Opinions: Which Lesser reigns supreme?

This season I've produced lessers from two clutches with very different appearances. Now, I thought I knew what constituted a 'good lesser', but I've received compliments on all 3 animals from different people, suggesting they thought each one was really good (or even, the best they've seen). Now, I'm curious...how do you judge a high-quality lesser from a low-quality lesser? I will post pictures of the 3 lessers here, and ask, which one do you think is the best quality lesser? Answer that in the poll, and then explain why you think it's the best. (I think this could be very interesting, not just for me, but for many).

Lesser 1:
http://eclipseexotics.wingedwolfpsio...e-081209-4.jpg

Lesser 2:
http://eclipseexotics.wingedwolfpsio...082409-3sm.jpg

Lesser 3:
http://eclipseexotics.wingedwolfpsio...-PostShed2.jpg

number 3 looks like a mojave

I can assure you that all 3 are lesser platinum, though they might also have some granite going on. :) I produced all 3 of them, and #2 and #3 came from the same clutch. All 3 have the same sire, and I pair my snakes with only ONE male per season.

I like the first one lighter and more reduced than the others.

Hi,

I went for number one as well.

I like the colours better and the lack of speckling just appeals to me more.


dr del

Of course you get different answers, what constitutes a nice lesser/mojave/pastel/axanthic (etc etc etc) is all down to the individuals personal tastes.

Personally I like the first lesser. When we purchased our lesser we went for a light, bright one but thats not to say it's 'the best'. just my personal preference.

I like the first two, the first one because he looks like the perfect example of a lesser ( Still, could be more colorful im not going to lie but he is still really good looking)

The second one for its blushing, but I do see some darker brown in its coloring. To me, in the end, color has everything to do with it because im sick of seeing washed out brown adult lessers who kept not yellow or caramel in contrast to a nice brown.

I'm certainly not an expert, so I'll just go on my gut instinct... and I am digging #2 the most. I just love the rich buttery colors - in fact, he/she almost looks like a butter morph! All three are gorgeous, but #1 is too light for my taste and #3 is too dark, whereas the middle one is just right. Very nice lessers regardless, and I'd happily take any of them off your hands. :D

I don't believe a snakes looks makes it a "High or low quality" snake. They are all ball pythons

I voted for #1. I prefer lighter colored lessers. I know it's not, but #3 does look pretty Mojo like.

# 1 for me :gj: Smokin!!!! I definately like lighter colored lessers better. Number 2 has a nice pattern but is a bit darker and # 3 is dark like a mojo....

Yep. number one by far for me.

I chose #3. He is a really dark example of a lesser, it seems different, maybe it is just the amount of contrast. Not only that, but it would be neat to see what kind of offspring he will be capable of producing.

1 & 2 may have the Lesser "look" to them but there's something funky going on with #3 I dig that pattern best.

I picked number one. I'm by no means an expert but the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw both 2 and 3 was mojo. When I think of a lesser I think of a lighter, creamy type color.

#1 definitely. I don't like a lot of extreme contrast in Lessers, like what #2 has. I prefer the pattern too - the "warped" alien heads (are they still called that with no little dots there?) look a little funky compared to #1's pattern, too.

All in my personal opinion, of course. All three are pretty regardless!

Love the comments! I'm learning a ton, here. For those curious, I also rated #1 as the highest quality animal, but I certainly think the dark lessers produced from the second clutch are extremely interesting animals.
There may be other influences in all of these animals' color (granite is one possibility--the sire may have that gene, I'll be proving it next year. The first hatchling may also carry an unknown gene from its woma dam). I've seen lessers around that look similar to these, though perhaps not quite as dark as #3. I wonder if the granite is responsible for darkening them--although their dam was also quite a dark normal, too. 2 and 3 had a pure granite sibling that we're holding back to prove it out as genetic.
In any case, ignore the 'speckling' in their windows, as that may prove to be the influence of the granite gene, so shouldn't be held against them (it might turn out that all three are combo-morphs, lol).

I can see how #1 would be regarded as the "highest quality" lesser in a way, because he has the lightest colors.

However, my personal preference is for #2. If I had to characterize why, I guess I'd say it's because of his wide dorsal pattern; I also like the contrast between the darkness of his back versus the light sides.

Of course, I just got finished reading a book about how sometimes, when we try and categorize what makes us like things that we like, we make dumber decisions ... So, maybe I should just stick with saying, "I like him better, I dunno why!"

I like the colors of #1 best, but the pattern on #3 is amazing. I can see why most people would like #1, but I can't ignore a pretty pattern. I think flecks are more interesting than blotches of color; it just gives me more to look at. I don't think I can decide!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Love the comments! I'm learning a ton, here. For those curious, I also rated #1 as the highest quality animal, but I certainly think the dark lessers produced from the second clutch are extremely interesting animals.
There may be other influences in all of these animals' color (granite is one possibility--the sire may have that gene, I'll be proving it next year. The first hatchling may also carry an unknown gene from its woma dam). I've seen lessers around that look similar to these, though perhaps not quite as dark as #3. I wonder if the granite is responsible for darkening them--although their dam was also quite a dark normal, too. 2 and 3 had a pure granite sibling that we're holding back to prove it out as genetic.
In any case, ignore the 'speckling' in their windows, as that may prove to be the influence of the granite gene, so shouldn't be held against them (it might turn out that all three are combo-morphs, lol).

