Color changes at night?!

The other day I was in my snake room around midnight and I pulled out my female mahogany. I was immediately blown away. She had these gorgeous velvety black tones and bright orange markings. She was iridescent (more so than usual), covered in blue and green. It looked like someone had photoshopped my snake. She wasn't the only one, though. I took out my bumblebee het red girl and got something similar. She was bright neon yellow with the whitest sides you could ever imagine. The cinnamon fire looked like her markings were melting together, tones of cream, brown and pink blending perfectly. I couldn't believe these were the same snakes! I was so shocked I went and checked all of their tubs to see if they had shed without me noticing, but no. The next day I went to check on them again and they looked like they normally do. Anyone have an explanation as to why this happened? Is it normal for ball pythons to turn into mood rings?

Never had a snake change colors but I need some of what ever your on lol

I have seen this also, albeit much less extreme. It seems more noticeable in lighter colored snakes. Maybe, if there's a next time, take pics?

Other species of pythons are more dramatic. I understand Irian Jaya carpet pythons can be especially dramatic in their day vs nighttime coloration. Papuan pythons change color, as well, although I gather also with mood (in addition to time and temperature.) I've seen my JCP appear more or less intense in her yellow, although with her, it appears to be related to mood and/or temperature rather than time of day.

I'll definitely be taking pictures if there's a next time. I'm a bit of a night owl, so I'm sure I'll end up in my snake room late again. I was too shocked to think of getting the camera, haha. I found it was most dramatic on my darkest snake, my mahogany, as it seemed to raise the contrast between black and brown somehow.

And the only thing I'm on is ball pythons. They are pretty addicting, though. :rolleyes: