Calico Royal Pythons for sale in the UK

A royal python (ball python) with the Calico gene displays a specific pattern and colour. This gene puts white onto the sides of the snake. These scattered white scales move from the belly up into the flanks. The back is darker than a normal's, and the amount of white varies in every animal. While keepers select for that variation, the white is most clear when Calico is combined with Pastel.

Appearance

The pattern is made of dark alien heads with bright yellow and deep gold edges. White scales appear as random splashes, often beginning at the ventral edge and moving upwards. While it usually sits inside the side markings, it can appear anywhere on the body. Some snakes have a few flecked scales low on the flanks, but on others, it covers much of the snake. A dark dorsal stripe on the tail usually takes its own white patches. The head looks close to a normal's, becoming a shade darker and fading to a lighter crown. Pink side patches in hatchlings turn white as the snake grows.

Genetics

Because one copy shows and no het exists, Calico is dominant. Although it is sold as co-dom or incomplete dominant, no breeding trial has proven out a Super Calico. Nothing shows yet that two copies look different from one. Super Calico is listed here for the day one is. No allelic partner is known. Sugar is a European line from the late 1990s. It looks the same, and many keepers take it to be the same mutation. Since no Sugar to Calico pairing has settled it, Sugar and Super Sugar are listed separately. Calico is also called White-Sided. Bubblegum is used for Pastel Calico and for very high-white Calicos. Other named combos are Calider (Calico Spider), Cali Bee (Pastel Spider Calico), Cinna Cal (Cinnamon Calico) and Graffiti (Paint Calico). The gene was proved out in 2002 by NERD. Recognised Calico lines include Biancaball and Flora & Fauna's line.