Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've recently bought a high yellow reduced ball python. I was under the assumption that she was just a pretty normal. Recently she has shed though, and there was no pattern or pigment on it. Now, I do have other balls, and boas so I do know what sheds should look like normally. Hers though, is clear, I even held it up with a normal shed to compare, and for the life of me can't find any pigment or patterns whatsoever. Does this mean I was actually lucky enough to get a ghost by chance??? She doesn't have exactly the same characteristics has ghosts that you see, such as the reduced or faded color. Pics available upon request.

Could this be her first shed? I would want to wait and see if she keeps shedding clear and gets more ghostly as she grows. Then breed her to a genetic ghost and then you will know for sure. I've heard of ghost hatchlings slipping through before. Apparently they aren't as attractive as say 1,000 gram ghosts.

I'm hoping I was lucky. I did notify the person who sold it to me, who in return got it farm hatched in Africa. I'm sure this can't be her first shed even though she is VERY small too. But when she is old enough to breed I'll have to do some investigative work and see if the genetics ring true or are proven. Thanks for the help!

There are a bunch of different hypos out there. People claim orange, yellow, green and butterscotch hypos, as well as "desert hypos." And then, two hypos bred together sometimes don't have compatible genes. Maybe yours is yet another strain with different coloration than the rest?

Pics would be nice. I know even as a hatchling, my green ghost boy was very green and grey. He has gotten better, but not by much! Good luck with it at any rate.