What distinguishes a Specter from a Normal?

[SquamishSerpents]

I'm wondering as I was JUST introduced to the "superstripe." I've done a few quick searches and can't really find much info on Specters.

Do they have distinct markings that tell you it's a Specter?

[Royal Hijinx]

They are VERY difficult to distinguish, especially in pictures.

Here are some pics of my female from another thread:






Talking to Jeremy at Fire-Ball reptiles, it seems that the head spot, striped tail and overall color are what he sees to pick them out in a clutch. With that said, some folks also look at the belly. There seems to be some variability even in these markings. I would not buy a Specter from someone other than a trusted source, who is producing Super Stripes.

[SquamishSerpents]

Do you mean the head spot as in that little tiny darker spot? Or the 2 lighter spots on either side of her head/neck area?

BTW thanks for the pics, also I am wondering because I have a normal that I *think* might be special. She has a little marking where he pattern starts, and the guy we got her from said it seems to be passed down to some of her offspring. We haven't had a clutch from her yet, though.

Maybe I'll put up an Is This A Morph thread.

[SquamishSerpents]

And yeah I would assume they're hard to distinguish in photos if "overall coloration" is a huge factor, as 99% of the time I find it impossible to capture a snakes true colors on camera.

[Royal Hijinx]

I mean the lighter stamp in the middle of the head around the dark spot.

If the snake was not sold as a Specter, it is VERY unlikely to be one. The best bet to prove it is to breed it to a Ivory.

But, they can be quite variable, as some folks have ones that look more YB, and some look pretty much Normal. Lineage is pretty key here.

[SquamishSerpents]

Yeah I'm not trying to confirm she's a Specter, but if anyone thinks there's a possibility, maybe I'll keep my eyes peeled for somebody who would like to do a breeding loan with an Ivory or something.

Do you know which breeders are working with Spectors/have worked with them in the past?

[MarkS]

Specters look 'kind of' but 'not quite' like a yellow belly. The whole reason the super stripes came about in the first place was from people breeding known yellow bellies to imported animals that looked 'almost' like a yellow belly. They thought they were trying to prove their wild caught animals to be het ivories and they turned out to be something else entirely.

[DShaw]

W with the head spot though my snake I assume has one as well


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[SquamishSerpents]

Here's her thread: My First "Is This a Morph??? Thread"

[Royal Hijinx]

W with the head spot though my snake I assume has one as well


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Is this supposed to be a pic of your Specter, or are you saying that since your snake has a head spot you might have a Specter?

There are several morphs with a lightened head spot and it is just ONE of the features some use to pick out Specters.

If yours is a known Specter, some better pics would be great to add to the pool.