VPI Axanthic x Mojave morph, adult expectations

I have read that axanthics tend to brown out as they age, though some strains are more likely to keep their black and white coloration. I have a 5.5 month old VPI Axanthic Mojave morph with beautiful silver and black coloration. I'm not finding much information on a Mojave-axanthic morph but am wondering if anyone has information about their coloration as adults. I’ve read that VPI axanthics are sometimes known to not brown out but am wondering if the addition of Mojave will make him more likely to brown out. Also when does browning out usually occur in axanthics? In the grand scheme, i know it's relatively unimportant what color he is but I am curious as to what to expect. He will be loved regardless. ��

Don't know if anyone has said it but welcome....and Happy New Year!

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

Don't know if anyone has said it but welcome....and Happy New Year!

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Thank you! Happy new year to you!

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Originally Posted by Taying

I have read that axanthics tend to brown out as they age, though some strains are more likely to keep their black and white coloration.

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Originally Posted by Taying

I’ve read that VPI axanthics are sometimes known to not brown out

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VPI was often touted as being "better" at not browning out but truth of the matter is that there is no one line of Axanthic that is more likely to keep its colouration. That said, there are some people who have worked heavily with selectively breeding some Axanthic lines that have adults that maintain their colour to a much higher degree. JD Constrictors is an excellent example of this, he works with TSK line Axanthics

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Originally Posted by Taying

I'm not finding much information on a Mojave-axanthic morph but am wondering if anyone has information about their coloration as adults.

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I do not know about Axanthic Mojaves specifically but I am inclined to believe that the combo will hold the Axanthic colouring a bit better than a non-Mojave would. See below for the "why"

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Originally Posted by Taying

Also when does browning out usually occur in axanthics?

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Typically you are going to start seeing it around the time your animal goes through its ontogenetic colour change (yes, balls do have an ontogenetic colour change). Usually this happens at around the time the animal hits 500-700g but it can hit sooner.



Something to understand about Axanthic morphs... They are not actually axanthic and are probably better viewed as hypoxanthic. Nick Mutton gives a pretty decent explanation during the Genetic Round Table episode of MPR a couple months back (I would link it but the firewall here will not let me go to BlogTalkRadio, should be easy to google it though)

This is a bit of an unpopular opinion in many circles but there is sound reasoning behind it and it especially makes sense when you consider the browning out factor. When these animals go through their ontogenetic change, the rate of/level of expression and the deposition of pigments changes. So when the "adult" pigmentation process starts you will begin to see the browning out as melanin and xanthin pigments interact.

My favorite line is the TSK.


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