Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my female looks very pastel to me, she is close to looking alot like my hypos but more black on her tail. she is very orange and pink with an orange tail. her mom was normal kinda dark and her dad was a pastel. she breeding with my hypo this year and was wondering what makes them pastel, is it just their look or is it a gene or maybe just selective breeding.
thanks for your input.

That is a great question.

I personally believe that in most cases the term pastel boa is loosely used. The term can be used to describe a certain look. This look is usually defined as a boa that has less black tipping and lighter than ussual saddles with extreme contrasts between the dark and the lighter pigment. There are some lines of boas such as the EBV Red Group, Jeff Ronne's Monstertail and others that seem to fit the description. The difference again in my opinion is the ability for these lines to consistantly re-produce snakes that fit the standard descrition.

With boas, just like other snakes there can be extreme variation in the babies that are born to each litter. I believe thru selective breeding this variation can be minimized.

My favorite line of pastel boa is the Silvera line. It is clean and usually holds it's lighter coloration into adulthood.

Here are a few photos of my Female Silvera Pastel and a EBV Red Group Hypo. The first photo is of my EBV REd Group Hypo. The second photo is of my #1 Silvera female at 2 years old. The third photo is of the same female at 4 years old and 6 1/2 feet long. The Silvera feamle was a product of a brother to sister breeding.

I'm hoping others will join in on this slightly contriversial subject.

Brian

-----
Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Here's the link to Jeff Ronne's definition:
http://www.boaconstrictor.net/forums/showthread.php?t=386

As far as most of us know, he was the first to coin the term, use it, produce them, etc.

Basically, it is a reduction of black.
This is seen in the saddles, side pattern (medallions/diamonds), tail borders, belly, face, and anywhere else there would normally be black pigment.
He describes some of these reductions as 'faded, washed out, reduced muddyness' and more.

Because of this reduction in black pigment and speckling, if the boa already has color, it will shine through alot more and be easier to see.

Jeff's line is the 'Boaphile Pastel DREAM', and there are many other lines out there. All do not seem to work the same, but the offspring are clearly distinguishable from 'normals'.

Lots of my high end pastels have sold for between $750 - $2000 each! Much different than normals 8)

Below are some good examples...

mid-high grade

very high grade

mid-high grade

mid-high grade

mid grade pastel, extremely colorful boa (both different things)

high grade

mid grade

bunch of mid-high grade

high grade

mid-high grade pastel anerythristic

mid grade

high grade

extreme

high grade

high grade

high grade

extreme (light phase)

extreme (color phase)

high grade

very low end pastel, but very red boa next to a
mid grade pastel (see the tail area)

Hope that helps!

Take care, Joe

-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

This is a really good post and love the pictures. I just bought a low end pastel back in September for $100. It looks exactly like your seventh picture down. The guy I bought it from stated it was a by-product of a red pastel and normal. The pinks are already starting to saturate the sides. He said the reds should really start showing after a year. Nothing beats a pretty pastel in my opinion.

I was told this big girl is "pastel", but I don't know for sure. She really seems to be lacking black, but so does my male in the second photo. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for the help!!!

I would say she is... not the highest quality pastel, but somewhere around mid grade.
I bet she doesn't have the inky black markings along her stomach the way normals do.

The male is lighter, and is also pretty clean, but I really wouldn't call him a pastel.

He is light, and fairly clean, but there is still lots of black in the saddles and side pattern. I bet he also has the black markings along the belly.

I think your female is kind of like this girl below.

When dark, she looks low grade at best, but when light, she gets much lighter and her colors really come out, she looks more mid/high grade.

Thanks, Joe

Here she is kind of between light/dark phase

-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Is this girl a Pastel, or what?

This is my own line. Unrelated to any known name out there.
She's 3 1/2 years old in this. Don't think she'll get much darker.

Second pic. -- her posterior in the foregroung. Boa in the background looking forward is her brother. She is visible to the right, further back, looking forward.

jsc

I would say so... very nice and light for an adult.
the side pattern missing black... clean body, light saddles..

looks mid - high grade, in my opinion.
-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

You are right about the belly markings. She's clear, and he has the normal speckles.

Is there anything to how red she is. It doesn't come through well on the pics, but I'm just curious.

Nothing certain... she has more overall color, and when the black is removed, it shows through.

No telling if it is genetic or not until you breed her, but chances are it will pass on a bit at least.

I think combining that pair would give you just about the best of both worlds.

Best Wishes!

-Joe
-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Thanks for all your info!!! It's fun to learn about as much as possible about them! I hope to get some really light, clean, pastels from them. Honestly though, I'll be thrilled to get a viable clutch my first try at breeding!!!

Thanks again!

pics ks has seen in a long time. Great change of pace and very underrated at the same timed and I stole some but of course I'll give you credit-thanks for sharing Joe
Bob

.
-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin