While it is true very young vanillas are darker than older animals, you can usually spot them easily anyway. I say usually because there are poor quality examples out there that can be mistaken for a normal at first. A good quality vanilla will have a very distinct headstamp, even as a hatchling. Here is one of my hatchling Vanillas so you can see what I mean:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...anillaMale.jpg
That headstamp tells you for sure that is no normal. At least, no normal I've ever seen. :P
Here is another picture of him, you can see how going off his color alone you might be fooled.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps16221765.jpg
It is a shame your friend ended up with just a normal. But before you send him on his way, make sure it is a he. If that's a female, even as a normal she's light and lovely, and bred to the right males could make some very nice babies.
Gale