These are problems I always said I'd try to avoid with breeding, but sometimes your collection takes you down different roads than expected ...

This year I bred my albino het Joliff axanthic male to a het Joliff axanthic ph albino female. Unfortunately I didn't get any albinos, but I did get a really neat reduced pattern Joliff axanthic.

Now, I am about 90% sure that the babies are his, but here's the kicker ... She was bred to a double het (Joliff/albino) male the year before. While I think it's doubtful that she retained sperm from last year's breeding, it is possible that the double het is the sire since either male could've produced the Joliffs.

I'm planning on marketing these babies as "90% probable het albino" or something to that effect, because I've seen and heard enough sperm retention stories that I don't feel I can guarantee parenting.

My question is more about next year's babies (if she goes again this year) ... Or the year after. After how many breedings would you feel it's safe to rule out sperm retention (and thus, say with relative certainty that the albino is the sire)?

And, because threads are more fun with pictures ...