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I finally got sent pictures of my questionable thayeri's parents! One definatly looks like a Thayeri or at least partially one, and I have no doubts that they are her parents because I see parts of them both (especially the lighter one's head markings) in her. They aren't the best since they are shedding soon, but I was hoping that would help me clear things up a little, even though by the looks of it the pictures just tell me that she's part thayeri like the orange one and them part who-knows-what. (I've also posted pictures of Arella's siblings before if those would help any I can repost them)

Either way Arella's a great snake, took her first thawed pinky mouse without trouble on Sunday night and came over the side of the cage when I passed this evening, she's really getting used to me and her new surroundings. Here's her picture too, will be taking more soon.

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-Danielle

0.1 Questionable Thayeri (Hybrid?) - Arella
0.3 Cats - Cupcake, Smokey, Thelma
0.0.1 African Dwarf Frog - Kikia
1.0.3 Tropical Fish

that the seller waited until both parents were in shed before they could take pics tells me that they have something to hide.

That's not your fault though Daneille. Both parents appear a little suspicious to me but pics of them NOT IN THE BLUE would be a great help.

I'm sure that she will make a great pet.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

Danielle,
I agree with Chris...it is kinda strange that they send pics of both parents in shed, but just by their physical appearance I would venture to say that they are not pure thayeri.
The nuchal (back of the neck) patterns on both look similar to each other and look too much like there is a Greeri or Pyromelena influence. The high band count along with the numerous bands tells me that there is pyromelena (mt. king) influence.....
The offspring is certainly nicer looking than the parents. It did inherit the strange nuchal, somewhat black bands (saddles) and the high saddle count. Also........Most leonis phase thayeri have much narrower bands towards their ventral (belly) scales.....The one you have there along with at least one of the parents has uniform bands that are the same thickness all the way to its ventral scales.....
Could you possibly get a belly shot of the little one? It could help alot, but I am pretty certain it is not 'PURE', according to my book anyway. This is just my opinion by the way.....I hope others chyme in and put in their dos centavos......
John Lassiter

Thanks for both of your opinions guys. I managed to get a picture of Arella's stomach just now, my camera is pretty bad so it's not an amazing shot. Either way I can tell you that the bands continue onto her stomach (including the red), and there is a patch of just red on her troat (was not able to get a picture of this, but I've heard that it's significant to some non-thayeri type). Let me know what you think though.

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-Danielle

0.1 Questionable Thayeri (Hybrid?) - Arella
0.3 Cats - Cupcake, Smokey, Thelma
0.0.1 African Dwarf Frog - Kikia
1.0.3 Tropical Fish

Like others said the first black mark on the neck looks indicative of pyromelana and on one of them the straight rings is also indicative of pyromelana. Where is really shows is on the baby though which has a totally off head pattern and black line on the neck. Also on the baby how the black touches on top in the red is really like the crossovers on a pyro or zonata.
With hybrids the parents can look "pure" and throw both "pure" and hybrid looking babies.
I think you have a mix that has been bred back to thayeri to where it is more than 50% thayeri but still showing evidence of past hybridization.

Thanks for the hybrid confirmation, guys. I'm going to find a good home for my girl, as I only want to deal with pure snakes at this time. Too bad, she sure is a sweet little thing.

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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)
0.0.1 Quince Monitor (Pollux)
1.0.0 Thayeri Kingsnake (Corbin)
0.1.0 Thayeri? Kingsnake (Moka)
0.1.0 Reverse Stripe Cal King (Maraca)

Thanks, putting it into numbers really helps a lot, basically now I've heard everything thrown around from alterna, greeri, pyro and maybe a few others. By now I know she's not pure but I'm just trying to find out what to call her, lol.

And Moka looks great Aubrey, I love the little thing that almost looks like a heart on her head! Now at least we know what they are, I just feel bad that you ended up with an unpure thayeri that you can't breed like you planned.

My Arella's doing great too, she went right to frozen mice without any problems, and is very friendly too my whole family loves her. So while this whole purity thing has been a little uncalled for, it all worked out in the end. If anyone else has an opinion though I'd be glad to hear it.
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-Danielle

0.1 Questionable Thayeri (Hybrid?) - Arella
0.3 Cats - Cupcake, Smokey, Thelma
0.0.1 African Dwarf Frog - Kikia
1.0.3 Tropical Fish

Danielle,
I would simply call her a Thayeri cross.............
John Lassiter

Thanks guys. He did eventually send me pics of them after they had shed, even though this post is a lot later I'll add the pic anyways. The female is the lighter one and the male is the orange.
Link

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-Danielle

0.1 Thayeri Cross - Arella
0.3 Cats - Cupcake, Smokey, Thelma
0.0.1 African Dwarf Frog - Kikia
1.0.3 Tropical Fish