VPI Axanthic Fire and Morph Coloration

[Alex85]

This guy is a VPI Axanthic Fire, adult breeder male, about one year old and 650 grams. I picked him up from Ken McAlexander at Ball Python Investments a few months ago and he’s put on some size and locked up with a few of my females. I can’t get over his colors! My other VPI Axanthics hold their colors well, but this guy is in different league.

Some people are quick to point out that Axanthics “brown out” as they age. But judging by photos taken of this VPI Axanthic Fire as a hatchling, I haven’t seen any “browning out” as he’s gotten older. Granted, it’s only been a year, but still he’s unique in that regard. It seems like many of the Axanthic combos I see carry the Pastel gene, such as Bumble Bee or Lemon Blast. But even if these aren’t Axanthic, nearly all of them naturally darken up as they age. Obviously there are variations of the same morph, some coloring more than others. But it seems like the best option for combating any BP from darkening up would be to add in morphs like Lesser, Sulfur, Fire, etc. that are known to stay lighter as they age. I’ve seen some awesome pics of John Dague’s Axanthic Firefly, and of other people that have Axanthic Lessers, Axanthic Fires, and an Axanthic Sulfur. Another example of a complimentary Axanthic gene seems to be Ghost, ie the Axanthic Ghost or True Ghost. All these morphs seem to remain awesome looking as they age.

So my ultimate question is: What do you think is more responsible for some Axanthics “browning out” with age… the Axanthic gene itself or the other morphs (such as pastel) that often go into Axanthics? I’m obviously biased, but I’d argue the latter. What do you all think?

[Andybill]

Yeah he's rad!

[brobertson]

I just love what fire does to axanthic. My ultimate axanthic project would revolve around a super fire ax male. Hot!

[BHReptiles]

I think a lot of it has to do with no only the quality of the axanthic, but also the other morphs that go into it.

Say you have a steller VPI axanthic that has babies with a pastel het VPI axanthic. You may get some awesome VPI axanthics, but if the pastel is sub par, it's going to brown out your axanthic. Same thing if you have a poor example of an axanthic, they will brown out too. God forbid you have a low quality axanthic with a low quality pastel. Might as well have gotten a normal LOL

[JD Constriction]

I would say that I haven't seen a "brown" Axanthic. But then again I had never seen a "brown" Pastel until I saw some low quality adults being sold at shows.

Axanthics are VERY hard to photograph. Adding dull yellow light to an animal that normally lacks yellow pigment is kind of defeating the purpose. Its very hard to capture what a good example of an Axanthic looks like in person. Pics honestly do rarely do them justice.

I think selective breeding brings out the best in any gene and Axanthics are no exception. Most genes darken with age. Others brighten with age. Combining a high quality example of "darkening" gene with a high quality example of a "lightning" gene and you have a pretty awesome combination as an adult.

Alex your Fire Axanthic is a GREAT example of that! I can't wait to see him after another year or so. Will no doubt GLOW!

Just Axanthics do darken much like any other morph as they age like Alex pointed out. But Axanthic is in a realm all on its own when it comes to what it can do to normally colorful animals.

In a sea of "yellow" snakes I'm a huge advocate of what Axanthic does that not many other combinations of genes can do. Silver, black, white, grey....all part of the Axanthic color pallet that can make some very pretty combos....

600g+ Firefly SK Axanthic



500g+ Bee SK Axanthic


400g+ Yellowbelly SK Axanthic


700g+ Spider SK Axanthic


Adult Breeder SK Axanthic Female


700g+ Super Pastel SK Axanthic

[nykea]

My Eve is "just" a plain VPI axanthic and until recently she kept her colours really well. Then suddenly within the last two sheds she started developing quite a lot of brownish tinge... She's still beautiful, but I'm definitely hoping the browning will not progress much! She is just ver 800g. Weight-wise she hasn't changed much within time as she didn't feel like eating for few weeks, now back to normal s hopefully she will get back on track son!

That's her a couple months ago:


And that's her now:



And her beautiful head...

[Emilio]

Two different pictures of my adult VPI.



I have to agree with John most of the time pics won't do axanthics justice. To the OP love your Fire Axanthic I might have go for that combo down the road.

[bigball23]

Wow! Outstanding looking snake! My next purchase is going to be an Axanthic, I've always wanted one. Great looking animal.
Thanks

[charlene.payne]

I have got to add some axanthics to my collection!

[Coleslaw007]

Hmm some very nice snakes. I'm really on the fence about axanthic. I LOVE the morph when it's truly greyscale, but I see so many brown ones. I'd only get into them if I purchased adults that were holding their colors.

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