BRB out of her glass tank and into a tub, the humidity is at 80-85% most of the time but while im at work it drops. i got a piece of plexiglass over the top but thats not as efficient as a tub, its just the glass. I do have one question, with the heat pad how are you using that with the tub?

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

She might be headed into shed, KD35. Check her belly: if pink, that means she is.


And she shed the night i posted this lol. But her belly was pink, didnt know that was a sign, thanks.

[Snakesitter]

Any time. :D

[marvelfreak]

I do have one question, with the heat pad how are you using that with the tub?
I put it under 1/4 of the tub. Where i put the heat pad i don't put the reptile bark as deep this way it heats the tub great.:)