Embarrassing "is this a?" Question ...

[Serpent_Nirvana]

It's embarrassing only because I feel like I totally should know better -- ARGH. But, I would rather make an embarrassing post than be in doubt, soo ...

I just got these guys in this morning. I am fairly certain they are yellow bellies (as they were sold as), but given the circumstances I just want to make absolutely sure. YBs, along with chocolates and true granites are one of those morphs I just have the hardest darn time with.

To me, the first one looks like a YB just on pattern alone, but I still just get messed up with the bellies ... I know the sides are supposed to have a granite/checkered pattern; I guess I'm just not totally 100% seeing it.

Anyway, here they are:

Female #1





Female #2



... What throws me off about her belly is that she has some dark flecking right in the middle there, and I feel like a YB's belly is supposed to be totally clear ... ?



Male





... Can post or get more pics if necessary. Thanks so much, all!

[guambomb832]

I would say that the first one MIGHT be a YB but YB are only supposed to have pure white bellies so the little flecks make it a normal.Hey but on the bright side your male has a black back on the lower end of his body and a lot of people like that!

[waltah!]

YB pics can be very tough to ID. It's not just the belly, but that's the dead giveaway. I'm going to find a couple of pics of mine to compare to. The male looks like a nice normal, with a great black back look.

[waltah!]

Here's a couple of pics of mine. The female in your first pic has a bit of the look, but it can be hard without great pics.
Hopefully this will show some of the color within the pattern.


And the obligatory belly pic of the same male. Notice how defined the belly markings are on this guy.

[Bristen]

I'm no expert, but I'd almost think they are in fact yellow bellies... they are variable like everything else... but yes, that one with the belly markings is not really obvious... you can always find out when you breed them though

good luck,
Bristen.

[SatanicIntention]

They are all YBs. Even the male, who some think is a normal, has nice speckling that goes into his flames on his sides. Clearly a good indicator for the YB markings. YBs don't have to have clear bellies with the speckled sides. You're just looking for the speckled sides, lots of flames, a pixelated look to their scales(in my opinion anyway).

[MKHerps]

The spot on the head is vindictive of the YB gene as well. I say they are all YB. Maybe not the best examples of them, but the real test will be making Ivories with them. The first female has a good belly pattern.

[waltah!]

Hopefully in the future we will see a thread from you entitled "Look at my Ivories!!!"

[Serpent_Nirvana]

Hopefully in the future we will see a thread from you entitled "Look at my Ivories!!!"

Boy, I hope so! That's the goal with 'em ...

Thanks all for the replies. The reason I posted them up so hastily is because I do have the option of returning them if I'm not happy with them, but of course I don't want to send them back if they are truly YBs ... My initial reaction when I saw them was, "Gee, I wish I was better at IDing these guys," which is why I really wanted to get others' opinions.

[jkobylka]

Yes.... ybs...

Justin