Spark, Special, Mystic.....another newbie question

[TerrieL]

I am getting better at being able to distinguish some of the more common morphs pretty easy, thanks to information I have gotten from this site and a few others. However, I was window shopping on Kingsnake classified this am and looked at ads for Sparks, Specials and Mystics and if I had to pick one out of a bunch of nice normals, I don't think I could. This pics looked like these guys had quite a bit of yellow and maybe some granite type markings but how can you experienced folks really tell these morphs from normals?

thanks

[PitOnTheProwl]

I want to watch this post too.
There are so many "new names" coming out that look like nice normals I am starting to have a hard time telling.

I know some of these will change a morph either in color shade or pattern but other than breeding what is a visual difference to look for?

I wish WOBP actually had their "descriptions" filled out.

[TerrieL]

I know what you what you mean. I spend a lot of time on WOBP too and there are very few descriptions.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I can understand having difficulty with some subtle morphs when your eye is untrained however I don't think Mystic falls in that category.

Some fresh out of the egg babies



Holdback female



Proven male



Can you tell the difference with a normal now?

To spot subtle morph you need to know what to look for and getting to see them first hand always make a big difference, the more you get to see the better you will get at spotting the subtle traits that will help you identify the animal you are looking at.

[Andybill]

So what are we supposed to be looking for when IDing a spark or a special?

[CapeFearConstrictors]

When buying subtle morphs, you really need to trust who you're buying them from. I purchased my original male spark from Rat Trap Reptiles, who got theirs from Amir, who proved out the spark. I convinced RTR to sell me their holdback male, so my sparks are very nice and easier to distinguish than some others might be. From what I have seen, sparks have a brighter look to them, similar to a fire. They also have a pretty distinct head pattern. They've got nice flames coming up from their bellies and at the lower side, there is some speckling. Seeing them side by side with a normal, it's pretty obvious that they are different mutations.

Here's a shot of my entire clutch just out of the egg. There are three sparks and two normals. Can you pick out the sparks?



I have some close up pictures of the sparks on my website if you want better pics.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I can understand having difficulty with some subtle morphs when your eye is untrained however I don't think Mystic falls in that category.

Some fresh out of the egg babies



Holdback female



Proven male



Can you tell the difference with a normal now?

To spot subtle morph you need to know what to look for and getting to see them first hand always make a big difference, the more you get to see the better you will get at spotting the subtle traits that will help you identify the animal you are looking at.

Good pictures REALLY help LOL
THe second picture really shows nice flames

[TerrieL]

Thank you all for the pictures and descriptions, it does help. There is a Repticon coming to the Nashville area this month and I hope to be able to go. I bet seeing these subtle morphs in person will help as well.

[PitOnTheProwl]

It is easy to tell there in a group pic but they could just be light normals too.
Other than color what else is there to look for?

[CapeFearConstrictors]

It is easy to tell there in a group pic but they could just be light normals too.
Other than color what else is there to look for?

In addition to the brighter coloration, there's the head pattern, flames and speckling on the sides. They also have blushing in the dark areas.