Bigger, Badder, Better?

I've been working on improving my jumbo line, mixing lines, putting "mutants" together, and selecting only the largest of the litter.

About 2 weeks ago I got one mutant ... it was 60 grams before it opened its eyes. Last week I got 12 out of a litter of 14. The 12 fuzzies weigh 40g each. Their 2 smaller litter mates are at 18g (18g is about average for a fuzzie). So I either stumbled onto an obesity gene or a growth gene.

Anyhow they are pictured below ... All I had at the time was my can of chew so it probably not a very good reference piece.

Here you can see the 2 brown ones ... the bigger brown is the biggest in the litter at 42g

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...rs/Litter2.jpg

And here you can see the 2 brown ones side by side.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...sidebyside.jpg

Bryan

I know what you mean, Ive had a few litters like that, Im working on selectively breeding a few of those right now too.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32649

This guy was 42 grams before opening eyes, at ~ 14-16 days

He was in a little of 8 I think, and all of them were of that size.


At 4 weeks when I weaned them from the mother they were 120 grams I believe. 140-160 grams at 5 weeks. I will have to check my notes when im back home

*litter of 8* typo

Wow, that's huge. I wonder if it's just a gene for huge pups or if the growth will continue as they mature?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xdeus

Wow, that's huge. I wonder if it's just a gene for huge pups or if the growth will continue as they mature?

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I think mine hit large status at 7 or 8 weeks (about 4-5 weeks ahead of schedule)....

Still not sure how long term it will go, but it is looking promising.

The one early mutant I got (not in this tub father was a different strain ... female was the same strain) is 5 weeks now and 140g ... not as long as a medium but alot wider. I'll try to get the camera out to the shop tomorrow ...


Bryan