Green Tree Python Color Change

[Kent67]

A few didn't know about ontogenetic color change in Green Tree Pythons in my other thread so I thought this sequence might be interesting. This is Lily from when I got her at 3 months old in 2006 to now.

(October, 2006)

(December, 2006)
Typical "ditry" Aru color change.

(May 8, 2007)

Ten days later. Gone green but more white to come in (May 18, 2007):

(October, 2007)

Just before breeding (December, 2009):

And then color change up to egg deposition last weekend:

As a long-time chameleon enthusiast, can you see why I got into gtp's?

 

[Montium]

nope hehehe

 

[hondataeg6]

AWESOME snake Dude... If my wife wasn't so Scared of them I would totally get a GTP...

 

[Olimpia]

She's beeeautiful. I knew they started out either red or yellow, but I never knew females turned blue after breeding.

Edit - is that blue permanent? Or will she go back to green?

 

[Rocky]

is that blue permanent? Or will she go back to green?

that's what i was wondering

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

absolutly amazing, great documentation.!

 

[Kent67]

Thanks everyone. The change to blue is apparently induced hormonally and usually becomes permanent after the 2nd breeding. Some change back to green after the 1st breeding and some stay blue. It also runs in bloodlines. All of the mothers, grandmothers, and even a great-grandmother are all very blue.

Here's a link to a pic of my male's mother with her clutch from the year after him: http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/photo.php?id=58172

 

[ChameleonAyer]

Your snake is beautiful!!! I've been wanting one for ages... some day I will have to take the leap!