Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking at buying a 2 year old JCP that has some nice yellow bands, however, the yellow scales are a darker gold in the middle of each scale, with lighter yellow around the edges (the head is brilliant yellow). Are the greatest odds that these scales will just keep getting darker with age, or is it too hard to predict with a 2 year old? Thanks in advance.

Most all jungle carpets will eventually have melanin overshadow the yellow scales to varying degrees. SOme turn almost solid black, while others have spotty black scales, or areas of brownish gold within the yellow scales. Generally speaking, even the very best of jungles with brilliant yellow will eventually lose that coloration to some form of brown or black. But like I said it varies in intensity. What did the parents look like?

Thanks Matt, appreciate the reply. I have no information on the parents, as the snake was bought when just a hatchling at a reptile show, and is now 2 years old. I am aware of the color darkening with age on a JCP, I was asking specifically about the time course. I have only owned 3 JCPs and in my limited experience any dark areas present on the yellow scales at age two just got darker. In your experience (or the experience of anyone else reading this), with a 2 year old JCP, does the "smudging" of the yellow scales get any lighter beyond that point? Here is a picture on my male JCP. He is four years old and each yellow scale is perfectly yellow, and each black scale is pitch black. I don't appreciate any darkening of the yellow scales, although the area between the yellow scales is black. He is a beauty...I love looking at him!
John

That is an incredible looking 4 year old JCP!

Most jungles I have seen started turning a little darker between ages two-three. Some will maintain great color with minimal black tipping, but like I said it generally does reach a point where it stops.