Recently purchased this girl from a breeder on MorphMarket as a Pied/ VPI Axanthic. After receiving I am skeptical about the axanthic gene. I know browning out can be common but not sure about this much…Looking for others thoughts. Thank you!
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Could you get some more photos of the close up areas of the spots that aren’t white?
From some quick searches, they definitely range in their amount of gray/browning. And even seeing some yellow around the patterned portions appears normal, which is surprising to me.
I’m not an expert on axanthic, but it definitely has a tendency to brown out more with age, so it’s still possible it is axanthic
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This absolutely looks like an Axanthic that has browned down due to the ontogenetic colour-change that all balls go through
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Save next shed and if any doubt test.
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Axanthic in BPs is something you either really need to purchase in person or trust your breeder to have a good quality line.
I finally picked one up after many years because I saw one at a show that had a good size to her and still hasn’t browned out as much. There’s always an argument about which line has ‘the best’s but really I’ve seen it’s all how good the breeder and their animals’ quality is.
Yes, it’s entirely possible for one to brown out and look like a light brown colored normal. A lot of the ones you see that are still a good color at adult size have either been from a line that keeps color well and has been curated by the breeder for that by breeding for the color. Or they also have genes like fire mixed in to help brighten them up as well.
If you are really concerned, you can always see if the breeder has baby photos of your snake or the clutch so you can compare the markings. The colors will change but typically the markings stay somewhat similar, but that can depend on the morphs as well
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