Unknown! Probably just a minor mutation..... Mother Nature has plans of her own,doesn't she?

Here are pix of the other 3 members of the original pot. This is the pot where the infected one was. You can see the other aloe in it is now flowering. This pot is not near my main collection. These next 2 are the agave at top and another aloe in the bottom picture. These are near my main collection. Consensus is: quarantine the 3 possible infected ones? Is an agave susceptible? I thought they were bulletproof. This is not fun.

Norma, I'm really frustrated with this as well. Here are a few photos of A. petricola that I bought last year from Arid Lands. Bob Web acknowledged that particular plant had been treated with a systemic for aloe mite (cancer) and that it was cured of the disease. He offered me to return the item; but I decided to just toss it; $12 plant wasn't worth it. You're absolutely right Norma, they should never ever sell damaged plants. In my case, they had known of the problem and they still mailed them to me (this was my first order from Arid Lands). My latest order from Arid Lands, of course, to my surprise had cancer scarring (photo above). This time, I emailed them before I placed the order to insure that they check my plants for any mite damage and not send ones that show any scarring. I felt that they were a little taken aback by my request and they ultimately agreed. Well, you know the rest of the story. As a side note, I had ordered a 1 gallon plant and got a 4" size identical to my other 4" size plan (same species). I sent them the photos of the 2 identical 4" plants and asked for the appropriate credit; but they refused and mentioned "prices are fixed", that I could return the plant and get a refund that way! So if Arid Lands is listening (I am sure they are), my suggestion to them is never sell these damaged plants to customers. Period. It doesn't matter whether the plant is presumably cured of the disease - JUST DON'T SEND THEM in those conditions. -j

Jess Completely normal, that is how aloes propagate. No need to do anything, they will grow on their own and start 'poking' thru the mix. (I just noticed mesembs said same thing already :) Soon you'll have few Aloe variegatas. Your mother plant looks very healthy from what I can see.