Opal the Pastel Champagne

Long time lurker, first time poster!

Recently brought this girl home, my first ball. Excited, to say the least. I think she's perfect! She seems to be adjusting really nicely, and took her first meal without a hitch.

I'm curious, because I haven't really come across it in any photos - are odd-eyed balls a thing? One of her eyes is a bright grey-blue, with the pupil clearly visible, while the other is very dark. Very interested to see if they'll change any as she gets older.


http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...15_03_30-1.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...15_03_30-4.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...15_03_30-5.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...15_03_31-1.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...15_03_30-6.jpg

Dichromatic eyes isn't unheard of in cats and dogs but I've never seen it in a snake before. That looks really neat to have the one black and the other not!

Hi Snake Judy, welcome to the forum.

You have a pretty girl there!

That is interesting about her eyes. Just a few months ago, my adult Normal had only one eye turn milky/gray as if going into shed. But she was fasting and not shedding during this period. I guess her systems were all messed up.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Hi Snake Judy, welcome to the forum.

You have a pretty girl there!

That is interesting about her eyes. Just a few months ago, my adult Normal had only one eye turn milky/gray as if going into shed. But she was fasting and not shedding during this period. I guess her systems were all messed up.

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Thanks!

Yeah, both of her eyes are clear and bright and seem healthy. I do hope it's a trait she'll keep as she grows, because it's pretty neat.

I've hatched a couple champagnes with different colored eyes, one was a pastel champ and the other was a super pastel champ. Both were like yours, one blue eye and one black eye. I kept one for a couple years and the eyes didn't change at all. Very cool snake by the way.

My Champagne's eyes are completely black. You can't tell when its going to shed either because the eyes don't get milky. But its probably because of the pastel gene that the eye color only effected one.

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Originally Posted by Dave Green

I've hatched a couple champagnes with different colored eyes, one was a pastel champ and the other was a super pastel champ. Both were like yours, one blue eye and one black eye. I kept one for a couple years and the eyes didn't change at all. Very cool snake by the way.

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Oh very cool! Thanks for the info.

Beautiful animal! I think by looking at it, it appears to be a form of what's known as "chimera". Meaning different genes on opposite sides of a organisms body and presenting as different colors ,and affects hair color, limb size. In a more serious form chimera can affect internal organs like the liver and the heart becoming fatally problematic. It's seen in salamanders, frogs and toads also. :gj:

More on the "chimera" phenomenon. An animal chimera is a single organism that is comprised of two or more different populations of genetically distinct cells that originated from different zygotes involved in sexual reproduction. Animal chimeras are produced by the merger of multiple fertilized eggs. Also can present with different eye color and differing hair growths on opposite sides of the body.:salute:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

More on the "chimera" phenomenon. An animal chimera is a single organism that is comprised of two or more different populations of genetically distinct cells that originated from different zygotes involved in sexual reproduction. Animal chimeras are produced by the merger of multiple fertilized eggs. Also can present with different eye color and differing hair growths on opposite sides of the body.:salute:

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Chimeras are also exceptionally rare and incredibly difficult to correctly identify without testing. Things like heterochromia are commonly called an indicator of chimerism, but it isn't nearly so simple nor is it a definitive sign.