How can you tell the difference between a snow and an avalanche?

I know that the genetics are different, but as babies, they look the same to me. Is there some way to visually tell them apart when they first hatch? I can tell the adults of the two morphs apart visually, but not the babies.

Thanks!

Snows have a belly pattern, avalanche do not.

Originally Posted by Shiari

Snows have a belly pattern, avalanche do not.

Oh duh! I don't know why I didn't think of that! Obviously the diffused wipes out the belly checkers. :P Thanks!

The best way to tell is by belly checks. All snows generally have some type of defined belly check.

Snow belly:


You can see the faint clear to white checkers.

Avalanche have no belly checks. The belly is a uniform white.

Avalanche belly:


Plain belly with zero color variance.

The thing that will throw it is motley.... a snow motley will have the same stark white belly. When motley seems to be present, I gauge it by the amount of yellow. Generally an avalanche will have little to no yellow, where a snow might have a tinge or a lot.

Avalanche face:

No yellow to be seen.

It all comes down to knowing and trusting the breeder.

Gosh, we have a darling snow, but the Avalanches are so stark white, absolutely gorgeous!

I'm going to disagree with Autumn on one point. Avalanches can have a _lot_ of yellow. If you search for pictures of Pepper or Hunter, you can see this. Or Jackyl or White Mamba, for plain avalanches, not stripes.

The opal blood will not have any yellow, in my experience. A blizzard will typically have less than a snow or avalanche, but they can surprise you and develop lots of yellow, too.