Axanthics

Axanthics; do you love them or hate them? I personally regard them as the ringed pythons of the ball python world. Amazing looking babies but ultimately just a big let down when they turn brown 6 months later.

No thanks for me, don't want any axanthic traits in my BP collection. I'd be disappointed if it showed up accidentally.

Western hognose anery/axanthics now.. THOSE I like!

Just turning anymorph in to a black and white ball is awesome!

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

No thanks for me, don't want any axanthic traits in my BP collection. I'd be disappointed if it showed up accidentally.

Western hognose anery/axanthics now.. THOSE I like!

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x2 hoggies hold there colour

I tend to agree with the original post. They are neat and a cool project for some people but the browning out as the age turns me off. I'd rather work on some different recessives. (someday)

Regards,

B

It's recessive = awesome

I love Axanthics and combos of them and I'm really looking forward to producing some combo stuff in the future.

Other morphs can lose there appeal over time by browning out as well. Doesn't mean I'll drop my Pastel projects though, just that I'm more carefull of pairings and what new animals I buy to add to my breeding stock. There are some nice adult axanthics out there and some not-so-nice ones. Same goes for almost every morph (exept pieds :P). Its all in selective breeding.

I think they are pretty sweet. Maybe the plain ole axanthics get pretty brown, but the combos are pretty sweet. I think if I said I didn't like axanthics because they brown out, I would also have to say that I don't like pastels since they brown out.... so I can't say that. I bet if you had an axanthic pied looking up at you when you opened the tub you wouldn't mind it as much =P


Edit: Man I had to help someone at work when I started this post and the last post beat me to the pastel refrence. Don't mean to be repetative, haha

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc89e4-3cb2-1ac7.jpg
VPI axanthic with a normal at 6 months 500 grams.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc89e4-3cd7-5514.jpg
I think she is 5 months here.

I love axanthics!!

droid!!!!

This guy is a year old in this shot.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...c/DSC_0046.jpg

I like the combos. The ones that stay grey as adults are amazing. Just wish they all were like that.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

No thanks for me, don't want any axanthic traits in my BP collection. I'd be disappointed if it showed up accidentally.

Western hognose anery/axanthics now.. THOSE I like!

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Why would you be disappointed if it popped up accidentally? I can understand not being a fan of the morph but I don't see how you could actually be disappointed if it happened.

I think they are neat, but even cooler as a combo!

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

This guy is a year old in this shot.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...c/DSC_0046.jpg

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that just looks like a very nice normal to me. sorry but i just don't see it

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Originally Posted by PweEzy

I bet if you had an axanthic pied looking up at you when you opened the tub you wouldn't mind it as much =P

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pieds are already a cool white and brown snake. for all the effort in producing a double recessive i would much rather have a albino pied or a dreamsicle

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

pieds are already a cool white and brown snake. for all the effort in producing a double recessive i would much rather have a albino pied or a dreamsicle

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I respectfully disagree the lightning pied is insane have you seen it?:bow:

Markus jayne reptiles was the first and only breeder to produce it.

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.

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Originally Posted by Emilio

I respectfully disagree the lightning pied is insane have you seen it?:bow:

Markus jayne reptiles was the first and only breeder to produce it.

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at every expo i've been to for the last year. Markus is from here after all. it is a nice looking snake... for now. well see what it looks like at a year old though. deffinatly not an animal i would drop 20 g's on. that is if i had $20 000 lol

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

that just looks like a very nice normal to me. sorry but i just don't see it

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I think someone with no Experience with the certain morph shouldn't really tell people what they do and don't have just my $0.02.
But here. Sneak peak at something I shouldn't be showing no one
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/a9d447a3.jpg

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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.

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mabey if you can show me a good picture of your girl you can change my mind on them. i think that babie axanthics are one of the hottest morphs out there, but i have never seen in person or picture any that i think look any better than light normals and i have seen lots of them. even vpi that are thought to be the best of all axanthics all turn really brown, or at least all i have seen.

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

I think someone with no Experience with the certain morph shouldn't really tell people what they do and don't have just my $0.02.
But here. Sneak peak at something I shouldn't be showing no one
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/a9d447a3.jpg

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that is one of the best examples of axanthics older than 3 months I have seen. as far as your 2 cents... I was not claiming that the snake was not what they claimed, just that like all older axanthics I have seen (at least until yours) at least to me looks just like a nice light normal. I have an old reptiles magazine that has a picture of Dave and Tracy original axanthic that looked pretty hot but until your post haven't seen anything from that line that I consider interesting at all. silver and black snakes are super cool and maybe with another 10 years of selective breeding you can come up with axanthics that for me will be worth all the effort and investment required in a recessive project.

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

But here. Sneak peak at something I shouldn't be showing no one
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/a9d447a3.jpg

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Why shouldn't you be showing anyone?

