Pastels have clean bellies, so.... What is this?

[CptJack]

There are pictures of his top side http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...79#post2262379 <--- There.

This guy came from craigslist, so it's entirely possible that at some point he had a horrid burn or belly rot or something, but there's nothing wrong with the scales or skin themselves NOW, and I have no idea if that would result in all the business on the lower half of his belly. The pictures aren't picking it up well, but the color on that part of his belly is also fairly yellow (as opposed to the white of his top half).

(For the record, I'm expecting to hear something like 'burn scar' or 'previous scale rot' more than a morph answer, or even just that some pastels do this. Still curious.)

[decensored]

do you have any pictures of his actual pattern?

[CptJack]

Do those work?

[rlditmars]

Almost looks like there could be enchi judging from the very light clover leaf on the head.

[decensored]

Almost looks like there could be enchi judging from the very light clover leaf on the head.

Yeah I'm leaning in that direction myself. She's definitely not a normal - too much blushing and coloration. If I didn't see the belly I might have said pastel but I think Enchi is pretty plausible. I'm not aware of any het markings that would disrupt the clear belly of a pastel - but I'm not well educated in my het markings

[CptJack]

I honestly have no idea. The guy I bought him from said pastel and I went with it until someone mentioned clear bellies in pastels. It really does matter to me - 's got a nice temperament, he eats well, I like him and he's visually different than the normal so I'm more than happy. I got him from a guy on craigslist who got him from a guy on craigslist who - got him from who knows where. His background's a big old question mark.

I'll just change my signature to 'I dunno, YELLOW' when I get around to it. ;-)

[dr del]

His belly scales do look quite messed up in the third pic in the other thread.

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

His belly scales do look quite messed up in the third pic in the other thread.

x2

Yea.... that does not look so good.

[CptJack]

His belly scales do look quite messed up in the third pic in the other thread.

There is something screwy going on there, for sure. I lost my holder helper for the day so I can't get closer/clearer pictures until tomorrow, but there is a band in the middle of all those markings where it's like his typical belly scales are disrupted and it's similar to the scales on the rest of him. It almost looks like his dorsal side just grew in a band around him for about 3 inches wide. It doesn't cover the whole area, it's not red/flaky/swollen/irritated looking now (it was REALLY wrinkly and weird for a couple of sheds right after we got him), he sheds and eats well so I don't think it's a CURRENT problem, but it's pretty funky.

[kc261]

Looks to me like the front half of the snake has a clear white belly like expected on pastels, and the bottom half looks funky. I'm guessing there was something that caused scarring.