Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Every time my pre-'98 male sheds, it seems like his face is getting darker and darker below his mouth. Almost looks like he has stubble. This is not mouthrot or anything like that; merely a darkening of his skin. Is this common with aging Bps? Here are a few pics. Even the yellow loop of color behind his eyes is darkening!

First pic is his face, second is a full body shot. This male does have a tendency toward slight obesity, but I am not complaining because he was off feed all last breeding season.

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2.1 Ball pythons: Goblin, Ashes, and Bela
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator: Apache Fog
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog: Bene
1.0 Tiger salamander: Slasher
1.0 black kittycat, Inky
A bunch of Oscar cichlids, one giant pleco, huge breeding lot of "fancy" (read: deformed) goldfish, and me an' the boyfriend.

See what I mean?

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2.1 Ball pythons: Goblin, Ashes, and Bela
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator: Apache Fog
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog: Bene
1.0 Tiger salamander: Slasher
1.0 black kittycat, Inky
A bunch of Oscar cichlids, one giant pleco, huge breeding lot of "fancy" (read: deformed) goldfish, and me an' the boyfriend.

These are both sides of his face, in one composite pic.

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2.1 Ball pythons: Goblin, Ashes, and Bela
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator: Apache Fog
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog: Bene
1.0 Tiger salamander: Slasher
1.0 black kittycat, Inky
A bunch of Oscar cichlids, one giant pleco, huge breeding lot of "fancy" (read: deformed) goldfish, and me an' the boyfriend.

I notice that many of my older snakes have the same thing, maybe they jut darken down as they get older. around the mouth is where I really notice it.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

It's good to hear that someone else has witnessed it. I was wondering if something was wrong, though nothing appears to be infected and the skin feels fine. I am just another worried ball python mother!
But it actually looks kind of cool. Like when aging men get "distinguished" locks of gray or white hair on their head.
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2.1 Ball pythons: Goblin, Ashes, and Bela
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator: Apache Fog
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog: Bene
1.0 Tiger salamander: Slasher
1.0 black kittycat, Inky
A bunch of Oscar cichlids, one giant pleco, huge breeding lot of "fancy" (read: deformed) goldfish, and me an' the boyfriend.

you mean "distinguishing" locks of grey, white or no hair.

anyways, it's normal in bp's, and also in other snakes. my cousin has a snake (I dont know what kind) but it started off as a light brown/sandy color, and now it is a dark brown/mud color. It's ok, dont worry.
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--0.0.1 ball python
--0.1 orange cat
--2.0 dogs
--0.0.3 frogs
--3.0 beta fish
--and some cockroaches
--maxgmercer@yahoo.com--

Don't know about the darkening, but he's a pretty boy.
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Chad Bachman