---

That's why I like 3 although 1 is a very nice lesser- 3 has "something" going on there... good luck with them they are all nice!

Lessers are so variable I picked #1,like them light I have a Mojave female that is light here's a pic,this a old pic she's lighter as she gets older.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...unepics006.jpg

i like the light color

i like lessers with lighter color, but i like mojaves with higher contrast, or high white sides. it really does just depend most on what u like. here is mine
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...kes/lesser.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...Picture004.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by irishanaconda

i like lessers with lighter color, but i like mojaves with higher contrast, or high white sides. it really does just depend most on what u like. here is mine
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...kes/lesser.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...Picture004.jpg

---

I like that top one!

Here's the sire of all 3:

http://eclipseexotics.wingedwolfpsio...tzalcoatl8.jpg

While he isn't super-light, he's definitely a looker (at least in my opinion, lol).

While I don't know much about BP morphs and have difficulty distinguishing one from another, the first snakes screams Lesser to me. The other two are pretty snakes, but in my mind they're not the stereotypical lesser. The sire looks great, by the way.

I also said 1 because lessers tend to lighten up as they get older so the first ones got a head start, mayb when he/she grows up they will have more intense coloring than your average lesser

Here's #3 after he got a few rats in him:

http://eclipseexotics.wingedwolfpsio...7-082509-1.jpg

It's interesting to see how quickly all that color developed. I have no idea what these hatchlings will look like as adults.

Seeing that new picture, it isn't a tie between #1 and #3 anymore. #3 all the way.

I just knew that one was special ;-)

aww shoot.. I voted before I saw the additional pics.. :( I voted for 1 and 2. No.1 because it is light colored and reduced. No.2 because of the dark contrast between its back and sides. now that I've seen the updated pic of No. 3.. I like it as well.. it has lots of blushing and enough contrast. I wonder if that is an influence from the granite? either way, what makes it a "best" is largely in the taste of the person viewing them, although lineage and parents help too. :D

I like #1...I like it when the pattern is filled in with very few "holes". I do prefer the coloring on #2 though. Is the photo of #1 a little overexposed or is it accurate of the snakes color?

Number 1 is the bomb!

Daniel

The colors are accurate. :)

Here's #1's sibling, our holdback, for color comparison.

http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/91236/2...26oKqIznRP.jpg

I voted for #1

#2

Higher contrast, around mid way up the body it makes that nice change from light belly side to darker top side. The only regrettable thing in the choice is that it has too much of a pattern, while the first has the best pattern wise (but not so much on the colours).

I like the high contrast with nice fading you get on Lessers and nothing beats one with a reduced pattern. If I wanted something with a more faded colour I'd go for a butter.

I thought Butters normally had darker, richer colors than lessers?

While I love darker colors and granite speckling in the right morph. For a lesser, I prefer a lighter color with more yellow which is why I picked number 1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I thought Butters normally had darker, richer colors than lessers?

---

I guess it depends on the animal. Most of the butters I see are fairly light colored, although I guess it could be an age thing as well.

If people are breeding both lessers and butters for lighter colors, I wonder if there's going to be any noticeable difference in a few years?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

If people are breeding both lessers and butters for lighter colors, I wonder if there's going to be any noticeable difference in a few years?

---

Depends on if the lightness gets passed genetically. It could, like many things, be random. I guess the only way to tell would be to 1. breed animals for bring dark, and for being more faded, not letting the offspring that don't show the selected trait breed, then comparing all this to a control group of animals bred with little to no concern or 2. Clone the animal.

Upon cloning an animal you see which traits were passed genetically, and which are just random (pattern is probably random, while being a lesser would be genetic).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MarkS

While I love darker colors and granite speckling in the right morph. For a lesser, I prefer a lighter color with more yellow which is why I picked number 1.

---

I agree. :)

i like number 3 lol

i voted #1 because i think that dark browns and yellow are all to common these days.. the lighter more 'tan' colors are more appealing.. to me anyways.. to each there own!

I voted for number 1, he's super light, I like that.

However #3 is so different from the norm, it would be interesting to see what he could produce!!

They are both smokin!!

I voted 1st cause it's more yellow.

But second is also nice, with a good contrast and nice blushing ! I really like the blushing on my lesser/mojave :)

#1 because it looks alot like my lesser...#3 is not lesserish at all...but i like it...#2 is smoking hot and looks like het. Red lesser...im not sure if i would call that just a lesser..

If you were to have just one snake. Visually, 1 or 2. But usually the "browned out" lessers #3 make nicer bees. (Lesser bees and Queens).

Well, I can't vote for that one, but I like the #1 sibling holdback myself. That one is the most like what I imagine the Lesser I will have one day will look like, color wise.

I did see some amazing photos of Lessers just a few days ago, with insane amounts of blushing I just drool over, so I am going to be one extremely hard to please person when it comes time to get my Lesser. lol

Gale