It's tough. Top notch tigers are easy to spot. Then again, top notch stripes are easy to spot too Everything else is a mixed bag of pattern & coloration, and variability in striping.

Tigers tend to have this 'head notch'. Their stripe up the back of their neck actually connects to their head pattern - in a little black notch. It's really the most identifiable trait that I've seen that separates tigers from all other striped lines. It's what I look for, and tend to see in most all tigers. Not to say that other striped coastals won't have a stripe that extends all the way to the head - I have a couple - but it is rare. Then again, I've seen plenty of really really nice striped pythons labeled as tigers who do not have this head notch. Soooo.....my advice, if you're looking for a tiger/striped coastal don't worry so much about nomenclature, and more on what it actually looks like....but if you're on the hunt for a tiger, go straight to the source, those few guys producing them.

Pattern & coloration seem variable. They both have clear bellies. They both probably inherent their striping in a similar manner. Tough to tell them apart.

Shea Peterson
www.petersonreptiles.com

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