Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do they look different than "normals" as adults?
Thanks,
Perry

The amount of pink in the pattern in neonate and juvenile Argentines seems to be an indicator of how black the boa will be as an adult. Those with more of that nice powdery pink are more likely to be less black, and the sooty black babies are more likely to be less brown. I'm convinced there are pattern clues in babies also showing which will be deep black or have more contrast, I just can't pin them down. Interestingly, there is some sort of randomality involved in the whole pattern, color process.

Our current breeder pair of occidentalis has produced three big litters. The first had only a couple of babies with lots of pink and their second was all black. This recent litter was 70% pink babies. I suppose it would be possible to inbreed the bright pink babies and see what you would get, or if it is a simple recessive. Otherwise the pink pops up or not in the genetics lottery that goes on with each pairing.

There is also the so-called high-pink line, I think Bob DeGuerre made these first, as adults they keep a prominent smudge of plum-rouge color between the saddles. That is a line that has been proven and should not be confused with ordinary Argentines born with pink in the pattern. Those do also tend to be more brownish, though.

Here's a picture of one of my 2003 babies.

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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

.. this is a male from the same litter, notice how black his head is. That, along with the reduced pink and the clear pattern means (I think!) he will be a black, well-contrasted adult.

Hope this helps!
.

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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

photo!!! Looks like cookies and cream ice cream! Oh no, now I'm hungry!
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Greg
www.imageevent.com/gmherps

Sincere thanks for the information!
All the best,
Perry