Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got this guy at the Columbia SC show this past weekend, as a Chocolate Cal, and I'm fine with that. However, I feel he is a cut above the usual, and upon looking at Hubbs's book, he has a pic of one just like it as a Hypo, but I also see ones like this listed by breeders as a Lavender. This guy has black eyes and blue irises. So for you professional or experts out there, what is he a Hypo Costal or a Lavender Costal? Thanks for your help. He's nice to hold and eats small rats.

Alex

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Boa- Hogg Island, Bull: 1 yellow, 4 normals, 1 Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, 1 Kingsville TX Red Bull, 2 Corns- Okeetee, SC, 2 Foxes- Western, 2 Gophers- Sonoran- Cochise Co. AZ, 2 Kings- Black Easterns (L.g.nigra) Todd Co. KY, 4 Coastal CA, 2 NC Eastern Chains (M from Union Co. & F from Mecklenburg Co.)2 Gray Banded 'Blair's', 2 Speckled, Harris Co. & Liberty Co. TX, Pines: 2 Carolina Northerns (M from NC, F from SC), 3 Louisiana (pure descendants of Terry Vandeventer stock), 1 Southern- faded pattern, 2 Pythons- Ball, Rats: 2 Black, Henderson Co. NC, 2 Western Green, Mt. Hopkins, Cochise Co. AZ, 11 Tarantulas, 4 Widows, 125 Orchid plants, 8 Outdoor Bonsai growing with the Roses, 10 African Violets, 20 assorted Tropical plants, 2 Freshwater Planted Aquariums

Looks like a hypomelanistic coastal to me......Lavender is just a more extreme version of hypomelanism......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

It's a hypo. In my opinion, the term "lavender" should be reserved for tyrosinase positive(T-plus) animals with deep ruby-red eyes.

Lots of confusion with different name labels nowadays, but that is definitely a hypomelanistic Cal. king, no question there.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

It's a hypo. In my opinion, the term "lavender" should be reserved for tyrosinase positive(T-plus) animals with deep ruby-red eyes.>>>

I think Caramel (albino)is a better desc. of t-pos. already recognised in BPs and a few others.
Open for suggestion opinion and criticism,except you Doug LOL just kidding

What about the very purple/lavender albino "t-positive" Retic morph?. That sure isn't a "Caramel". I think many "Caramel albinos" are actually hypomelanistic..LOL!

In my opinion, when there is zero melanin within the melanocyte any longer, the remaining tyrosinase that would normally synthesize the melanin tends to give a purplish/lavender hue. But on the other hand, if there is still enough melanin within the cell it can look totally different, thus the coined terms "chocolates" and "caramels".

It seem that the problem that arises with lots of these morphs is,....at what point does it stop being one type, and start becoming another..LOL!.

Don't worry, I am just as confused and uncertain about alot of it as many others are..LOL!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Its one of those things that are tough to ID through pictures alone. That king is not abnormally light for Cal kings in Southern California. Because its in captivity, there's no saying what or where its from. Its most likely not locality specific. I've found lighter ones than that that are not blue eyed blonds or lavenders. Here's a light one from San Diego.

Your snake is very nice and if its not a hypo, that makes it no less than what it is.
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Your sig freaked me out. I thought my monitor was borked

This sort of stuff makes me wish for an AKC type body for herps. It'd be dang nice to actually have more stuff standardized name wise.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Thanks for all the imput, I'll go with the hypo, as he looks brighter than the pic. For 50$ I think I did ok and he has some nice Costal Ladies in my collection that I think I want to pair him up with!
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Boa- Hogg Island, Bull: 1 yellow, 4 normals, 1 Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, 1 Kingsville TX Red Bull, 2 Corns- Okeetee, SC, 2 Foxes- Western, 2 Gophers- Sonoran- Cochise Co. AZ, 2 Kings- Black Easterns (L.g.nigra) Todd Co. KY, 4 Coastal CA, 2 NC Eastern Chains (M from Union Co. & F from Mecklenburg Co.)2 Gray Banded 'Blair's', 2 Speckled, Harris Co. & Liberty Co. TX, Pines: 2 Carolina Northerns (M from NC, F from SC), 3 Louisiana (pure descendants of Terry Vandeventer stock), 1 Southern- faded pattern, 2 Pythons- Ball, Rats: 2 Black, Henderson Co. NC, 2 Western Green, Mt. Hopkins, Cochise Co. AZ, 11 Tarantulas, 4 Widows, 125 Orchid plants, 8 Outdoor Bonsai growing with the Roses, 10 African Violets, 20 assorted Tropical plants, 2 Freshwater Planted Aquariums

There's no doubt it's a pretty animal. But then, most kings are I guess, hence all of us posting here
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

For 50$ I think I did ok

For $50. you did GREAT! I would have bought that snake for 3x as much. And i am a cheapskate
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www.Bluerosy.com

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