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Do Viper Boa's get darker as they grow older? I have a viper boa that went from very dark brown/light black to almost white. Does this mean this snakes colors are naturally white. I've had other Candoia who shed but I don't ever remember them going so light in color.

I guess a better question is if a viper boa sheds.. how long does it take them to go from their light color back to their very dark color? And what is it that makes some V.B light and some dark? Are they all light underneath?

Hi,
Most candoia especially ground dwelling sp. will turn dark in colour as the keeled scales will attract the dust and dirt from bark in the enclosure.

My C.b.australis will change colour from and olive green to black within about an hour, not sure if the vipers will do the same,

ALL CANDOIA HAVE THE ABILITY TO "CHANGE COLORS" ....THEY WILL LIGHTEN AND DARKEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES...ALL WILD CAUGHT CANDOIA SEEM DARK....THEIR FIRST SHEDS IN CAPTIVITY ARE AMAZING....THEIR DRAB COLORS CAN TURN INTO BRIGHT,SPECTACULAR COLORS AFTER THAT FIRST SHED FROM THE WILD...THEIR KEELED SCALES RETAIN MUD, RESINS, LEAF LITTER AND OTHER DIRT....BUT IF YOU HAVE A WHITE VIPER BOA...I WANNA BUY IT....LOL....JC

Well first my juvinile male viepr boa looked like this..

Beautiful Black and very rough scaled

and then he shed and now he looks like this

I knew he would lighten when he shed, but I had no idea he'd go from nearly black to white. How long does it take them to go back to dark? Is there any substrate I can use to make my snakes darker? Black food color lol? Is there a sun/ambient light mix that makes them darker? I also wonder how much is it the buildup of skin and how much is it these other components (heat, sun/light, substrate, and genetic pattern).

If anyone likes him i'm willing to trade for a much darker pattern snake. His pattern is much to light for me to want to keep him for an eventual breeder.

hmmm not sure why my pics didn't come up..

but here are the pics..

before shed
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/48/l_312184e4450c4dff8f4debc4c102ed9d.jpg

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/54/l_e075ffaff92848e884afec21add4a2a3.jpg

AND AFTER SHED

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/59/l_d00fc79007d642dbafe3c0f6ec2e7bb7.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/25/l_02b8c751df5841a699712587f592aa29.jpg

Wow! I love the colour change. it probably has to do with dirt buildup. it looks almost green in the first pictures! my viper boa went from a brown and tan to a black and grey once.