Morph ID?

Hyokenseisou · 03-21-14, 02:58 PM

So I got this little guy last spring show at a local reptile expo. He was sold as a normal, apparently sire was a coral albino? That's all I know as far as heritage goes.
But it seems that the more he gets older, the more red he becomes. He was a pretty decently pink/red when I got him, but now he's even darker! So He's obviously not a normal, I've compared him to my pastel and not even close. Even the salmons I have.

This was him last summer:

(The smallest one. You can also see the pastel/normal, and the two salmons.)

A comparison between him and the pastel (last summer)

Of all the crappy lighting, the second pic is probably closest to what he looks like in real life.

To my understanding, most babies loose a lot of colour as they get older, become more pale or less vibrant. And that certainly was the case with my pastel. Her tail was really red as a baby, but now older (about 1.5yrs now), she's your typical bci colours (just a bunch of browns).
Even the two salmons (both sisters). One's still pretty pale, still pretty much the same as the first pic. While the sister is a little darker, starting to look more like a burnt caramel colour.

But him, he's just getting to be a more deeper richer red; I was thinking he was going to fade out and show typical boa colours. So I'm pretty confident in believing he's not a standard 'normal' boa as sold as such (which I'm ok with if he was a cool morph! Cause I paid pennies for him lol).

Any thoughts?

I certainly am excited, when everyone is old enough/good weight, I'm going to prove him out with my pastel (something nice and neutral). During that, I'm pairing my kahl albino (who almost seems more like a snow) with one of the salmons (hoping for some sunglows. Salmon het albino), then a few years down the road, pair one of the offspring from that pair to this red guy and see what I can get!

Hyokenseisou · 03-22-14, 07:46 PM

(Also note, that pic of his belly, he's not going into shed any time soon and it's not a burn, it's just that pink/getting redder as he gets older)

**Tsubaki** · 03-24-14, 05:37 PM

Like i told you before, he is one hell of a gorgeous Colombian Pastel.
That is a boa worthy of being called Pastel

Hyokenseisou · 03-24-14, 07:07 PM

Gotcha, but if he's a pastel, then that's the really clean light brown one? I thought pastel meant really clean patterns and not much freckling like the brown one?
I'm thinking I might pair him with one of the salmons instead now, really try and bring out those reds and clean patterns.

**Tsubaki** · 03-25-14, 08:50 AM

Pastel is very dubious, ill try to explain why.
What is a pastel? :-> A normal with vibrant colors and reduced black with a clean look. There are animals specifically bred to look like that, from many different breeding lines, like Cherry pastel, Pastel dream, Summit pastel. Or the more famous, Euro, Dutch and Kubsch pastel. These are all prime examples of Pastel that are (often) more keen to pass their looks to their young. They obviously cost more than the average normal, and are also used to improve looks of morphs.

However, since Pastel is not a morph but a just extravagantly looking normal. Pastels can be born from normal parents as well. Your brown pastel does have the reduced black/pattern and a clean look, but she does not really have vibrant colors. You small boa is however a prime example of what a pastel should be, screaming colors and a clean look. Very good idea to pair him up with a salmon! If he passes on his colors they will get smashing offspring.

It would be easiest if people stopped using the name for any clean looking normal, then the definition of pastel would get a lot clearer. Sadly some breeders add the name 'pastel' to any pretty looking clean animal, just to give them a more appealing name for sales.

Hyokenseisou · 03-25-14, 02:08 PM

Ah ok that makes sense!!
Yeah see I was told that my normal, she was a pastel because she was clean - aka that's what pastel meant, so I just went with it.
Well it's good to know my little guy is a textbook example of a pastel and I'm sure him and the salmon would make some awesome offspring! I look forward to it!
And just a little side note, I actually paid the same amount for each, $60, both sold to me as normals. Only after did some people suggest that the female was a pastel and the male red must be something crazy. Either way, I love them both, especially my little red's colour!! Can't wait til he's older!!

Thanks for the very help info!!

**Tsubaki** · 03-25-14, 03:34 PM

He is very handsome, i wonder what he will look like as an adult! and 60$ is not a penny too much if you ask me.

Hyokenseisou · 03-25-14, 05:09 PM

I am also curious to see what his colours will be as an adult. Like I said, he keeps getting more and more red the older he gets! SUPER EXCITED! Always wanted one with more red tones.

Pfft, $60 IS pennies for me compared to the few snakes I have that are a few hundred a piece. lol He's the cheapest of them all yet getting to be one of the prettiest.
And HIM for $60, I think is a pretty fair steal!