Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So what is the difference? I can point out a few things but I want to see unbiased opinions.

Which one is Marble, and which one is Granite? What do you see different in the two? For comparism lets refer to them as big and small snake by their size.

Obviously I know which one is which, but do you? Just by looking at the picture? If so, how? What are the differences aside from genetic inheritance, how can they be identified? I want to see everyone else's reply's and then I will post what I believe to be correct. Lets get as many opinions on this one as we can! Especially a few of you lurkers, you know who you are.

Thanks,

Jordan
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

I dont know whcih is which but I can only see two differences with my untrained newbie eyes.
1:The stripe down the spine.
2:The head color
Dont know if either of these make it so you can tell the difference, but I would think the spinal stripe would be the major one.

Wow they look really similar.... but I'm going to hazard a guess and say that the bigger snake is the marble and the smaller is the granite. The seems to be a bit more dorsal "marbling" on the bigger one, but it's really hard to tell which is which.
-----
-chris-

Small one Marble large granite Joe..........

I would say that the larger one is a "Marble" and the smaller "Granite", but I have rather limited experience with granites. My Marbles look almost exactly like the larger one with the swirly orange pattern and larger side freckles. The few granites I have seen look more like the smaller one because of a more solid coloration and pixel-like freckles.

That being said...Borneos have ALWAYS proven themselves to be highly polymorphic and it would not be a shocker to me to see these two animals hatch from the same clutch of eggs.

-----
Matt & Nicci Turner
www.selectiveorigins.com

BAsed on what I know, the larger of the two is a marble. The smaller a speckled sided-granite of course this depends on which line of "marble" you have. The photo is the line of granites I have that tend to a lighter color.

-----
================================
Support your local herp society
www.chicagoherp.org

I'm not really into the borneo thing...but I think the bigger one is the marble. I've heard that the term comes from the actual marbling of color on the back rather than just the speckled sides.

Pretty snakes Jordan!

I'd have to say the big guy is the marble.He's got the more marble affect on his back.As far as I know, I didn't know the marble and the granite were two different traits in the bloods.Can't wait to see your concept.Awesome looking guys there.Hey Jordan my female marble is about to pop, she's definately gravid and should be showing signs here of a prelay shed any day.Will have to give you some pics to see what you think they are, marble or granite.

...is there integrity to all the various morphs being touted in the curtus (and other Boidae) world? Don't mean to hit hit a nerve, but this is what I'm thinking as I read these posts.
-----
"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose." (quote from Jim Elliott, "Shadow of the Almighty"

about localities. Or is that the same difference in some of the "indifferent" morphs? Who knows? but thats not exactly the point of the thread..

J
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Larger is a Marble, smaller a Granite.

~Si

I don't know a great deal about the differences in appearance between the two morphs but there really only seems to be one pattern difference to me. The larger snake seems to have more speckling that comes up higher and sort of "bleeds" into its back. The smaller one has more of a defined line between the speckled sides and marbled back. And the marbling on the smaller snake is "cleaner" than the larger one. One thing is for sure... both are gorgeous.

BTW Jordan thanks again for all your info on the "super secret" pair we talked about. I recieved them on Monday and I went through with the deal in large part because of the conversation you and I had.

They're both granites!
Angel
-----
Have you hugged your Blood today?

Looks to me that the larger one is the marble and the smaller a granite. The marble pattern seems a little more intense on the larger one.

A Marble may show higher speckling with darker dots.
A Granite may show lower speckling with more white for dots.

Some say Marbled, Some say Granite, same difference
-----
"Q"

If LL thinks so, then I say so, too!!!

Thanks J,
My personal opinion is that they are one of the same..Both animals pictured have the same genetic make up..You have a picture of a 1995 animal, is it marble or granite ??
Tim.

I agree with the majority on this one. The larger one is a marble because it has the marble pattern on top. The smaller one is a granite. Question though, is it true that marbles are dominant and granites are recessive? I've heard that from a few.
-----
Every one can be reasonable if you just find the right button.

The larger one is a Marble and the smaller one is a Granite. So it looks like the majority of you all got it right. Which is good! Thats what I was hoping for.

Keep in mind all opinions here are simply my observations, and information I've gather from other breeders.

The main difference is the inheritance. The Granite gene is recessive (which I can attest to), and the Marble gene is Co Dominant (or so we still think, I haven't bred any though). The smaller animal was produced by me from two inherently "normal" looking animals and the marble was produced by Michael Kostakos from two marbled adults. The main thing to look for is the contrast of white and black on the sides. The marbles seem to have what appears as more black looking like dots of black on a white background. The granites appear to have more white with a large amount of white on a black background, appearing in more of a somewhat pixeled like pattern. The spotting on the back of the larger animals is kind of a give away as I haven't seen this on any granites. Not all marbles have this though, so keep that in mind. The darker and lighter shades on the back don't really have anything to do with it as far as I know. The marbled one comes from a line of dark colored animals and the lighter shades on the smaller granite animal is a hint of another trait. There can sometimes be altered patterns on the back from either trait, though these two seem to have very similar patterns on their backs which I found interesting. Thats all I can really think of now, which really isn't much. They are different none the less, if I remember something else I'll post it. Feel free to post any questions and I or whoever wants to will attempt to answer it.

Tim the picture of the animal you sent me was granite I believe. I'll see if I can find the picture, it's on another computer.

Jordan
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior