How do I pick a baby Pastel that will retain it's color

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Best answer IMO is to look for one at least 300g to see how it is coming along.

Citrus and Blonde seem to hold up well on average.

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Thanks Jinx. This is a really good idea. The kids really love the babies, so that it what we were thinking. But getting a more established snake that has started to display more of it's adult coloration might be a good plan.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

Thanks for the feedback everyone. That is the debate I'm having. Do I just buy the brightest baby pastel I can find and hope it stays bright or do I spend the extra cash and get a Super or a Bumblebee or something. I think I will just find the brightest one and hope for the best. We will love it regardless of it's final coloration and will probably add more to our "reptile room" as time goes by. It is fun watching the passion my kids have for their animals and being part of it. I'm not a big fan of snakes but I have really fallen in love with BP's as we've done research on them and spent time with them at local shows and Petstores.

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And kudos for you for letting your kids get into reptiles.
Most parents are not as understanding. Education is everything and its great to see new snake owners! They are amazing creatures and you could be starting a lifelong hobby for them and you :P
Bps are like chips I'm warning you!

A lot of Bees seem to brown out as well. If you really want it to keep bright, get a Super, and even then there is not a guarantee.

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Originally Posted by mues155

And kudos for you for letting your kids get into reptiles.
Most parents are not as understanding. Education is everything and its great to see new snake owners! They are amazing creatures and you could be starting a lifelong hobby for them and you :P
Bps are like chips I'm warning you!

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Thanks. We started last year with 1 Leopard Gecko and within a few months we were up to 4. The kids have always wants a snake, but my wife had refused and I was not a big fan. I've changed my stance and I'm sure my wife will over time. It is really fun because my kids (especially my 9yr old Son) have done so much work and research to learn about the Geckos and the BP's to make sure we are providing the best care for them. And it is really fun to share the hobby with their friends too.

Browning out is going to happen, what varies is how bad. First ask to look at the parents, this can give you an idea of what your snake MAY look like before. Doesn't necessarily mean it will, as I've seen ugly Pastels from beautiful parents.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

Thanks. We started last year with 1 Leopard Gecko and within a few months we were up to 4. The kids have always wants a snake, but my wife had refused and I was not a big fan. I've changed my stance and I'm sure my wife will over time. It is really fun because my kids (especially my 9yr old Son) have done so much work and research to learn about the Geckos and the BP's to make sure we are providing the best care for them. And it is really fun to share the hobby with their friends too.

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Thats so great! Teaches your son how to take responsibility to do research and maintain the health of a living creature. Truly a great thing to experience as a child growing up, and a great family hobby.
You will find nothing but support here! :gj:

Your not going to escape it. Browning out will happen. A bright baby will still brown out. Some brighter ones brown out even more because they were so bright as a baby and the difference from when they were juveniles to adults will be obvious.

When I got mine I tried to get one with no orange or brown. This is what I ended up with:

Hatchling

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0002.jpg

About 650 grams

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/671fac01.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/324785d0.jpg

So far so good... I hope she continues to hold her color. I've got big plans for her (she is also 100% het clown)

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

When I got mine I tried to get one with no orange or brown. This is what I ended up with:

Hatchling

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0002.jpg

About 650 grams

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/671fac01.jpg

She is awesome. She is exacly what I am looking for.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...a/324785d0.jpg

So far so good... I hope she continues to hold her color. I've got big plans for her (she is also 100% het clown)

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You want to pick one that has the most blushed out head that you can find, and the least amount of orange. Its head should not be confused with a normal's head.

Someone mentioned that there are lemons that look really bad, and there are - from those breeders who didn't selectively breed.

A well bred lemon pastel still will knock the socks off of you. I had someone offer me $1500 for my adult lemon pastel male when lemon males were going for $500 several years ago - because they thought he was a super. When they realized he was just a single gene pastel - they tried to buy him off of me.

At seven years old - he has browned out some, but below his browning line is still vibrant yellow and he still produces some of the nicest pastels (I do selectively breed). I just produced a clutch and sold a male out of it for $200 that has ZERO orange in him just a few days ago. Hatched on Sunday, spoken for on Tuesday once the interested buyer saw him and price agreed upon.

This was not a new person in the hobby either - this was someone who recognized quality and has seen the consistency of the quality of my male (he also owns two female lemons from last year).