Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wasn't sure where to ask this question, but I thought the people on this forum may know the answer. I caught a N. Red bellied snake a month ago. Funny thing is she is not brown with a red belly, she is gray with a gray belly. If you put her next to another red belly snake they look Identical except for the color. The other day she had babies. Most look like normal baby Red Bellies, brownish red color, red bellies and a partial orange collar around their neck(like all red belly babies.) A few however look like mom, all gray and their partial collar is white instead of orange. My question is is this a red Belly mutation, some kind of color morph or is this common in some locals?

Red Bellies are naturaly variable, there color can be red and orange to jet black.HTH
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1.3 Eastern Garter Babies(Captive Born)
1.1 Florida Blue Garter
1.1 Poss Het Albino Red Sideds
1.0 Northern Water
1.0 Anery Corn
1.1 African House Snakes

The dorsal color on red-bellied snakes can be highly variable, and gray is a relatively common variation. The gray belly, though, is more unusual. According to Conant and Collins, "The belly color, normally bright red, may vary through orange to pale yellow...in extreme cases the belly may be blue-black."
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MichaelB