color darkening question

I had this idea in mind for a while that maybe what im feeding my snakes and the water they drink is some how affecting their colors because they seem to be a little on the darkside than what they looked like before. where i buy mice is the only store around that sells feeders and i am currently breeding my own mice. I think it's just me though but has anybody thought about this or is it all genetic?

I feed mice that are fed dog food (store employee told me).
as for water i give them from the fridge since it is filtered.

Malnutrition can effect a BP's color, but I doubt that your feeder rodents/water are effecting your BP's color... especially not this quickly.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Malnutrition can effect a BP's color, but I doubt that your feeder rodents/water are effecting your BP's color... especially not this quickly.

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how can i assure that my bp's are getting enough nutrients needed? or how can i tell if their not getting the needed nutrients?

some ive had for 3-5 months and the shade of color looks darker or seems to be gettting darker and i been feeding mice from the same place for all my snakes.

As long as your snakes are growing and don't look thin they are getting more or less what they need.

Many morphs and normals get darker with every shed... very few get lighter or stay the same.

My guess is that your snakes are just developing. Malnutrition tends to drain color and give the snakes an overall grey look.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

As long as your snakes are growing and don't look thin they are getting more or less what they need.

Many morphs and normals get darker with every shed... very few get lighter or stay the same.

My guess is that your snakes are just developing. Malnutrition tends to drain color and give the snakes an overall grey look.

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that's good to know thanks.

Most of them darken with age. I bright pastel baby can end up looking almost normal as a adult

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Originally Posted by JaGv

I had this idea in mind for a while that maybe what im feeding my snakes and the water they drink is some how affecting their colors because they seem to be a little on the darkside than what they looked like before. where i buy mice is the only store around that sells feeders and i am currently breeding my own mice. I think it's just me though but has anybody thought about this or is it all genetic?

I feed mice that are fed dog food (store employee told me).
as for water i give them from the fridge since it is filtered.

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well if its the snake in your picture which i believe is a spider ball python, I can relate. My ball python gets dark right before he sheds but after the shed is as bright as he was when he was born. My picture is of him right after he shed.:)

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Originally Posted by kholmes25

well if its the snake in your picture which i believe is a spider ball python, I can relate. My ball python gets dark right before he sheds but after the shed is as bright as he was when he was born. My picture is of him right after he shed.:)

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no the 1 in the picture is bright still. i was reffering to other snakes i have. but after shed they seem to get darker