Was labeled Banana, but...your thoughts?

Hi all! I purchased my first snake (I was actually terrified of them until I was convinced to hold this one at the pet store) in July. He was labeled banana along with what appears to be a true banana in the same enclosure, however he looks quite different. His coloring is different (paler, no orange, yellow is muted, no purple), he has perhaps 3-4 freckles on his whole body and he has a lighter cream colored dorsal stripe. Any ideas as to what else may be mixed in? I’d be grateful for any insight! :)

Here are a few links. I added images earlier, but every time I submit, I get an error and have to start the post over :confusd:

I took these this morning after his shed last night :snake: Contrast looks a little weird for the two where he’s on the floor, but they are all in natural light.

https://ibb.co/jMhcTjx
https://ibb.co/r69qt19
https://ibb.co/ZfYFyms

These are from the pet store. The first shows his pattern pretty well and the other two show him next to the banana he was enclosed with.


https://ibb.co/37tfrst
https://ibb.co/5v5KZBC
https://ibb.co/wBdXGGY

Trying once more to add photos. Hopefully this works! The first three were taken this morning in natural light. He just shed last night. Sorry the first photo is a little off color-wise, but it really shows the color variation in his darker areas. The rest are pretty spot on.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-E534679-D.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-E6-E4-AB7.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-FD40-B466.jpg

At the pet store and next to the banana he was cohabiting with:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...C5-BAF4934.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...52-DDDEFAC.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-B6949-DFF.jpg

Considering the size and lack of spots it is more than a banana there is another gene at play. Outdoor pics in natural light will help.

Thanks for the reply :) The last photo is in direct sunlight. The rest are in indirect sunlight. Hope this helps!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...202acdd0d2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3087ff126e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...de1b101e84.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cb88f90cb1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...edf7f2fb67.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ca3a5d5910.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...103a0e8401.jpg

Can't offer any insight on what morph it is, but I just wanted to say, WOW that is a beautiful snake! Such lovely pale colours and those blue eyes are gorgeous. When I bought my BP, Noodle, I was originally looking for a snake that looks like yours. Very interested in what others have to say about this morph.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luvyna

Can't offer any insight on what morph it is, but I just wanted to say, WOW that is a beautiful snake! Such lovely pale colours and those blue eyes are gorgeous. When I bought my BP, Noodle, I was originally looking for a snake that looks like yours. Very interested in what others have to say about this morph.

---

Aww, thank you! [emoji4][emoji3590]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey,

Definately looks like there is another gene at play here based on the colour of the snake and lack of black freckling. I don't know what it is though.

Hopefully some banana breeders will be able to weigh in here.

Great looking snake though,

Liam.
https://www.reptilerange.com/ball-python-care-sheet/

wow this is a tough one. i'm assuming he was priced much more than the reg Banana? anyways i would guess that's at least a 3 gene BP, maybe more. i think it's at least a Banana Lesser and either Spider or Spotnose. it probably also has Pastel.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

wow this is a tough one. i'm assuming he was priced much more than the reg Banana? anyways i would guess that's at least a 3 gene BP, maybe more. i think it's at least a Banana Lesser and either Spider or Spotnose. it probably also has Pastel.

---

No, he was labeled Banana, enclosed with a banana and priced as one. I actually got a pretty good deal when I got him though. He was originally priced at $350, but I got him for $175.

I’m not sure about the Spider. He has no wobble and has no problem keeping/getting himself upright. From what I understand, that morph presents neurological issues that I haven’t observed in mine.

A local herp mentioned pinstripe, but all the banana pins I’ve found look much different. I’ve researched morphs daily for over a month since I got him, looked at countless photos of various crosses (even using UK terms - royal, coral glow, etc.) and haven’t come across another like mine. I was hoping my lack of results was just inexperience in not knowing what to look for, but it seems he really is just a special boy [emoji4]

I looked up Spotnose and came across a YouTube video that has a banana that looks probably the most similar to mine that I’ve seen so far. Pattern is a bit different/busier, but the colors are very close and it has the lighter dorsal stripe. I’m sure it’s not the exact same mix as below, but I think you may be on to something with this one [emoji4][emoji1360]

Thanks a bunch for your insight and help!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ba518db77d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mechliam

Hey,

Definately looks like there is another gene at play here based on the colour of the snake and lack of black freckling. I don't know what it is though.

Hopefully some banana breeders will be able to weigh in here.

Great looking snake though,

Liam.
https://www.reptilerange.com/ball-python-care-sheet/

---

Thank you! [emoji4][emoji1374]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was thinking possibly lesser banana
I don't see any of those other suspected genes in there but I am not an expert

Very pretty baby regardless!!

The minute I saw the pictures originally a Lesser/Butter + Banana is what came to mind.

Paul

Lesser Banana + Something else it's one of those because so many combos are starting to look alike that will only be identifiable if bred to another animal either a normal or a single gene visual recessive.

