pastel "grades"

[SquamishSerpents]

hey guys, i've seen a lot of "rating" of pastels on here, just wondering what constitutes a grade "A" as opposed to grade "B" or "C?" would someone be able to post an example of each, for comparison? preferably of adult pastels. i'm just curious because i have an adult male, and a juvie female pastel. they're both really pretty and i love love LOVE them both!

[Patrick Long]

I see multiple people ask your same question, but I dont EVER see anyone "grade" a Pastel here.

I have even tried to go out of my way and look for people "grading" pastels, but I find nothing.



A high quality pastel will be bright in color, not brown, and have a very busy pattern, with lots of blush.....but thats what IIIIIII consider a High Quality.

You could like brown Pastels, and that would be YOUR high quality.

[nixer]

the big problem with grades is there is no set standard of what dictates quality and also what one person sees as quality the next person may or may not.

now personally i like a pastel that has bright yellow with good flames and blushing.

[Serpent_Nirvana]

Right -- it all varies. I *hate* busy patterns, regardless of color, so my ideal pastel would be light, bright, very reduced-pattern and very blushy.

I think most people would agree that a very dark brown pastel would be of a lower quality than a very bright yellow one, though.

My feeling on "grading" morphs is that, regardless of variation (ie, I like reduced patterns, a lot of people like busy patterns, etc), the morph should look like that morph -- you shouldn't have to squint to differentiate a pastel from a normal, regardless of whether it's reduced or busy.

Same goes for cinnies, black pastels, mojaves, etc., IMO -- if it's getting close to looking like a wild-type ball python, that's a crappy example of the morph in my eyes.

[BAD Morphs]

Here are three examples of pastels that I have. Like they said in previos posts it is all based on what YOU think is high quality or not.

This guy is really "browned" or on the darker side of a pastel


This girl is my favorite of the three pastels I have. She has bright yellows and nice blushing and flames


This guy here is nice too but he is more light brown and dull yellow opposed to the female in the middle


Maybe you can see three different types of the same snake but different qualities. It all just depends on the purchaser what they are looking for in a pastel.

[Blue Apple Herps]

Some of it just just personal preference and it depends on the bar being set by a particular individual. There's no set standard. But here are my two pastels.

First up is my female pastel. I'd rate her an A++, she's simply the brightest adult pastel I've seen. She's held her color remarkably well. Interesting thing with her is that she wasn't the best or brightest hatchling, but she did look nice. However her first year she actually got brighter and hasn't changed much. I really lucked out with her! (she's really this light and bright in person!)



Next up is my male pastel. He's browned out some. He's nicer than some I've seen, but not as nice as others. I'd rate him in the middle of the pack as far as quality. Maybe B or B-?

[rabernet]

As many of you know - I like my snakes to be reduced patterned - but when it comes to pastels, they have to be bright yellow.

Aaron Palmer took these pictures of mine in May. This is my founding male at 3 years old:





This is his son:


And his daughter:

[Hock3ymonk3y]

As many of you know - I like my snakes to be reduced patterned - but when it comes to pastels, they have to be bright yellow.

Aaron Palmer took these pictures of mine in May. This is my founding male at 3 years old:





This is his son:


And his daughter:

I said it before, but I'll say it again: I would NOT hesitate to buy a pastel from you!

[icygirl]

Some time ago on this forum, someone posted an adult pastel that had browned out into a very light sandy color. It was not nearly as shocking *yellow* as some of the ones posted here, but it's still one of my favorite pastels I have seen. It almost looked more like a vanilla than a pastel.

[I<3Dreamsicles]

I personally like my pastels with a bright clean yellow for the main priority.
I dont care if there is blushing or not. If there is little blushing it makes a good contrast, if there is high blushing it still looks good, and will make really cool super pastels.

I guess that comes into play when your mixing morphs too. Do you want a good yellow? I dont know if blushing does anything for a lemon blast? - Id be more concerned about the yellow.