Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if there are any known cases of an adult/sub-adult BRB being born anerythristic (ie, brown/black/taupe) and maintaining that condition/coloration through adulthood. The only pics I've been able to find of BRB's with no red/orange pigments are newborns/juveniles, and even on Mr. Sharp's website the description says, "Babies from this unique line are little silver and taupe beauties!" What about when they grow up?

At some point, these anerythristic babies must develop the ability to catalzye erythrin and thus become red/orange. Does anyone know if other species of snakes show this type of temporary/ontogenic anerythrism?

Thanks,
Ed

Hey there Ed. Here are a few pictures for you to think about.

First, a female anery born here in 2006.

Here she is again just a few minutes ago. She has certainly changed. She has lost that light metallic look she had when she was born but there are still no traces of red or orange on her. Honestly, in real life, she's a little more gray than brown.

Here is her mother when she was in my care last year. From what I understand, she looked very similar to the animal pictured above when she was born. I'm not going to say she's the most impressive snake I've ever seen. But, I think you'll agree with me that there is no red or orange on this animal.

It's not that anerys turn into normal looking BRBs. They don't. But they do seem to lose that crisp look that they have when they are younger. I think what is going on is that as they age, more melanin is stored in the chromatophores. They darken with age.

What I'm hoping to do is combine the anery and hypo genes. We should see animals that don't develop red or orange and have reduced melanin throughout their lives. It would be cool if this morph (the ghost) held on to that baby anery coloration. I think it might.

Finally, just for [bleep]z and giggles, here's a pic of the 2006 anery with a stunning 2006 hypo.

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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Holy Hypo Batman!!! Is that that orange girl that you held back from your ML06 litter? That is one stunning BRB!!!
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the pics, that definitely helps! I guess sometimes it's difficult to tell the exact color(s) of the snake from the pictures, so that probably caused confusion. (I know first hand how hard it is to capture certain colors accurately since I collect/sell fossil shark teeth over the internet. It can get frustrating taking 75 pictures and not being able to capture the actual colors!) Not that there can't be other variations, but what you explained and showed makes more sense to me. If the anery snake turns different shades of brown/black (rather than developing any orange/red ) later in life, then I see no reason to question that. I think many other species have changes in melanin production over time, so the changes in brown/black shades don't surprise me.

I really like that last picture, that was a real treat. Like someone else mentioned, that hypo is outstanding! Good luck with your project, I hope you get the ghost.

Thanks,
Ed

Yes Aubrey, that's her. Honestly, if anything, she's a little dull in that pic. She may be going into shed.

I'm glad the pics helped Ed. I really don't claim to know it all when it comes to the anerys. I'm still learning a lot myself. I don't feel bad though. No one really knows what will come of this morph in the future.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

hypo is looking a little too orange haha lol. I'm sure you're glad to have held that one back and thanks for posting that anery adult again cuz I'm saving that pic this time. Best of luck with all the babies this season too
Bob