Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have a question that maybe someone here could answer. What can you tell me about the latest findings on the "Harlequin" morph. I have read that some say it is genetic and others say it is random. Does anyone here have experience with the morph?

I have also seen a lot of variablility in what people say is a "Harlequin" as well. Some striped, some not.

Would this be considered one? How does it compare with an example of one you have worked with? The belly marking on this snake don't look like what has been listed as a "harlequin". Regardless I think it is a cool snake, genetic or not.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Only way to tell is to breed it. Looks like it has some potential though.

Good luck!
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Kevin,
Some have proven and some have not.
Part of the problem is that people may consider different things to be Harlys.

That snake does look like a harley...but again you would have to breed it to see if it is indeed genetic.

The genetic ones have so far proven to be at least dominant.
The true Harly's I have seen had a little different (paired) striping on the belly....but yours does look interesting.

I have not seen any super forms produced yet.
Perhaps they exist and people are being quiet about it???

We have some proven lines of Harlys.
And I have seen an animal that was thought to be a harley bred to a Mojave....and it produced a white snake w/ blue eyes.
(that one may not have been a true harly.)
But it did have a lot of similar features that one looks for in the true Harlequins.

I think there is a lot of potential with true Harlequins.
However, some that looked very interesting...proved to be non-genetic. So you really have to follow through with the project to the end...or just move on.

These days cage space is at a premium for many breeders...so they would rather concentrate on proven animals.
Understandable...but...

Others, (myself inluded) enjoy a lot of fun dinking projects.
If they prove out, GREAT....if not...I did not pay too much and it was fun looking for the answers.
A healthy way to veiw it.

Nice looking animal.
Best wishes with it.
Your friend,
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
970-245-7611
970-255-9255

Really nice looking Harlequin you have there ! And yes it dose look like one to me . I have one myself and he will be breeding for me next year I hope . So my advice is to prove it out and then you will know for sure . David

tree more pics of him. David

Thanks alot for the response. I appreciate it.

Kevin

that has the same belly as the snake i posted.

Check out "After 2yrs its genetic" post below

I have many, as well have seen many, ball pythons with a lined pattern on their belly. Everything from imported animals to supposed het piebalds. I have seen it in degrees of gray to stark black and continous lines as well as broken lines.

It is interesting that yours bred out and doesn't appear to be a random occurance. I guess time will tell for sure. As I thought it would with some that I have in my collection.

I know it is "different" and looks like something but what it is for sure I don't know.

Here is another example. This snake I posted as a "weird" anomally as well. She is a snakes that was imported as a baby about 2 years ago. Not only does she have a "mojave-ish" / "cinnamon-ish" (for lack of a better description) pattern, she also has a ringer mark, yellow belly scales with belly lines, a head pattern, but the most unusual, at least to me, is her color. With each shed she looses more of the tan color and it fades to yellow, and the black goes to brown. It is sporadic and from a distance actually looks like reatined shed but hopefully these pictures I posted a while back will give you an idea. It kind of reminds me of what calicos do or the reverse of what I would think an IMG would do.

What does this mean? Won't know until I am lucky enough to breed her and then at least start down the path. Time will tell.

Congratulations on your project. It's pretty cool