Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've always been more a Carpets and Chondros type of girl but just recently decided I want to purchase my first Bull Snake after interacting with a huge adult female that's a recent addition to my local herp shop.(What an attitude! lol)
I've since researched a little and am absolutely in love with the coloring of Stillwater Hypo Bulls. They're stunning. Now I realize that Stillwater is the locality but are they hypomelanistic by definition or is the hypo part a morph of a normal Stillwater Bull Snake? It's all very confusing.
and if they are hypomelanistic by definition, does their color improve with age? I know it's usually the opposite care but I ask because I found one locally and it's coloring is not nearly as impressive as 99% of the pictures I've seen online. Any input would be appreciated

I'm guessing that you have not received a reply yet because the pit experts here have retreated from this thread due to a recent flame conflict. So I will give it a shot.

Stillwater hypo bulls are bulls with a certain "look" that results from a simple recessive mutation. So you would call this a morph. There has been a lot of outcrossing from the original line, often referred to as the Ginter line, such that there is debate over what can be called Stillwater hypo. Hypomelanistic seems a poor term for these snakes, since they typically have a fair amount of black coloring, particularly in blotches on the neck and in posterior bands. The black neck blotches may not always be present, but I think of them as part of the classic Stillwater hypo look. There are bulls from some localities with much less black that are not hypos but just normal light colored snakes.

Like almost all pits, Stillwater hypos do develop more color with age. So choosing a baby that will become a knockout is a crap shoot. Experienced breeders may be able to pick better. I have a snake from the original line that is a nice looking animal, but I would not call her an all star. BTW, I think it is common for Stillwater hypos to be calm and relaxed in their demeanor, unlike your herp shop pit. Hope this helps.

I'm guessing people are busy during the holidays.

Growth of FB has put many of these forums on life support.

I'm the proud owner of 2 hypos, not from the Stillwater locale, but in my experience, my babies have changed drastically from hatchling to sub adults. I may be biased, but they are stunning animals. The cool thing about hypos is the variation of the look.