This guy is a VPI Axanthic Fire, adult breeder male, about one year old and 650 grams. I picked him up from Ken McAlexander at Ball Python Investments a few months ago and he’s put on some size and locked up with a few of my females. I can’t get over his colors! My other VPI Axanthics hold their colors well, but this guy is in different league.

Some people are quick to point out that Axanthics “brown out” as they age. But judging by photos taken of this VPI Axanthic Fire as a hatchling, I haven’t seen any “browning out” as he’s gotten older. Granted, it’s only been a year, but still he’s unique in that regard. It seems like many of the Axanthic combos I see carry the Pastel gene, such as Bumble Bee or Lemon Blast. But even if these aren’t Axanthic, nearly all of them naturally darken up as they age. Obviously there are variations of the same morph, some coloring more than others. But it seems like the best option for combating any BP from darkening up would be to add in morphs like Lesser, Sulfur, Fire, etc. that are known to stay lighter as they age. I’ve seen some awesome pics of John Dague’s Axanthic Firefly, and of other people that have Axanthic Lessers, Axanthic Fires, and an Axanthic Sulfur. Another example of a complimentary Axanthic gene seems to be Ghost, ie the Axanthic Ghost or True Ghost. All these morphs seem to remain awesome looking as they age.

So my ultimate question is: What do you think is more responsible for some Axanthics “browning out” with age… the Axanthic gene itself or the other morphs (such as pastel) that often go into Axanthics? I’m obviously biased, but I’d argue the latter. What do you all think?