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Originally Posted by lk_holla

Why shouldn't you be showing anyone?

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Didn't want to brag. I'm working on a project right now don't know if it will happen plus dont want to bug her. In camera her blushing can be tooken for a grey smoke or brown but IN PERSON people don't talk about there axanthic anything around me:cool:
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/d9dbd0ad.jpg

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

Didn't want to brag. I'm working on a project right now don't know if it will happen plus dont want to bug her. In camera her blushing can be tooken for a grey smoke or brown but IN PERSON people don't talk about there axanthic anything around me:cool:
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/d9dbd0ad.jpg

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she is awsome. you'll get no argument from me. but that's just my point, in ten years and hundreds of axanthics i've seen she's only the second one i've seen that even comes close to holding her juvi colours.

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

she is awsome. you'll get no argument from me. but that's just my point, in ten years and hundreds of axanthics i've seen she's only the second one i've seen that even comes close to holding her juvi colours.

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She's try'd hard to stay beautiful, now sitting at three pounds and still trying to stay as dark as her line is suppose to be.

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

She's try'd hard to stay beautiful, now sitting at three pounds and still trying to stay as dark as her line is suppose to be.

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we'll give her a high 5. and more importantly who does that second tail in your picture belong 2 and hopefully how long can we expect update photo's on you "little project";)

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

we'll give her a high 5. and more importantly who does that second tail in your picture belong 2 and hopefully how long can we expect update photo's on you "little project";)

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I will post pics of course! That tail belongs to my het red Axanthic, don't mind him he's trying to get lucky lol

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

I will post pics of course! That tail belongs to my het red Axanthic, don't mind him he's trying to get lucky lol

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so she loveing anouther canadian (thank you Cory Woods for all the confusion) LOL cool look forward to some update pics;)

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

mabey if you can show me a good picture of your girl you can change my mind on them. i think that babie axanthics are one of the hottest morphs out there, but i have never seen in person or picture any that i think look any better than light normals and i have seen lots of them. even vpi that are thought to be the best of all axanthics all turn really brown, or at least all i have seen.

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I'll see what I can do. Have her paired up at the moment, but I can try to take her out and some photos of her this weekend before I feed her. When I get a good one, I'll post it here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

she is awsome. you'll get no argument from me. but that's just my point, in ten years and hundreds of axanthics i've seen she's only the second one i've seen that even comes close to holding her juvi colours.

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

Kingpythons thats a hott girl man!!!!

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:

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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.

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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.

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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!!!!

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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!!!!

This is a picture of my VPI axanthic male, Ghost. He's around a year old.
Don't let Lucy distract you too much, I know she's pretty but Ghost is still holding his colors pretty strongly! :D
http://i54.tinypic.com/t5k65h.jpg

Wow, Ghost is gorgeous! and so is his girl friend. :gj: That is a good picture because she's in there for comparison.

Thanks, unfortunately I didn't have a normal to put next to him but he's pretty silver. :)

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Originally Posted by J.Vandegrift

Why would you be disappointed if it popped up accidentally? I can understand not being a fan of the morph but I don't see how you could actually be disappointed if it happened.

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Compare adult spiders with adult spider axanthics.

To my eyes, the spider axanthics don't look as nice as the spiders, so even though it less "complicated", I like the look of a plain old spider better.

The same goes for every single adult axanthic ball python I've ever seen, even combo morphs. Once they break the 2 year old mark, if you compare an axanthic *whatever* to a non-axanthic *whatever*, every single *whatever* looks better to me than its axanthic cousin.

So yeah, to my eyes axanthics come close to being ugly, and are a negative trait to have. If it showed up accidentally in my breeding collection, I'd be unhappy, and wish that any animals that showed it, didn't.

Different strokes for different blokes! I think as long as the axanthic is high quality, OR combined with a pastel, they look very beautiful and silver even with age. However, I do agree that some brown out, making them look like normals, but imo, normals aren't ugly. I also really like colorful morphs, as you can probably tell by my pastel lesser ball python, Lucy.
In all honestly, when me and my snakes are older I'm hoping to produce some axanthic emperor pins because I think they would look awesome. However, I'd also like to get into more colorful morphs once I'm done producing some axanthic combos.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 'nuff said. :)
Also, if anyone wanted an axanthic spider compared to a spider...
http://www.exoticsbynature.com/sale/09bpcal/1.jpg
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...1&d=1277219891

There was a really nice axanthic spider at the Repticon show in Orlando last weekend. It probably was around the 1kg mark, and had a very nice grey colour with no signs of browning. Of all of the cool animals at the show, that one really stuck out to me. I wish I would have had a camera on me so I could have got a photo of it.

Those where nice axanthic spiders. There were two! One actually sold.:)