What constitutes a black pastel?

If you had to describe one to someone who has only seen normals what would be the defining characteristics?

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...-Black-Pastels

Ah yes lol I figured it wasn't going to be very easy.. Thanks for the link =]

Actually, it's very easy.

Look closely at the pictures of the black pastels. See the black squiggles around the centers of the "alien head" markings ? That is the single most consistent identifier of a black pastel.

If I saw any snake with those markings, I'd know it was a black pastel.

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

Actually, it's very easy.

Look closely at the pictures of the black pastels. See the black squiggles around the centers of the "alien head" markings ? That is the single most consistent identifier of a black pastel.

If I saw any snake with those markings, I'd know it was a black pastel.

Gale

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Not trying to jack the thread. Question about this though. I purchased a BP from a petCo a couple months ago or so. I've looked at many different lines of black pastel and (most) also have different coloring. The snake I got has "normal" coloring but very distinctly has the "sguiggles". From what I understand about petCo, they sell (captive hatched) snakes. So, would a snake with "squiggles" be a black pastel or can a "normal" also have them?

Do you have pictures?

I only have one Black Pastel, but the main difference I've noticed is that the blacks are "velvety" looking...for lack of a better word...the black just looks different. Maybe it's just my girl...:confused: :D

There are other things to look for, as pointed out above...

Is it possible for a normal to have the squiggles ? I'm going to say yes. There are many different traits to show the black pastel gene.

Perhaps I should have worded it better. Something like, " If I saw a snake marked as a black pastel that had the squiggles, I'd know for sure that's what it was."

I don't recall ever seeing a normal with those markings, but I hesitate to say only black pastels can carry them, although maybe only black pastels do.

Perhaps someone who breeds them can chime in ? Or someone who has an undoubted normal who has the squiggles ?

Gale

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Originally Posted by LotsaBalls

The snake I got has "normal" coloring but very distinctly has the "sguiggles"

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Then it's a normal, Black pastels are not "normal" colored.

Post a picture. You could still have a nice dinker project, even if it is a "normal".

(Does anybody else feel an almost uncontrollable urge to just start posting pictures showing off their black pastels on this thread?)

Morphs do sometimes pop up in pet stores unbeknownst to the store owners/staff. Just throwing that out there.

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Originally Posted by Quiet Tempest

Morphs do sometimes pop up in pet stores unbeknownst to the store owners/staff. Just throwing that out there.

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Petco (from what I've heard) only gets captive hatched normals...other Pet Stores, especially smaller Mom and Pop's may get something special though...ya never know...

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Originally Posted by loonunit

(Does anybody else feel an almost uncontrollable urge to just start posting pictures showing off their black pastels on this thread?)

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haha, definitely, but I'd just as soon see the OP's snake in question.

fighting back the urge is sooo har....heck with it :rofl:
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...h/PICT6336.jpg

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Originally Posted by loonunit

(Does anybody else feel an almost uncontrollable urge to just start posting pictures showing off their black pastels on this thread?)

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I would but it's one of those morphs that are very hard to photograph...none of my pics ever do mine justice...

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

haha, definitely, but I'd just as soon see the OP's snake in question.

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I was just wondering haha I have a normal that wasn't very normal looking after her last shed, super dark black, and super bright yellows but I couldn't get a picture that worked to show it off =(