Leopard?

[meowmeowkazoo]

I got this pretty girl at a show today. She was sold to me as a leopard het pied ringer. Frankly, I don't know much about this morph. I got her for $250, but online I am seeing leopard females going for $1500? How do you identify a leopard?

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/x...o/HPIM1699.jpg
http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/x...o/HPIM1700.jpg
http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/x...o/HPIM1701.jpg
http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/x...o/HPIM1702.jpg

[purplemuffin]

I can't answer your question, but I must say..I think your snake is LOVELY!! What a pretty girl!

[JulieInNJ]

I can't answer your question, but I must say..I think your snake is LOVELY!! What a pretty girl!

X2. She is a stunning little girl! GREAT pic up and, quite frankly, I'm jealous!

[LotsaBalls]

WOW! I would have snatched her up quick!!! That's a crazy looking snake! Can't help either but I would love to have her!

[Anna.Sitarski]

wow you did good is all i have to say

[OhhWatALoser]

The price is whats got me confused. why would someone sell something they can easily get a grand for 250. Sure its not a leopard sibling? I mean it does look like a leopardish to me, but then again when I think leopard I picture more banding and more spots, never seen one with a dorsal strip like that, but I haven't seen much with the morph, it might vary a lot more than I know.

Either way leopard is a visual het pied. The test will be when you breed her if some of the babies look normal pattern and some have her pattern. Either way, still a cool looking het pied.

[koloo921]

Even if she does not prove out to be a leopard, she is beautiful!! I would of snatched her up too Great find!!

[purplemuffin]

Nothing is normal about that patterning. It's not even pied-weird. I think you might have gotten a stupid awesome deal!

[meowmeowkazoo]

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies.

The price is confusing, but even if she's not a leopard, I think she was worth every penny. I did email Peter Kahl, since I've seen that he was the person who discovered the morph. Hopefully he will reply with some of the characteristics I should be looking for. Otherwise I will find out when I breed her.

I'm excited to have joined such a friendly forum, and will definitely be posting a lot.

[mainbutter]

You got a great deal there, she looks just like any leopard I've seen, and I have no doubts she was accurately represented (as long as it IS in fact female).

I don't know much about leopards.. but then again not many people do. I tend to lean towards the idea that the "leopard" is just an extreme visual difference that the het pied brings in. There's more than enough anecdotal evidence to support the idea that it isn't entirely a recessive trait.. "mildy incomplete dominant" may not be scientific, but may still at least get the gist across. To my eyes, this sometimes shows itself even more in combo animals.

Pair her up with a pied male if you can score one down the road, it will be well worth it!