Suggestions Please on Where to Start!!

Step 1 is to learn the basic three types of genes (dominant, co-dominant, and recessive) and how they interact with each other. For simplicity's sake, every ball python morph falls into one of these categories.

Let's say I'm in love with a gene called GREEN. I'm going to give you genetics examples of how GREEN would react with a normal snake if it were first a dominant gene, then a co-dominant gene. Then, I'm going to give you genetics examples of how GREEN would react with another GREEN animal if it were first a dominant gene, then a co-dominant gene. In order to appear visually, only one parent needs to pass along a copy of the gene - this is true for both dominant and co-dominant.

Dominant Genetics:

• GREEN x normal = 1/2 GREEN, 1/2 normal

Co-Dominant Genetics:

• GREEN x normal = 1/2 GREEN, 1/2 normal

Obviously, you can see that the results of these two (regardless of gene type) is the same. With each of these types, there is a 50% chance that the GREEN gene will be passed on to the offspring.

Dominant Genetics:

• GREEN x GREEN = 3/4 GREEN, 1/4 norm​al

Co-Dominant Genetics:

• GREEN x GREEN = 1/4 Super GREEN, 1/2 GREEN, 1/2 normal

The results of these two is different, and is the reason for the distinction between dominant and co-dominant. There is still a 50% chance that the GREEN gene will be passed on to the offspring. However, with the dominant genes, the look of the baby doesn't differ from the original GREEN gene when both parents pass along a copy of the GREEN gene. With the co-dominant gene, when both parents pass along a copy of the GREEN gene, you end up with a Super GREEN baby! The difference is whether or not there is a "Super" form of the gene when talking about dominant vs co-dominant.

I've already given you most examples of recessive genetics, but let's pretend GREEN was recessive and I'll do the same thing as above. In order for recessive genes to appear visually, both parents MUST pass on a copy of that gene to the offspring. If only one passes along the gene, then they are considered "hets" - meaning they do have a copy of the gene to pass along to their own offspring, but do not appear visually different from a normal.

Recessive Genetics:

• GREEN x GREEN = GREEN
• GREEN x normal = het GREEN
• GREEN x het GREEN = 1/2 GREEN, 1/2 het GREEN
• het GREEN x het GREEN = 1/4 GREEN, 1/2 het GREEN, 1/4 normal (all snakes not GREEN are considered "66% possible het GREEN" - can't tell whether they're normal or het without breeding them to see if the GREEN gene is passed along or not)
• het GREEN x normal = 1/2 het GREEN, 1/2 normal (all snakes are considered "50% possible het GREEN" - can't tell whether they're normal or het without breeding them to see if the GREEN gene is passed along or not)

Step 2 is determining which morphs fall into which category. There really is no way to learn that other than memorization and familiarity. The OWAL Genetics Calculator I linked you to previously has them separated into categories already for you to play with. There are also other lists to be found online with a little Google searching.

Genetics can be very daunting at first - it's typically a third year course in college. Luckily, ball python genetics are about as straight forward as it gets, which is one of the many reasons why this hobby has exploded as fast as it has. With a basic understanding of dominant vs co-dominant vs recessive (and really only co-dominant vs recessive and knowing which dominant genes don't have supers), you can essentially figure out how to produce nearly any morph that can be or has been produced.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

do I have the following correct?

on a recessive gene, for the offspring to show that gene, both parents must posses the gene, albinos for example. You can breed an albino with a regular ball and as long as the regular ball has a recessive albino gene, some offspring can be albino... same with the pied gene.

...

if I have this correct, awesome. I still don't understand the 'het' term.

---

You just answered your own question! :D If the regular looking ball has the recessive albino gene, it is considered a het albino. If not, it's just a plain regular ole normal ball python. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

do I have the following correct?

if either parent possesses a dominant gene it doesn't matter whether the mate possesses the same gene, the offspring will still produce that dominant gene in the offspring guaranteed.

co-dominant gene will produce that gene in the offspring but if both parents possess that same co-dominant gene... here I'm lost. It'll produce a completely different animal than that co-dominant gene? ie, 2 co-dominant yellowbellies can produce an ivory?

if I have this correct, awesome.

---

Probably the easiest thing to learn here is that if the gene is not a recessive gene, there is a 50% chance that it will be visually passed along to the offspring no matter what the genes of the other parent are. If, by chance, the other parent also has the same gene (with the same 50% chance of being passed along), then 25% of the time (50% x 50% = 25%) the offspring will have two copies of the same gene.

When this gene is co-dominant, the offspring will look different than either of the parents - the "Super" form of the gene (Super Yellow Belly = Ivory, Super Mojave = Blue Eyed Leucistic, Super Pastel = Super Pastel, Super Enchi = Super Enchi, etc, etc, etc). Most of the time the "Super" form is called just that --> Super _____. Sometimes it's called something else just because someone decided that it needed a cool name.

With the Super forms, because there are two copies of the same gene in one animal, the best part is that there is now a 100% chance that the gene will be passed along to the offspring. Super Pastel x normal = Pastel (no normals!)

Clear as mud, right? You'll get there - promise! :gj:

I get it now, thanks for spending so much time explaining! Hopefully any other noobs that come along and are as thick headed as I am can find this thread in a search :D

Now to search for animals I'd like to keep and possibly breed in the future :D

one last question, regarding something with a recessive gene, like an albino. In order to get an albino spider, would I have to pair an albino with a spider het. albino? The spider het. albino would come from a spider paired with an albino?

or if I want a lesser pied, I'd have to breed a regualr pied with a lesser het pied? That lesser het. pied would come from paring an albino with a lesser?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

one last question, regarding something with a recessive gene, like an albino. In order to get an albino spider, would I have to pair an albino with a spider het. albino? The spider het. albino would come from a spider paired with an albino?

---

Yes! :D That would give you the best odds for an albino spider at 1/4. The alternative being pairing a normal het albino to a spider het albino (still getting the spider gene from one parent and the albino gene from each parent) with those odds at 1/8.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

or if I want a lesser pied, I'd have to breed a regualr pied with a lesser het pied? That lesser het. pied would come from paring an albino with a lesser?

---

Same as above, you could also pair a normal het pied to a lesser het pied, just with decreased chances at hitting your lesser pied.

Hets are a way for many people to begin a recessive project without having to invest the funds in a visual recessive animal (starting with only het pieds vs an actual pied for example). Doing this, though, decreases the odds that you'll produce a visual recessive baby. It's the trade-off that many people take though because of the pride that comes with hitting a visual recessive from a pair of hets. :)

:banana:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

I get it now, thanks for spending so much time explaining! Hopefully any other noobs that come along and are as thick headed as I am can find this thread in a search :D

---

You're welcome. Good thing it's my day off. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigIan

Now to search for animals I'd like to keep and possibly breed in the future :D

---

NOW YOU'RE TALKING!