Difference between a Mojave and a Mystic?

[BlueMoonExotics]

I have been trying to read about the difference between a Mystic and a Mojave and there doesn't really seem to be any for sure answers about it. Apparently even reputable breeders have a hard time with IDing them when compared to a Mojave. I'm currently in the market for a Mystic female and I think this one is really pretty.... but I couldn't find anything other than an inquiry post on the BOI about the seller so I figured I would post up pictures here of the snake in question and see what you guys and gals thought:

[Stewart_Reptiles]

With pictures it's not always easy, pictures with bad lightning (such as the one above) will make it a lot harder to capture the true coloration of the animal.

With mystic vs mojave it really comes down to the coloration, mojave have a distinct green hue that you will not find on mystics that's the easy tell tell sign.

[BlueMoonExotics]

It looks like the pictures above are taken in natural light (partially shaded). Maybe getting some pictures in direct light would help? I'm not really sure about the "green hue" but I'll probably see what you mean when I put the 2 side by side. Unfortunately that would be after the purchase lol. Thanks for the reply! I would like to think that all sellers of live animals are good honest people, but that's not always the case.

[SlitherinSisters]

I agree, bad lighting could make it really hard to tell the difference. Typically mystics don't have as much yellow and are little more dull.

[BlueMoonExotics]

I asked the seller for some pictures in direct lighting and also asked who produced her so I can get as much information as possible before I make the purchase. I'll post the new pictures when I get them.

[MarkS]

I would like to think that all sellers of live animals are good honest people, but that's not always the case.

Actually 99% of the time that IS the case which is why I don't really like places like the BOI. Places like that tend to make it sound like half the people in this hobby are criminals and that's just NOT the case.

As for Mojaves VS Mystics, the Mystics are darker. I remember speaking to the guy who discovered the Mystics when he first started producing them. He wasn't sure himself what he had when he imported that first animal. He couldn't make up his mind if it was a new gene or just a particularly dark Mojave. It wasn't until he had produced several clutches of them that he knew for sure that he had something different. The same thing happend with Ralph Davis when he started producing his Phantoms, he thought it was an ugly Mojave, but it turned out to be something different. I think most people now believe that Phantoms and Mystics are exactly the same thing, just different lines of the same mutation.

I'm not sure about the 'green hue' in Mojaves It's not really green but I can see where people would explain it like that. They do have a different look to them then the mystics but it's kind of hard to describe.

[don15681]

I have phantoms. all my phantoms have dark heads. not blush heads like that one. I've seen mystic hatchlings and they look close to my phantom hatchlings. not saying that isn't a mystic. maybe there's lines with blushed heads. but be careful, mistakes are made with these. not breeders trying to rip someone off, but mistakes.

[BlueMoonExotics]

Actually 99% of the time that IS the case which is why I don't really like places like the BOI. Places like that tend to make it sound like half the people in this hobby are criminals and that's just NOT the case.

I would agree with you on that. Most people that get into animals in the first place would have some kind of connection with them I would think. It's not really the best way to make money. Still, I do appreciate the BOI for those few that are in it for the wrong reasons or eventually turn out that way. Normally I wouldn't hesitate quite as much on a purchase with someone that doesn't have any good guy posts. I'm all for giving someone new a chance. But in this case, since it is such a subtle morph and mistakes DO happen commonly, I'd like to know for sure that this animal is what I'm paying for or at least know that if it turns out otherwise... the seller would fix it once a problem is known. There are pros and cons to the BOI but I have to admit that I'm glad there is a place I can go to at least lessen my chances of getting ripped off.

[ClarkT]

I'm uncertain if that's a mystic or a mojave. What does the seller say the pairing was from? If she comes from a mystic x mojave clutch, that would sway my mind from taking the chance.

[satomi325]

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