Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello!
I was taking some pics of the babies from the litter last year (hypo harli x zahara, my high pink female) and noticed some weird black scales. I could swear these were not there a month ago! I think I would have noticed, but I'll go back and look at older pics to check. Has anyone seen random patches of black scales just pop up on their boas before? These were taken 24 hrs after a meal, weird that the spots are almost right at the belly...

Here's a blurry shot taken the day before, you can kind of see the black scales on the side.

Just seems weird to me that they would suddenly show up. I know! I'll call it a reverse pied! (just kidding of course!).
These are pics of Candy, one of my hypo harlequin keepers. Just another shot of her:

Here's another one from the same litter, hypo harli keeper, this is Puzzle. Deep in shed in this pic, so very dark. I was trying to make my own light box, used wax paper on the sides to diffuse the light but it seemed to give a yellow cast to the pics. Ah well! Time to try again!

Went to the SF Zoo last month, here's a bad pic of one of the boas at the Zoo. She must have been at least 8.5' and easily 25-30 lbs.

Here's a cool shot my fiance took of the alligator at the zoo.

Well I'll stop now. that's a lot of pics!

Anyone have any thoughts about the weird black scales I'd love to hear, thanks!
TGIF!
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

It could be ink from the newspaper
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1.0 Albino Burmese Python 15'
0.1 Albino Green Burmese Python 10'
0.1 100% het Albino Granite Burmese Python

2.0 Albino boa
0.1 100% Het Albino dbl.Het stripe boa
1.1 Colombian redtail boa
0.1 Suriname Red Tail
0.1 DH Sunglow Poss. 66% Anery

Thanks Kevin

that's what I thought at first too, but they are actually black scales. I wish I could get a better pic, closer, but I am still learning with this camera and can't get it to focus good closeup. :/
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

I think it is actually quite common...
I would say more so in hypos only because the hypo gene is playing with the pigment anyway....it could be a leaky gene...

Here is a posible Het albino female I picked up from Matt Crabe...She has it as well although the pics I took could be better...But hope you can see it.

Andy

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Some hypos will develop black patches as they age. I have seen quite a few with those spots. They look very similar to the black patches on the paradox albinos/sunglows. I have a hypo het. anery that has developed a few black spots. Nothing to worry about. Just your boa maturing.

Phil Goss