Colourful Critters
Morphs & Variations
Spotted Python
Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia maculosa
Translates – spotted antaresia
The largest member of its genus, often exceeding 1 meter in length, with a muscular build. Spotted pythons are typically patterned with dark brown, irregular blotches. The largest blotches are usually on the dorsal, with a series of smaller blotches on the lateral. Base colour may be various shades of brown. The ventral surface is pale, cream or near white.
Striped Mac
p.243 The Complete Children's Python
These are very distinct, with a thin dorsal stripe of base colour flanked by the dark blotching colour and have been produced from selective breeding since 2005.
It started with wild-type founder stock purchased in 1994+96. In 2005, after years of selective breeding, our first partial striped individuals had striping from mid-body to tail. We then purchased pair that had striping around the head. Breeding these two lines together produced the first head-to-tail stipes in the 2008-09 season.
Mode of Inheritance – Polygenic in nature.
Platinum Mac
p.240 The Complete Children's Python
Pale base colours with the typical large blotching becoming dramatically reduced, fragmented and diluted with yellows and silvers popping through. This gene seems to affect the pattern & colour.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2008 and have bred so much variety within the morph. One of my favourites.
Mode of Inheritance – Proving to be more recessive in nature with polymorphic variations of visuals with no two visuals appear the same.
T- Albino Mac
p.201 The Complete Children's Python
Stunning individuals can have base colours varying from white and yellow. Large blotching can be yellows, oranges, reds, lavenders, and purples. These snakes exhibit T- (Tyrosine negative) albinism or can be called amelanistic. This mutation completely blocks the production of dark pigments.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2010. The original line seemed problematic with low fertility, low hatch rates and deformed hatchlings. Outcrossing has definitely improved these issues, with hatchlings now strong and robust.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Granite Mac
p.221 The Complete Children's Python
The normal large dark blotches are replaced with dark speckling over the body with typical bright coloured eyes. There is a great variety in the colouring & amount of speckling expressed, and some extreme individuals appear patternless.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2013.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Axanthic Mac
We suspect these are a form of Axanthism. They usually hatch with dark eyes, dark tongues and lacking most yellow and brown hues even in the belly scales. The reduction or absence of yellow pigments gives them an overall dark grey, silver and bluish appearance compared to their clutch mates. They seem to get darker around 12 -14 months. As individuals, they look more melanistic, but when mixed with other genes, that’s when you see their potential in combos.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2013.
Mode of Inheritance – seems to be recessive in nature – still being proven.
Combo Macs
Albino Axanthic (snow)
Albino striped
Axanthic Platinum
Axanthic granite
paradox granite
axanthic patch
snow & sunglow ?
Children's Python
Antaresia childreni
Antaresia childreni
This species is the second smallest python taxon in the world. Typically grows to less than 1 meter.
They are patterned with small irregular smooth-edged blotches, typically light brown on a light brown, tan or grey. As they age, the patterns on most children’s pythons fade, with many becoming patternless.
T+ Albino Children's
p.205 The Complete Children's Python
The dull brown background colour of the typical children’s is replaced with orange/yellow hues with bright lavenders and deep purple hues in the small blotches. These beauties stand out in any collection.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2006.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Ghost Children's
p.216 The Complete Children's Python
It appears to be a form of hypomelanism with a variable reduction in dark pigments & pattern, giving them a ghostly silvery haze, which always looks like they are about to shed.
When used in combination with other genes, the ghost influence can be pretty distinct.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2005.
Mode of Inheritance – Polygenic in nature
Ghost in T+
Speckled (granite) Children's
p.219 The Complete Children's Python
A spectacular children’s morph where the already small blotches are broken up to give a speckled/granite appearance on an orange-hued base. Like most children’s pythons, the markings tend to fade with age.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2012.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Marbled Children's
p.226 The Complete Children's Python
This stunning morph is full of surprises. Hatchings appear pale yellow/apricot, almost lacking dark pigment, with faint speckles. As they mature, they acquire more speckling concentrated dorsally. The amount of variation in this morph is incredible, with many appearing to show white blotching resembling a pied.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2013.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Yellow Children's
The dull base colour is replaced with pale yellow to yellow and orange small blotches, very different to normal children’s pythons.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2006.
Mode of Inheritance – Polygenic in nature
Combo Children's
Chimera T+
CHIMERA T+
paradox T+
ghost t+
chimera ghost t+
ghost t+
paradox marble
Stimson's Python
Antaresia stimsoni
Antaresia stimsoni
Small species measuring less than 100cm.
The stimson’s python maintains its bold contrasting patterns which consist of large, smooth-edged rounded blotches. Some eastern specimens have smaller ragged blotches within the pattern, ranging from dark chocolate to a red-brown colour. Background can be from cream to grey or tan.
Sunburst Stimson's
p.248 The Complete Children's Python
Selective breeding of the Tennant Creek Stimson’s has created these exceptional xanthic snakes showing high yellows and oranges.
We created this line and have been working with and breeding these since 2006.
Mode of Inheritance – Polygenic in nature
T+ Stimson's
(Ray Line)
These are spectacular yellow base colours with bright orange blotches on top. T+ Stimson’s do not express the typical lavenders like in the children’s pythons.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2018.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
T+ Stimson's
(Evans Line)
Their base colours can be grey thru to cream with orange to rust coloured blotches but have very distinct dark coloured eyes.
T+ Stimson’s do not express the typical lavenders like in the children’s pythons.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2016.
Mode of Inheritance – Recessive in nature
Patternless Stimson's
p.232 The Complete Children's Python
Extremely reduced pattern appearing hypomelanistic.
We have been working with and breeding these since 2010.
Mode of Inheritance – Unknown – still proving
