Some individuals of C. orientalis periodically lighten in color, and the resulting coloration can range from a ground color of ash-white, grey, tan, or even slightly burgundy. This color change is often accompanied by the appearance of a faint orange, red, or brown dorsal stripe and darker marbling along the flanks and extending onto the tail. The bright ventral coloration remains unchanged. There does not seem to be any consistent explanation for why this occurs, and the duration varies from hours to months. Some individuals may have these variant colors on a permanent basis.