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Gravel Grading System

This 5 point system Is based on generalizations made from breeding and hatching my line of gravel since 2008 with my 2006 import, ‘Orange Kush’. This is by no means Law, but this holds true for years of my own trials outcrossing STOCK GRAVEL. Some of these generalizations were outlined on Ball-Pythons.net years back to deem yellow bellies (their allelic cousin), but this is refined to include the tendencies of the best of the complex! Gravel!

Rules for Grading

There are 5 features to this belly complex grading system in which I denote 1 or partial point of expression.

If two items or more are clearly present per listing, it is counted as a point or degree of this 5 point system.

If one part is present it could gain a 1/2 point. If only one trait is on the line and it is clearly present it counts as 1 point.

Typically an animal expressing 3 of these points will always prove, while some that are only 2 out of 5 points won’t be deemed belly complex or be considered very low expression but could prove. I’ve never heard of a three point using this system not proving belly complex unless those expressions were taken literally versus actually looking at the animal and getting a feel for those traits being belly ‘style’. As well, these traits are present through many genes, so a grasp of there expression are completely necessary to utilize it. I have found this very helpful in deciding what I call what.

Point values For Gravel

*Faded head spot/lipsots
*Dorsal background blushing, fight for banding, gold outlined saddle patternation, high contrast background to pattern
*Melanin speckling in the lateral saddles
*Granite transition from scutes to lateral pattern, ventral birthmarks, tinted scutes
*Flamed lateral gradient inbetween saddle

Points For Yellowbelly

*Faded head spot/lipsots
*Dorsal background blushing
*Melanin speckling in the lateral saddles
*Granite transition from scutes to lateral pattern, clear white bellies, tinted scutes
*Flamed lateral gradient inbetween saddle

5/5 are some of the baddest belly complex animals around if not combos. It is rare to see these and with the exception of my founding male I have yet to produce one.
Typically stunners are 3 and up.
This does not work as effectively for wacky multi gene outcrosses that can change/rework everything.

There are things to add to these to make it geared specific to the certain alleles within the complex. Recognizing other things like spark, Spector and asphalt subtleties, idiosyncrasies must be incorporated to utilize it with those genes and this is something that I haven’t done. This is something I’ve been using for years just for Gravel.

Disclaimer

For clarification purposes, This grading system is used for knowingly breeding gravel and IDing their offspring And by no means would help anybody positively ID offspring from an allelic super. IE All the fun many keepers have calling their offspring YB/Gravel.

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