WhatMorph

Clown

VPI Clown · BHB line Clown
recessiveClown/Cryptic complexpartly sourced
Complex: Clown/Cryptic. Complex membership is as reported by breeders and community lists; most memberships have not been proven in a lab.

How to recognise it

HeadBusy, bright head instead of a clean dark cap: pale, variable 'head stamp' on the crown, light markings above the lips, and the namesake dark teardrop under each eye.
PatternHeavily reduced. Wide dark-brown dorsal stripe running neck to tail, little or no alien-head patterning on the sides, a few thin teardrop/drip bands hanging off the stripe; edges crisp, few flecks. Tail is usually solid dorsal stripe.
ColourPale yellow-gold to tan sides against a chocolate dorsal; overall cleaner and warmer than a normal.
BellyUsually clean, yellowish wash down the middle, faint spotting only at the outer edges.
EyesNormal dark eye; the marker is the teardrop spot below it, not the eye itself.
With ageNot yet verified against a source.

Rows marked "not yet verified" are withheld until they can be cited. Inheritance is the trade's usage unless a source below states it.

Visible in a single copy?

None reliable. Hets look normal; only the parents or a DNA test show het status.

Photos

Clown het VPI Axanthic, het Desert Ghost ball python
Clown het VPI Axanthic, het Desert Ghost
Seller's photo, used with permission. May be edited (background looks removed). Morph as labelled by the seller; not DNA-tested.
Clown het VPI Axanthic ball python
Clown het VPI Axanthic
Seller's photo, used with permission. May be colour-enhanced. Morph as labelled by the seller; not DNA-tested.
Clown het VPI Axanthic ball python
Clown het VPI Axanthic
Seller's photo, used with permission. May be colour-enhanced. Morph as labelled by the seller; not DNA-tested.

In combination with other genes

Pastel Clown het VPI Axanthic ball python
Pastel Clown het VPI Axanthic
Seller's photo, used with permission. May be colour-enhanced. Morph as labelled by the seller; not DNA-tested.
Pinstripe VPI Axanthic Clown ball python
Pinstripe VPI Axanthic Clown
Seller's photo, used with permission. May be colour-enhanced. Morph as labelled by the seller; not DNA-tested.

These animals carry several genes at once. The caption lists everything the animal is said to be; none of them shows this gene on its own.

Health and welfare

No gene-linked issue reported in the sources read. That is not proof there is none.

DNA test

A test is listed for Rare Genetics Inc: Clown (list read 2026-11-13 on MorphMarket's page for that lab). All listed tests

Sources for this page