Help!!! Is this a Childrens or Spotted?

[IguanaMama]

I bought this off kingsnake as a Childrens python, but the more I look at pictures the more I'm starting to think it's a Spotted python. I never really looked at spotted pythons before, and at the show I go to I almost always see babies, hardly ever adult snakes so I never know what a particular type of snake is going to look like as an adult. From what I've read, however, a Childrens shouldn't be quite this patterned as an adult. My male is nearly patternless. This snake is HIGHLY iridescent. Are spotted pythons iridescent like Childrens are?

[IguanaMama]

It would help if I added the pictures, wouldn't it?

[Patrick Long]

That is such a close species....both are in the same Genus, so sometimes it can be rather hard to tell.

If I HAD to guess I would guess Spotted

Children's pythons tend to be a bit brighter, more red

http://www.inlandreptile.com/spotted.html

http://www.inlandreptile.com/childrens.html



Also forgot to say...childrens usually stay pretty small...I think the size of your snake leans towards the larger spotted as well.

[IguanaMama]

Yeah, I know. They are so close, but I have to know because she is a mature female and I have a mature male and I want to breed them. Are there any particular identifying marks? She is so gorgeous, but I like to keep breeding pairs or trios only, I have no interest in one of this one of that.

[IguanaMama]

UGH, I'm feeling a bit blue right now. She measures at least 45 inches, and that's too big for a Childrens. This is why I hate mail ordering snakes. Let me write to this guy and see what he says, but I have a feeling I'm going to be out some good $$s.

[Michelle.C]

Actually, most species in the US are a Antaresia maculosa x Antaresia childreni anyway. They were crossed when they first started being imported (before the species were properly identified). Given the lines are quite a bit cleaner now, but that doesn't fix the damage already done. There are also pure lines, but most are a distant cross.

If I remember correctly, Spotteds have a more irregular pattern (spot) and they tend to be much darker as adults. Children's are much lighter adults, with more of a round pattern (spot).

Of course every species does have an exception, and I'm just stating general appearance. I concur though. Judging by appearance, I'd say that animal leans heavily towards being a Spotted.

[AjBalls]

Spotted....

[IguanaMama]

Ugh. I wrote to the guy and told him for one thing, that she is big for a childrens at 45 inches and he wrote me back saying that he has had childrens that were five feet.

I wrote him back saying that if he's telling me he had childrens that were five feet he's telling me he doesn't know his snakes.

I have a feeling this is going to turn ugly.

[IguanaMama]

Well, he refunded my money..... I hate when deals go bad, but after spending a few hours googling spotted and childrens, I was more and more convinced this is a spotted. She's a pretty snake, but just doesn't fit into my plans.

[Jamik]

Doesn't look like my Children's at all, so I think you were right that it was a spotted. My girl is a baby, but she is much redder in color than your snake. How old is your male? How big is he weight/length wise? I'm just being nosy, sorry. I just can't wait for this girl to grow up and am wondering how big she will get. Good luck finding a nice female!