I know, kinda of a “it depends” question. I’ve seen many IMG that start out black as babies, while others are indistinguishable from normals until a certain age.
My boy here is an IMG motley RLT. He was purchased by a very qualified breeder, so I’m not concerned at all about his genetics. He will be one year old at the end of may.
He’s only at his first shed with me and I have to admit that some dark speckling is appearing on his head, saddles and belly, while his snout is becoming grayer and grayer.
I’m curious about the rate of darkening in IMGs. Why do some take more than others? How long does it take before a good portion of the body shows signs? Is there a contribution from the hets? Is just random?
I’m kinda surprised that it’s not going black on you already at 1 year but I’m no expert in IMG. I only say that because motley + img generally darkens up very quick and are known to get very black. I’ve seen some pretty dark RLT IMG as well. Some genes or polygenic bred traits can fend off IMG for longer, like hypo or pastel lines that reduce black. I do feel like there are probably “grades” of IMG, some selectively bred within the gene to be very strong and get very dark while other lines maybe didn’t focus on that as much trying to inject color/contrast to the black.
Hopefully someone with more IMG knowledge with hop in and give a better opinion on it.
I really like that RLT / Motley combo, very bold and still colorful.
I must say that sometimes I fear that i’ve been somewhat scammed- he comes from a pairing img x albino (not img). Since the img is codominant, sometimes my brain wonders if he didn’t get the whole package- even though he is indeed darkening.
Again, as you can see (btw thanks for the appreciation, I will report that to him- and he already knows he’s a goregous boy) he’s a quality animal, and the breeder told me that usually takes up to two years for complete darkening.
He was also much more dark than his siblings, but as you said, many just start out very black.
He had problems with feeding at first and he’s been somewhat kept in a lower calorie regime for a while, so there’s also that (he’s not very big for an almost 1 yo, but it’s getting his size back for sure now that he eats like a dragon)
Personally I’d just shoot the breeder an inquiry with an updated picture of him. RLT/Motley combos are bold patterns and together I think make some naturally darker adults, but from what I’ve seen can look dark right off the bat as well. Not saying he’s not IMG, but considering he’s 1 year old I’d just ask for confirmation from the breeder, they won’t mind seeing an update on something they produced at all.
I have an IMG RedRum Hypo Jungle. The Hypo fights the IMG but in the first year I saw darkening of the muzzle and sides. She’s a 2023, still not crazy dark (probably never will be with the Hypo and RR Pastel) but very noticeable change to date.
That’s the only part that makes me curios, I’d think that muzzle mask would be black and the dots above the eyes on the top of head would be black and have filled it that area.
She’s a '23, this was end of '23 so maybe 5-6 months old
So it can take time.I’m sure it depends on how dark the one IMG parent was as well. Since the IMG in your guys paring wasn’t albino, it should be easier to get an idea of how dark yours should end up IMO.
Beautiful boa! Hopefully someone who works with IMG can give you a better opinion but I think the breeder would be the best reference for sure.
Damn she is beautiful. I want an hypo red pastel to create imgs that have lots of contrast with red.
Thanks again for the compliments.
Indeed the darkening is affecting more his belly (that started out white, now it’s very grey) and the saddle patterns. Surprisingly, the dark freckles that yours had in the first photo are indeed the same that are slowly appearing on my boy’s head. For the muzzle, he is getting darker under the eyes, not above. And his tail, it’s strangely becoming much redder at the sides, almost crimson, while the little square saddles are disappearing englufed by black.
Again, I’m pretty sure he’s a img, I’m curious more about the timing. Looking at yours seems that indeed in two years the process is almost complete. I’ll update with more recent pics
I haven’t had an img as a baby, but my boy leo was one of those that almost looked like a wild type as a baby. (Compared to modern IMG babies). This is the only photo I have of him back then:
Damn he aged like a really fine wine!
Yeah there are many factors at play for sure. At first I thought that morphs were more “standardized” as in corn snakes or even some of ball python. Good to know, for sure it will be an even more surprising adventure watching him grow
