Markers

[piebald_ks]

Can someone explain to me how to identify and recognize "markers"? I understand the concept but need clarification from an expert. Thanks!

[cassandra]

There's been quite a few threads on markers, specifically pied markers. Do a search on "markers" and I bet you'll find quite a bit of information. =)

[RegiusCo]

Het-Pied marker is pure hogwash, here's a link explaining what it is.

http://www.nextworldexotics.com/hghpm.htm

[RandyRemington]

I suppose he used CH for that page to prove a point but I wish he had used known het pieds. Maybe there would be a subtle difference he hasn't noticed yet between the belly of most het pieds and the CH look-alikes.

There is also at least one example of a CH with the marker proving out. In fact it produced pastel pied. The owner didn't really believe in the marker but noticed it was different so line bred it after starting off with a pastel crossed with the CH.

I'm expecting a clutch any day from a known possible het pied with very good marker to a pet store girl that also has a good marker. I'm not holding my breath as she could well be a look-alike and nothing to do with pied but I did breed them because of the marker.

The marker certainly isn't perfect because it’s not seen in all het pieds (or pied would be considered co-dominant) but I've read estimates that as high as 80% of het pieds have it. Another big problem is that some presumed not het pieds also have the marker or at least something very much like it. But it still seems to be useful enough that many use it when selecting known possible het pieds for breeding.

There was one example presented 2nd hand on this site a few years ago of a large breeder having a big sample where 100% of markered possible het pieds did not prove het. I don't believe that example because it would require that the marker was a legitimate indicator of not being het pied. Basically it would be confirming that the marker as valid for relating to pied but that it has the opposite meaning from all other indications so far so I think it was fabricated to confuse this issue.

[johnabrams82]

out of all of my snakes I would say 40% have the het pied marker. but I only have 1 het pied. eventually i will breed pieds to the normals to try and see what happens ... I'll keep you all posted