Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As we have all seen, most bloods exhibit head color changes on an infrequent, periodic basis. Below is a photo I took the other day of one of my largest female brongersmai. She typically shows a dark gray, unmarked, head coloration. On rare occasions she will show the head coloration seen below for a day or two. Has anyone heard a reasonable explanation for this color transformation? I have heard a few, but nothing that could be substantiated with any facts or study data. Although I don’t have any hard data, and just from my experience with bloods over the last 20 years, it does appear to me that brongersmai of Malaysian origin tend to show these color transformations to a greater degree than those of Sumatran origin. Just interested in what this group thinks or has heard on the subject. Thanks,

Kelly

My male blood mostly experiences this really LIGHT head after a shed.My theory is,when the animal gets really hot the whole body including the head lightens up .A very similiar phenomenon occures with BOA'S.It also occures on a super humid day.Hence higher humidity carries more heat.Just my theory.

not overall lighter apperance.

Dark greyish/brown.Notice the neck color a little darker than crome head phase.

I took this pic last week.

Sorry I don't know how to multi pic.

n/p

Hey,
This is Tag's head color about 20 minutes ago. I shot this to demonstrate his head color versus his sisters, seen in the background with the darker head. Tag's head color is predominantly a lighter pink color, versus Nikita's head color, which is mostly a darker grey color. They too, tend to vary their head color depending on the amount of heat in the cage. Their head colors tend to be lighter during the day versus night.

-Angel

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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

A few of my Borneo's tend to do the same thing, tho not quite to that degree. I always thought it was the light on during the day.. but that also makes more heat so six of one half a dozen of the other. Nice pics guys!

J
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

I had heard of the temperature idea but have not noticed it to be consistent with my group, and have not seen any diurnal variations either. It usually occurs just a few days a month and I have not seen any pattern with it. The other odd thing is that the female brongersmai below is the only one I have ever had that has never shown a head color change in the 8 years I've had her. Thanks again,

Kelly