Miscellaneous Sable Pictures!

I received a PM from Jopay about Sable Identifying marks, and have seen a few posts about them as well. So, I took a couple pictures of some of hatchlings from this year, and will include some pics of our original Sable that I took a couple years ago. Hopefully these pictures will help to display some of the identifiers that I have noticed. As with any genetic trait, there is some variability, but I have noticed that Sables have distinct belly patterning, and the other big thing I have noticed is the aberrencies of the Alien eyes. Almost every Sable we have also has what I call "Mr. Microphone" alien heads. The best description I can come up with is that the alien eye looks like a half moon inserted in the alien head. These can be seen in the pictures. Lastly, I have noticed that most babies, and almost every adult has lots of black tipping on the scales in the lower half of the body. This looks kind of like pepper sprinkled all over the scales (similar to what is seen in alot of granites). This typically comes in with more intensity as the animal grows and sheds. Also as they grow and shed, the overall snake appears to darken and get a blacker appearance. Please let me know if anyone would like to see other pictures, or has any other questions.

This is the belly pic of our original Sable.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/pics/sablebelly.jpg

Here is another belly pic of one of our babies from this year.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/pics/sablebelly2.jpg

This is a pic of our original Sable at about 1 years old.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/pics/sable.jpg

This is a pic of one of our hatchlings that shows the "MR. Microphone" alien heads, black scale tipping, and other aberrent alien eyes.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/pics/sablepattern.jpg

Hope this was able to help,

Nice animals, but for my taste the sable morph doesn't look 'different' enough to be interesting. Just my 0.02 though :)

Markus,
I am not a big fan of the Sable either, but I do love the Super. Therefore I have to tolerate this one to get to the one I want.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

Markus,
I am not a big fan of the Sable either, but I do love the Super. Therefore I have to tolerate this one to get to the one I want.

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That is certainly true. Super sables are indeed pretty special. It's the same story with YB's in my opinion, not special looking, but the super sure does ;)

Good luck with the project, Tim!

I agree that the sable morph is pretty subtle. I do like the belly color/pattern though. :D That first picture is sweet.

Thanks for the write-up and pics

Thanks for the very informative post muddoc! This is what ive been waiting for, some additional guides in determining subtle morphs. Well we have the guide for the yb, and now the sable. Hopefully some other guides for very subtle morphs pop up someday (or sooner will be great:)) like the Vin Russo, fire, etc. Thanks again!

i have to agree, not the most stunning morph. i'm sure there are enough fans out there, if not for just making the super, to create a market, there is for everything. what i'm posting for is to request pics or directions to find pics of the super which could possibly change my mind all together

Great looking sables Tim.

Great Info...thanks MBM

I'm glad thid proved to be helpful. Unfortunately, I don't have a Super, or know where a pic might be. I'm sure someone will post a pic (maybe even Louis Kirkland).

I picked up an 07 female sable today. I think she is stunning. The iridescence is worth the price of admission alone, you don't find that on any other morph (correct me if I'm wrong.) Anyway, I'm really happy with her. Anyone have any idea what a pastel X sable mating might look like???? Thanks!!!

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Originally Posted by IguanaMama

Anyone have any idea what a pastel X sable mating might look like???? Thanks!!!

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It's been done.

I think its called the Mud ball?

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

It's been done.

I think its called the Mud ball?

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You are right, I was googling some and found it. I'm thinking of crossing her with a spider or pinstripe atm.

I am digital photography challenged, but I tried. Here's some pictures. The first one shows how dark she is. She has a very metallic look about her, mostly like a tarnished copper penny, and brassy, and bronzy in other parts. But, when she catches the light right, she glows a blue iridescence. The second picture shows her very patterned underside. It is bright (and I mean bright) lemon yellow in parts. The third picture was lighted so that you can see her pattern.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...mageuser=9647]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...mageuser=9647]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...mageuser=9647]

OK, I'm not just digital photography challenged, I'm post picture challenged. I don't really like computers, actually. They scare me.

If someone could tell me how, I'd appreciate it. I watched the video tutorial, it did me no good, obviously.

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Originally Posted by IguanaMama

You are right, I was googling some and found it. I'm thinking of crossing her with a spider or pinstripe atm.

