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T+ Caramel Albinos in Boa Constrictors

Understanding the Morph

T+ (Tyrosinase Positive) Caramel Albinos are a recessive colour morph in Boa constrictors. Like other recessive genes, a boa must inherit two copies of the T+ gene (one from each parent) to visually express the trait.

Unlike T- (Tyrosinase Negative) albinos—such as Kahl and Sharp strains, which completely lack melanin—T+ Caramel Albinos retain some melanin-related pigments. This allows them to display shades of brown, grey, pink, and red instead of the stark whites and yellows seen in T- albinos.

Their coloration is often compared to toast, with variations ranging from lighter golden-brown tones to deep caramel hues. Some individuals display a mix of both, making them highly variable in appearance.

Different T+ Caramel Albino Lines

There are multiple lines of T+ Caramel Albinos, many originating from Central America, and most are not compatible with each other. These include:

  • Nicaraguan T+

  • Lindy T+

  • Costa Rican T+

  • Honduran T+

  • Burke Line T+

  • Boa Woman Caramel (BWC) T+

  • Prodigy T+

  • Platinum T+

  • Gilbert T+

  • VPI T+

 

Among these, Boa Woman Caramel (BWC) and Prodigy T+ are uniquely compatible with Sharp albino. When crossed, BWC and Sharp boas produce Paradigm boas (double het offspring that are visually distinct). Breeding Paradigm siblings together can yield Sharp Albinos, T+ Albinos, and more Paradigms. Prodigy and Sharp create Paradise boas much like the Paradigm boas.

Nicaraguan T+ Albinos: Origin & Traits

The Nicaraguan T+ Albino boa was first discovered at The Snake Keeper (TSK) when a wild-caught clutch from Nicaragua produced unexpected albino offspring. Similar individuals later appeared from other imports, confirming the mutation. The original T+ that TSK bred also popped out another snake called an Apocalypse which similar to some of the other dark T+ albinos. It is still very expensive as the genetics are not clear but it has far more pastel shading in it.

Nicaraguan boas are some of the smaller mainland Boa imperator, typically growing 1.3 to 1.6 meters. Unlike many dwarf island boas, these boas are bigger than them however they retain a moderate size while staying much smaller than Colombian boas.

Characteristics of Nicaraguan T+ Boas

  • Display grey, brown, and pink tones.

  • Often develop more speckling as they age.

  • Smaller size compared to Colombian boas.

  • More defensive than other Boa imperator but settle with handling.

  • Prefer climbing and hiding spots in captivity.

Breeding & Genetic Combos

Nicaraguan T+ boas have also been bred with Central American Hypo and Motley to create unique morphs:

  • T+ Sunglow (T+ and Hypo) – A brighter, cleaner version with enhanced red tones.

  • T+ Motley – Often appears darker but can be striking in Sunglow form.

  • T+ Super Motley – A lethal genetic combination that results in failure to thrive.

When first importing these boas from TSK, many breeders were underwhelmed by their photos but kept them due to their better in-hand appearance. Crossed with CA hypo this makes a CA sunglow which is not as stunning as some of the other sunglows but is still a nice snake. Crossed with CA motley was not a brilliant idea because then they get very dark however in Sunglow look good again.
This morph of snake does get more speckling as it grows older and is a deep brown on a light fawn background and actually very pretty. For someone who wants to just keep a smaller boa this is the answer. Central American boas are far more nervous and it takes some patience to get them to stop trying to defend themselves as soon as you open the cage. They do like climbing and use a hide box if offered one.

Notable T+ Caramel Albino Combinations

1. El Diablo – (T+ + Blood)

  • Intensifies deep reds and oranges.
  • One of the most stunning caramel albino variations.

2. Phoenix Boa – (T+ + Hypo + Blood)

  • Enhances colour even further.
  • Still maintains compact Central American size.

3.    T+ Leopard Sunglow – (T+ + Hypo + Leopard)

  • High-red and striking contrast.
  • Considered a premium morph.

VPI T+ Albino: The Best-Known T+ Line

The VPI T+ Albino is one of the most well-known caramel albino lines. It was discovered in 1996 by Becky Hutchins in Texas when two unusual albino boas appeared in a litter. VPI (Dave and Tracy Barker) acquired them soon after.

Characteristics of VPI T+ Albino Boas

  • Deep red eyes (not bright pink like T- albinos).

  • Medium purple-grey replaces black pattern.

  • Freckling increases with age.

  • Pure Colombian lineage (from the Magdalena River drainage in Colombia).

  • Even though they are Boa imperator, but their distinct head patterns and bat wing markings suggest some Boa constrictor influence as these two species do meet around where these snakes originate.

  • The Magdalena River is the largest river system of Colombia and the drainage basin area covers 257,438  square kilometres and over 20% of the Colombia territory, and includes a considerable portion of the Colombian Andes. That is a massive place if you are not sure where these snakes were found.
Unique Line-Bred Variations of VPI T+

Some VPI T+ lines have been selectively bred to enhance colour intensity:

  • Pink Panther – Soft pink hues develop over time.

  • Red Panther – Intensifies deep reds.

  • White Line – Reduces yellows, enhancing clean, pale coloration.

These traits sometimes act as incomplete dominant traits, meaning some babies inherit subtle traits, while double-dose versions intensify them.

VPI T+ Combinations

  • VPI Sunglow – (VPI T+ + Hypo)

  • VPI Snow – (VPI T+ + Anery)

  • VPI Snowglow – (VPI T+ + Anery + Hypo)

  • VPI Habanero – (VPI T+ + Hypo + Leopard) – One of the most valuable morphs.

Among these, Habanero has become the most sought-after T+ combo, with some of the best examples bred by Tim Eisel of Imperatormorphs in Germany.

VPI T+ Boas in Captivity

  • Strong feeders – Readily accept frozen-thawed food.

  • Not dwarf boas – Grow to standard Colombian boa sizes.

  • Colour improves with age, unlike some morphs that fade.

Why Are T+ Caramel Albinos Special?

1.    Retain melanin-related pigments, giving them unique caramel, pink, and brown tones.

2.    Multiple incompatible lines exist, requiring careful breeding.

3.    Smaller Central American T+ boas are ideal for those seeking compact boas.

4.    VPI T+ boas remain the most popular due to their striking coloration and proven genetics.

5.    Numerous high-value combinations of T+ albinos such as Habanero, El Diablo, and Paradigm continue to shape the boa hobby.

6.    VPI T+ boas are easy to feed and are aggressive feeders taking dead food from after their first shedding. They are not dwarf boas and will grow to decent sizes.

7. They do not suffer from the potential eye issues Kahl and Sharp albino can show.