Normals but siblings to morphs?

[SilverWolf]

This might be a stupid question. But I've noticed some mention (more when selling) that a normal was the sibling to a morph such as Lesser or Mojave, etc. So the question, does a normal ball python that is a sibling to a visual morph anymore special than a normal from two normal parents? Of course I'm not talking about a normal looking ball python that is het for something. Like I said, maybe a stupid question but I was just wondering.

Thanks!

[SlitherinSisters]

I've wondered that myself. To my knowledge it doesn't really matter that it was a sibling to a pastel or mojave, but I have read that sort of stuff when looking at normals

[rabernet]

They don't carry any special genes - they're still just a normal. However, they can sometimes be a little brighter in color than other normals. They should be priced the same as any other normal.

[m00kfu]

The way I see it is it's usually just someone trying to cash in on the "hidden gene" idea. Ralph Davis's platty daddy produces normal looking offspring which carry a hidden gene that when combined with a lesser platinum, can create more platty daddies. So in that case, lesser siblings produced from a platty daddy WOULD actually be worth paying extra for. In general though, it's just marketing. Don't pay any attention to it, and don't pay any extra for it.

[ajeff]

The way I see it is it's usually just someone trying to cash in on the "hidden gene" idea. Ralph Davis's platty daddy produces normal looking offspring which carry a hidden gene that when combined with a lesser platinum, can create more platty daddies. So in that case, lesser siblings produced from a platty daddy WOULD actually be worth paying extra for. In general though, it's just marketing. Don't pay any attention to it, and don't pay any extra for it.

This is true for butters too, correct? I have not been following them like I have the platinum lines

[Argentra]

Yep, they're still just normals but it can sometimes explain brighter coloring or unusual markings on them.
For instance, my pastel girl came from a pastel to pinstripe mating. She's still "just" a pastel, but some of her dark areas are a little narrower than you'd usually see.

[Joe_Compel]

A handful of years ago when the classifieds were full of imported normals and not as morphs as today, some breeders would distinguish their captive bred and born offspring from the importer's captive hatched or wild caught offspring by saying something like "these normals hatched alongside pastels, spiders, etc." or just called them "normal pastel siblings or pastel sibs". It was a way for breeders to specify that they too had normals and that the normals were captive born. It didn't occur to people that breeders were producing normals too.

Some breeders ask more for captive bred and born hatchlings. There is a lot of time and effort involved.

The lesser sibs are a different ball of wax.....as someone already covered. Even though some may be trying to cash in on it at at times, it is not a crock. I wouldn't be surprised if more hidden genes are uncovered in normal looking sibs.

For what it is worth, I think a captive bred and born normal should be sold for more than an imported hatchling.......but I am cool with breeders lowering their prices on normals to come close to the imported stuff. It would be nice if captive bred snakes eliminated the need for imports.

[RichardA]

I have noticed that some, not all, but some morph sibs seem to have a little different pattern and color to them. I dont mind paying a little extra for a normal with a nice pattern and color, so a morph sib is still a normal in the sense, but may be worth a little more to a person for the pattern and color.

[WingedWolfPsion]

No, butters won't possibly carry the "daddy" gene. Lesser platinums were all produced from the Platinum (Platty Daddy) male--that male carries the hidden gene. So, his offspring carry it, too--and so on. Every Lesser out there has a chance of carrying that hidden gene, albeit for most of them a very small chance. But butters didn't come from the Platinum male, so they do not carry the gene.

I believe RDR did breed the Platinum gene INTO some butters to make 'Butter-Daddies", but there aren't a bunch of butters out there carrying the gene, to the best of my knowledge.

[SilverWolf]

Thank you all for your replies!

I myself was told my normal male had a Lesser dad and normal mom. But the breeder never tried to make it out to be anything more special and didn't up the price any. But I have always wondered if he looked better because of having a Lesser father or just because he's was my first Ball Python and means a lot to me.

Thanks again!