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By the way, the Spider Sable has been done, and it is a very interesting animal. I actually have a Sable and a Spider locked up as I type this. I also have bred my Sable to a Pin this year, and hope to see that one as well. I tried Sable Pin last year, but she didn't go. I only know of one other person that tried that as well, but there's didn't come through either.

Congrats on the new addition.

OK, I hope it's ok to use photobucket, I know how to do that (I think). Well, here goes....

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...lethesable.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...underneath.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...lespattern.jpg

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Originally Posted by muddoc

By the way, the Spider Sable has been done, and it is a very interesting animal. I actually have a Sable and a Spider locked up as I type this. I also have bred my Sable to a Pin this year, and hope to see that one as well. I tried Sable Pin last year, but she didn't go. I only know of one other person that tried that as well, but there's didn't come through either.

Congrats on the new addition.

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Thanks Tim. I've been looking fondly at your males. My bank account needs a boost, however. Maybe in a bit.....

I don't really get all the comments about the sables looking normal though. My girl looks far far far away from any normal ball I've ever seen.

Tim... you rock! Great thread, very helpful! :D Congrats Iguanamama on the nice addition!

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Originally Posted by IguanaMama

Thanks Tim. I've been looking fondly at your males. My bank account needs a boost, however. Maybe in a bit.....

I don't really get all the comments about the sables looking normal though. My girl looks far far far away from any normal ball I've ever seen.

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I can say that there is definitely alot of variability in the Sables. I hatched some that look more like normals than others. Also, I have a theory that Sables have more Irridiphores in the skin, that gives them the extra irridescence that you were talking about. That also makes them harder to photograph (which I have heard from other Sable owners as well). Due to the difficulty photographing them, I think that many people are making judgements without seeing them in person. They are much easier to distinguish from a Normal in person.

Just my .02.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

I'm glad thid proved to be helpful. Unfortunately, I don't have a Super, or know where a pic might be. I'm sure someone will post a pic (maybe even Louis Kirkland).

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Just saw your post Tim. As you will no doubt recall from our earlier commmunications, I've had no success in getting a good picture of this guy. I promise he looks awesome in person. He's a bad lookin' dude and he has an attitude to go with it. :D

Here's the best I can do for now.

http://photos.imageevent.com/corners...2908%20099.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/corners...2908%20100.jpg

I love sables, unfortunately I found myself in a bind and had to sell mine, but I'll likely be getting one his offspring from the guy I sold him to.

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Originally Posted by Louis Kirkland

Just saw your post Tim. As you will no doubt recall from our earlier commmunications, I've had no success in getting a good picture of this guy. I promise he looks awesome in person. He's a bad lookin' dude and he has an attitude to go with it. :D

Here's the best I can do for now.

http://photos.imageevent.com/corners...2908%20099.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/corners...2908%20100.jpg

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Great pics as always...
Kevin Stoltz
www.kmsreptiles.com

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Originally Posted by KMS

Great pics as always...
Kevin Stoltz
www.kmsreptiles.com

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Thanks Kevin! I've got some Pin girls here I need to get some pics of. I think you would like the looks of them. I know I do. :sweeet:

Thanks for the pic Louis. Someone was asking about the Supers, and I happened to think of you. Hopefully I can make a few of those next year.

Is that a super? I can't tell the difference between a regular sable and a super sable. Are the differences very subtle? I just held my girlie up to the computer screen and she is a dead ringer for that snake Louis posted. When I get back from the kid's publishing party, I'll try to get better pictures, but I'd really appreciate if someone would explain the difference to me in words, because I'm just not seeing it visually. Thanks!!!!!!

PS: I went looking for pictures of the sable x spider cross and couldn't find any. Does anyone know if they are posted anywhere? I'm trying to figure out who would make a good suitor for her and my brain is starting to hurt. I have a male pastel, but the mud ball doesn't excite me very much.

Oh and thanks, Tim. It was me I think that was asking about Supers. I think sables and super sables are really underrated. But like you said, it might just be in that they are a bit difficult to photograph. They don't look anything close to normal, at least mine doesn't. It is a metallic snake and I love metal. Dark and metal, like a weathered sculpture. I'm going to dust my glasses off, read that darn instruction manual that came with my camera and get to taking pictures so all can see. The more I think about it, the more I think I'm just going to go for the super sables, so I'll probably just start hunting for a suitable male when my bank account allows me too.