Axanthics

An axanthic at just over 12 month old next to a normal for a comparison shot.
Someone mentioned earlier in the thread that most balls brown out to some degree with age, some more some less...This is very true for many morphs.
Axanthic - a mutation showing reduced or no yellow color, if people are turned off from the axanthic gene because of the browning out, then they are misreading the definition of the word, and "I" feel they are simply selling themselves short. But to each their own...
I love all the combination's this mutation has to offer :P
Now if I could only remember which on of these girls was the axanthic and which one was the normal i could place them back into their appropriate tubs...Maybe I'll just flip a coin?:rolleyes:

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/show...hp?i=36441&c=9
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/show...mageuser=12989

I think they look great as babies, and the combos look great. I've actually never seen an adult combo though, I've seen plenty of browned out adults as well as a few that still look pretty sweet, but never really seen too many older combos. I think that might be nice.

They just aren't on my list of favorite morphs ever though, even as babies! Sometimes they are nice, but if I had to choose I'd still pick a different morph just because it's what I like better!

But who knows, maybe someone will do an insane project that will change them in my eyes forever!

I voted for love them. However I am a bit biased. I started working with the gene in 2004 and have produced countless VPI Axanthics. I will take apicture tonight to post on this thread, as I currently have three Axanthic crosses (they will all be in the picture), and 7 adult VPI Axanthics. The three crosses that I will get a pic of are Axanthic Enchi, Axanthic Pin and Axanthic Pastel. I love all three, and all three of them are holding their color better than a straight Axanthic. I also have a Lesser Het, a Spider Het, a Bumblee Bee Het, a Mojave Het, some Spinner Poss Hets and 2.2 Double Het Axanthic Pieds that I produced. I think the key with the Axanthic gene is going to be the crossing that is done with them. Some of the brighter genes are going to make the Axanthics look better. I can't wait to start crossing mine even more. I am thinking that the Lesser Enchi Axanthic is going to be insane. Hopefully I can do it next year.

Pics coming this eveneing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Russ Lawson

The thing is that just like any other ball python mutation, there are good examples and bad examples of axanthics. Additionally, because of their colouration, axanthics are exceedingly difficult to photograph due to the simple fact that the darker gray on them appears brown in yellow light. It doesn't help that while cruising classifieds or forums, you typically tend to find a lot more lower quality axanthics with some browning than exceptional ones. The same is true for pastels and some other mutations. However, I have seen at least a few axanthics in photographs and in person that are absolute stunners at adult sizes - including a breeder female I own. To completely overlook this mutation because there are a lot of "ugly" ones out there seems silly to me, but I guess it just takes actually seeing an exceptional example of an axanthic to make believers out of some. I personally think as far as ball python colour mutations go, it's pretty tough to beat a nice example of an axanthic.

---

This thread has some pics on it of 3 of my axanthics. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...astel+axanthic

Helen truly is grey, black and white as well as Jacki the pastel axanthic. The other male I purchased is pretty brown. Thats why he will go. I know of the axanthics we have sold they are not the best we have produced. Those stay here to improve our breeding population. It's the same with every morph. As we refine our breeding population our animals will look nicer and nicer. I guess whats important is you have to like what you work with. And we do! So if you don't like axanthics that is fine with me, personally I don't like albinos so :confuzd:.

However if you see a good axanthic in person I think it may change your mind. I know when I saw a lavender albino in person I added them to my must have list.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emilio

Hundreds are you serious?;) Your hard pressed to find axanthics at even the biggest shows.

Kingpythons thats a hott girl man!!!!

---

I find that strange. they pretty common up here. I was at a pet shop a few months ago that had 4 or 5 for sale, and the last expo I was at (it was pretty small) was the first I’ve been to in a long time I don't remember seeing at least a couple. I mean there not spiders but there is still a fair amount around. there apparent popularity is what prompted me to post this poll in the first place.

That's true, I see quite a few axanthics here. But you wouldn't know it by looking at them, as the ones sold are about as close to normal as you can get. I remember I was very excited about the morph as I had just seen pictures online, I showed my boyfriend who told me that picture must have been photoshopped! See an axanthic in person next to a normal...I actually thought the normal was the axanthic. The only real difference was it was a very dark dark axanthic, it looked more like a sable than anything. I wouldn't have been surprised if the breeder had been lying and it was a normal! :O But since then I have seen better examples in person. Still nothing like I see in pictures though! Maybe I still haven't seen the best of the best in person yet

I would like to see more things like super pastel yellow belly axanthics. Since axanthic means no yellow, it seems like having a high yellow snake would make for an almost white snake? Sure with some brown in it, but the paleness would be interesting. Or maybe like a firefly axanthic, having the fire in the mix to help keep the snake lighter as it ages!

I've only seen a small amount of photos of a pastel axanthic, and would be interested in seeing more at different ages. That might be a project I would follow!

I think Axanthics are great and they are a huge part of my collection...The combo potential with them is just getting tapped into...There's still so much to be done with them...

Here's my Pastel VPI Axanthic male has a hatchling and breeding at almost 2 years old...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...2009/TU002.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...AxxYBHetAx.jpg

I can't wait to make some combos with these two guys either!

Pinstripe VPI Axanthic
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...09/2010/Ax.jpg

Black Pastel VPI Axanthic
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...astel_7356.jpg

Here's a few pics if VPI Axanthics and Pastel VPI Axanthics I have produced...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...male_axan1.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...AxandVPIAx.jpg

I can certainly pic the Normal out of this pic!!! LOL
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...lutch_8931.jpg

VPI Axanthic female on eggs
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...nthic_6757.jpg

I love axanthics

My VPI is holding his colour well, he does tend to go 'normal' duting the shedding process but comes out all nice and spangly b/w once done:D

Also the combos out there with the axanthic are awesome:gj:

I took a photo of my female VPI axanthic the other day, but forgot to post it here. This was the best one of her I could get, and it still isn't quite true to how grey she actually is.

http://www.russreptiles.com/images/g...anthic02_1.jpg

Very nice Russ.



droid!!!!