Otherwise a cool pet a a very low price.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pbenner

The minute I saw the pictures originally a Lesser/Butter + Banana is what came to mind.

Paul

---

Thanks for the input! [emoji4] They do look similar, with the exception that mine has the solid dorsal stripe. Do you think that could be something else contributing, or could the butter/lesser gene produce that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

Lesser Banana + Something else it's one of those because so many combos are starting to look alike that will only be identifiable if bred to another animal either a normal or a single gene visual recessive.

Otherwise a cool pet a a very low price.

---

Thank you! [emoji3526]

That’s what I was worried about. Well, not ‘worried’ per se, but I was afraid that’d be the only way to find out. He’s still young and I am still learning, so if I ever decided to breed him, it’d be quite some time (and after a lot more research).

I’m happy to see all the lesser/butter replies though! I think the BELs are gorgeous, so it’d be great to get a female down the road that I could cross him with to try for one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

oops posted in error

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

It could be from the lesser/butter gene easily - I have a full back stripe butter:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ZE60GVxBcy.jpg

---

Awesome! Thats super helpful and thank you for the pic! [emoji4] Super cool looking snake you have there.

I’ve heard that lesser/butter are the same (like banana and coral glow), but also read that even though they may look similar, they prove out differently and their supers have differences. Any insight?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are too fast lol I deleted that almost immediately. I posted in error, he's a butter pin, I had forgotten about the pin. Sorry for the confusion

yes lesser and butter are the same - same gene imported and proved out by two different breeders so they named it different things, but it's essentially the same gene.

I do still think yours may just be lesser banana and the stripe is normal variation, but again, others know more than me so I defer to them.
Only way to really know is to breed and try to prove it out. Otherwise it's a beautiful snake. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SnapesMa

I’m not sure about the Spider. He has no wobble and has no problem keeping/getting himself upright. From what I understand, that morph presents neurological issues that I haven’t observed in mine.

---

I have no idea what morphs your snake is other than gorgeous. I just wanted to respond to this part. Not all spiders will show a wobble. I have a spider who has no noticeable wobble, she has no issues righting herself and rarely misses a strike at her F/T rats. It seems that people over exaggerate the wobble that spiders can show.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Annageckos

I have no idea what morphs your snake is other than gorgeous. I just wanted to respond to this part. Not all spiders will show a wobble. I have a spider who has no noticeable wobble, she has no issues righting herself and rarely misses a strike at her F/T rats. It seems that people over exaggerate the wobble that spiders can show.

---

Thanks! That’s interesting. I’ve heard/seen that some will have little to no signs, but from what I understand that’s not the norm. My apologies if this is not accurate information now. I think they’re a gorgeous morph but have been, for lack of a better phrase, ‘scared off’ by the gene’s associated neurological issues. Is this something that has perhaps improved over time by breeding spiders that don’t present those issues?

I’d love to see a photo if you have one! [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

wow this is a tough one. i'm assuming he was priced much more than the reg Banana? anyways i would guess that's at least a 3 gene BP, maybe more. i think it's at least a Banana Lesser and either Spider or Spotnose. it probably also has Pastel.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SnapesMa

No, he was labeled Banana, enclosed with a banana and priced as one. I actually got a pretty good deal when I got him though. He was originally priced at $350, but I got him for $175.

I’m not sure about the Spider. He has no wobble and has no problem keeping/getting himself upright. From what I understand, that morph presents neurological issues that I haven’t observed in mine.

A local herp mentioned pinstripe, but all the banana pins I’ve found look much different. I’ve researched morphs daily for over a month since I got him, looked at countless photos of various crosses (even using UK terms - royal, coral glow, etc.) and haven’t come across another like mine. I was hoping my lack of results was just inexperience in not knowing what to look for, but it seems he really is just a special boy [emoji4]

I looked up Spotnose and came across a YouTube video that has a banana that looks probably the most similar to mine that I’ve seen so far. Pattern is a bit different/busier, but the colors are very close and it has the lighter dorsal stripe. I’m sure it’s not the exact same mix as below, but I think you may be on to something with this one [emoji4][emoji1360]

Thanks a bunch for your insight and help!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ba518db77d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Annageckos

I have no idea what morphs your snake is other than gorgeous. I just wanted to respond to this part. Not all spiders will show a wobble. I have a spider who has no noticeable wobble, she has no issues righting herself and rarely misses a strike at her F/T rats. It seems that people over exaggerate the wobble that spiders can show.

---

ok so i think everyone agrees that it's at least a Banana Lesser. there's another gene in there that creates the phat, almost full length dorsal stripe. i don't think it's Pin as it would reduce the side pattern like in April's BP. so it makes me think Spidey or Spotty. your BP also has blushing throughout and a faint cloverleaf headstamp. i would guess it has Enchi and Pastel also but i don't see Enchi it in the pattern.

anyways u lucked into a beautiful mystery boy. congrats!