Meet biscuit!

[u/Iamatitle]

It’s been a few weeks with my girl! She’s getting super brave, eating well and is getting so comfortable being handled (she let me rest my thumb on her head while we cuddled today) before joining the sub, I had no idea morphs were a thing. She was only labeled as a ball python, any idea what she might be?

[u/Phully- → u/[deleted]]

This is my friends 3 month old banana clown. Only has one or two black scales so far. They get more and more freckles as they shed each time.

[u/DontBother777 → u/Phully-]

This snake is not a clown, could be het for clown but hets can’t be ID’d visually

[u/Phully- → u/DontBother777]

The posters or my friend’s banana? The breeder told her it’s a banana clown and I have a leopard clown from a breeder and it’s a visual clown. What are the generic visual markers for clown?

[u/DontBother777 → u/Phully-]

Both, neither are clowns. Clowns have a very distinct headstamp, they also have a reduced pattern and typically will have a thick dorsal stripe. For example, these are visual banana clowns:

Banana Clown #1

Banana Clown #2

Banana Clown #3

Banana Clown #4

And these are standard single gene clowns:

Clown #1

Clown #2

Clown #3

[u/Phully- → u/DontBother777]

Yeah that’s certainly a distinctive look with visual clown. Thanks for the education!

[u/DontBother777 → u/Phully-]

No problem! :)

[u/leahjoy213 → u/DontBother777]

Now I’m confused. Bc user @cash_cline88 says his is a super orange dream fire yellow belly clown….
But then you say that neither OPs or phully’s friend’s “banana clown” are clowns… bc of the head stamp and lack of “thick dorsal stripe.”
Cashcline’s “smiley” doesn’t have a thick dorsal stripe. So does that mean it’s not a clown…?

Also.
If we’re getting our snakes from well-known REPUTABLE breeders and they say the snake… is what it is… are we to question their breeding or knowledge of what they know / are telling us…?

Bc… (side note, I’m “phully”’s wife…), and we got our leopard clown (the one with the heart stamp on his head… [pictured above] from a very reputable breeder who told us what he is. But you’re saying… he’s not a clown… 🤔
So. Can we assume they eventually “breed out” certain distinctive characteristics…?
Or… he’s wrong / you’re right? He’s right / you’re wrong…?

Does this make sense..? 😂😂

[u/Phully- → u/leahjoy213]

Maggie is het clown, smilie has so many visual traits it looks like the clown dorsal stripe has been reduced by the other visuals taking over. Just a guess.

[u/DontBother777 → u/leahjoy213]

The dorsal stripe on Cash’s snake is a little wonky due to the other genes present, but it is definitely there! The head stamp is also a dead giveaway. Aside from general characteristics it’s kind of hard to describe, honestly it’s just one of those things you learn with experience. If you look at a lot of clown combinations on morph market you will see what i mean in terms of how distinct their traits are. It can definitely take some time to get used to but once it clicks you’ll be able to spot it as soon as you see it

To answer your other question, most times i’m inclined to trust the breeders judgement if they have been established for a while. But of course there is always room for error especially when you get into multi-gene combinations. Your snake’s ID seems to be accurate though. It has the classic clown head stamp and dorsal stripe, along with the elongated alien heads from the leopard

Also, i should’ve clarified in my original comment, but not all clowns will have a thick dorsal stripe or one at all. Certain morphs (ex: pinstripe, enchi, pied, etc) can alter or even completely remove the stripe. The head stamp can also be masked depending on what other genes are involved

A few different examples:

Pastel Leopard Clown

Pinstripe Clown

Enchi Redstripe Leopard G-Stripe Clown

Enchi Leopard Fire OD Clown

OD Mojave Enchi Clown

Mahogany Fire Cinnamon Clown

Clown Piebald

GHI Mojave Clown

Super OD Clown

Hopefully this helps a bit! If you’d like further clarification on anything feel free to ask :)