Pastel secrets

No, I dont have any... I'm looking for some :)
I'm in the market for a pastel, and I'm wondering what to look for when it comes to getting a snake that isn't going to fade out. anyone know?

There's two "lines" of pastels- VPI and Lemon. I never really "got it" until I was able to actually hold a VPI in my left hand, and a Lemon in my right hand (thanks Adam!). The Lemons seem to have a brighter yellow and a sharper black in their patterns, with a sharp contrast between the two colors. VPI seem to have a duller yellow with more blushing around the back and neck areas.

As far as fading out, I don't think there's many pastels out there that won't fade their bright yellow as they get older. I think I've seen that the lemons hold more yellow, while the blushing on VPIs patterns really come out as they get older.

Both of those lines are compatible, and both lines will produce really really nice pastels and really really dull pastels. My advice to you is to try to see each of the lines in person before you buy, and just decide on which one you personally like better!

For example:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ewBpics004.jpg
I *think* he's got more VPI lineage in him, but the busyness of his pattern kinda says Lemon/Graziani or however you spell that. There's just so much variation in the two lines. We'll see how his yellow holds up, he's an '05 and is about 350 grams in that pic.

Just goes to show that you've just got to hunt down the one YOU like the best.

He's gorgeous! I love that peachy fade near the belly. I notice that Ive been more drawn to Graziani pastels than the bells. I thought I ran across something from adam actually that said something along the line "not all pastels will dull out as they gt older. you just have to know what to look for!" and I wanna know what to look for :)

If I'm not mistaken, more of the Lemon line hold their yellow, so your chaces are better there.

Kavmon has a nice pastel that has held a lot of nice yellow on it's sides:
(mwyah hah hah, stolen from his gallery! is that legal?)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...9/DSCN0578.JPG

You mention VPI and Lemon, why do I hear others called, bells, Graziani line, and blondes

from what Ive "heard" blondes hold their color best...

that's my little girl, she's a vpi line. one thing to look for is the amount of fading on the back of the heads and dorsal. the more it is faded, the better chances of a brighter pastel that holds their color in adulthood.


vaughn

faded as in darker? Wow, I was looking at them and, using my senses, thinking the exact opposite!

Here are some pics of my Graziani male...just took them a few minutes ago....he shed early last week so I have been wanting to take some pics...

http://danielhillreptiles.com/collec...es/pastel1.JPG

http://danielhillreptiles.com/collec...es/pastel2.JPG

http://danielhillreptiles.com/collec...es/pastel3.JPG

I think you have to determine what you want in a pastel before buying. You said that you would like it to keep its color...every line has the potential to produce awesome pastels and low quality pastels...and unless you buy the pastel as an adult, you can only guess what it will 'grow up' to look like...

IMO the decision of what pastel to buy needs to be based on other criteria too.... what other criteria do you have for a pastel? Do you like alot of blushing or little/no blushing? Busy pattern or more reduced? etc.....If you plan on breeding and want good stock, you could ask all kinda questions.....What do the siblings of the pastel look like? were they all high quality pastels or was yours the only 'nice' one out of the bunch?..... If you are planning on breeding for supers, have you looked pictures of the super pastels produced by this line of pastel?....

....with that said....do alot of research...look at as many pics and as many in person as you can....and buy from a quality breeder ;)

good points daniel, the lines don't matter that much to me, get the best looking pastel to you, that you can afford.

dizzie, by faded i mean lighter heads and dorsals. when looking at hatchlings you might see one or two that have an overall lighter look, almost like a super.


vaughn