PETCO got themselves a ringer! and question

Not gonna lie, I havn't paid too much attention to the genetics behind these as they have interested me little, just read over the hunters guide to ringers a few times. HOWEVER, as some may know, I work at a PETCO and we just got in a shipment of BP's and one of them is a ringer. Not an excellent example of the trait, but a ringer nonetheless. I currently have him on hold, as I am not sure as to whether he will fit into my current plans in anyway. I am curious as to whether anyone could shed a bit more light on the genetics, and whether it makes any sense to get him when I am focusing more on visual morphs ATM.

So far as I know, ringers are totally random. They seem to be more frequently seen in pied hets...but so far as I know, no one has ever proven the ringer trait to be genetic OR to be a sure marker for the pied gene.

I'd buy it for the coolness factor, if I liked it...but not for any intentions beyond having a normal snake in the breeding pool.

If there is no pattern irregularity it is just a normal with a spot. I think.

If there is an irregularity in the pattern then it is possible that it is carrying the pied gene.

Thats what I was thinking... If I had a reasonable chance of him being a het pied I think it would be pretty cool to prove out a PETCO pied, however on coolness factor, I think even a low grade pastel would outshine him... it takes a keen eye to pic it out from other normals as the white creeps up from the belly only barely. What caught my eye was that there was a medium sized orange patch down by his tail surrounding the white. But other than that... yea...

anybody have a pic of a ringer as I have no idea what you are refering to???

Here ya go:

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ner...d=42&Itemid=63

I live on that site..

petco has recently had a lot of high white, even black pastel looking animals at first take but then you look more closely at them and they arent. we have two near my home. I agree with JLC that its nice to have but I would not buy it expecting anything. Petco usually gets there animals for a large US breeder that just farms out normal balls although I cannot remember the name off the top of my head. It was years and years ago that I researched it and if I come across it again I will post it.

Petco goes through suppliers like a flu victim goes through kleenex.

They will use someone for a while then go elsewhere for a better price or because you irritated someone.

They also irritate some of their suppliers by not paying for animals that are replaced by petco then charged back to the supplier on a subsequent shipment.

I used to work for one of their tank and animal suppliers so I know this first hand. Though it was a few years ago I doubt it has changed.

I would love to see a pic :) If it strikes your fancy, I don't see much harm in buying it. I have a striped male that, if he does not prove genetic, I still plan on keeping merely for his "wow" factor (to me at least..)

you never know with farmed or wc what the genetics are going to be......you could be the one to prove the ringer out, theres always the possibility. if i were in your position i would go for it, do you know wether its a male or female?