Metal Flake
Type: Recessive
First Produced By: Dan Wolfe
Aliases: Gold Flake, MF
First Produced In: 2004
Availability: Average
Last Updated: 2023-02-22
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About
Metal Flake is a recessive trait that seems to be linked to Piebald.
History
Metal Flake popped up in a Piebald x Piebald pairing by Dan Wolfe in 2004. It seemingly disappeared when he sold his collection.
Michael Cole: Back in 2004 I saw some photos shared with me by my friend Dan Wolfe and his wife, this was a new mutation that appeared in his Piebald collection when breeding Pied to Pied and it was cool. He called it Metal Flake.
Dan was a pioneer in several mutations of Ball Pythons in his day, but sadly for the hobby, he decided to retire and sold his collection several years later to pursue his other interests. Many of his other mutations are still around today but sadly this one disappeared for many years until a couple of years ago when it popped back up in the Steve Roussis’ collection.
The Metal Flake gene still has much to be learned about it, but at this time, Metal Flake Pieds have been produced by breeding;
- Metal Flake Piebald’s to Metal Flake Piebald’s
- Metal Flake Piebald’s to Pied het Metal Flakes … and also het Pieds or visual Pieds.
The number of “metal flakes” and the size of the “metal flakes” in the Piebald’s seem to be as random as the amount of white in Piebald’s in general, however, we need to experiment more with some high Metal Flake occurrence to high Metal Flake occurrence breedings to be certain.
The gene has not been separated from the Piebald gene yet, and honestly, we have not tried to but it does appear it’s likely a Piebald-linked trait.
Lots of cool Combos with Metal flake will be appearing in the next few years. [1]
Appearance
Body
In Piebald Combos: Metal Flake Piebald’s patterning are not surrounded by the typical black pattern of a usual Piebald’s. Metal Flake Pieds produce what appears to be flecks of gold dust or gold flakes depending on the combo.
Controversy
Since a Metal Flake Ball Python is yet known to have been produced outside of a Piebald combo, it is still yet to be proven as truely recessive. However given that any hets so far have not been identified as visual by either Michael Cole, Dan Wolfe or Steve Roussis, it is unlikely MF is incomplete dominant or dominant.
Proven Lines
No known proven lines
Related Traits
Combos
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 28 % High Expression White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 29 % White Male by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 58 % White High Expression Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 64 % White High Expression Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 73 % White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 77 % White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 77 % White High Expression WOW Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 79 % White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2021 Ghost Metal Flake Pied 81 % White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2022 Ghost Metal Flake Enchi Piebald 24% White Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2022 Metal Flake Piebald Enchi 35% White Het Ghost Female by Ballroom Pythons South
2022 Metal Flake Piebald Mojave Pastel 71% White Male by Ballroom Pythons South
2022 Piebald Mojave Pastel Het Metal Flake 42% White FemaleBallroom Pythons South
