The Ghost complex

As what I know, Ghost is also known as Hypo. Correct me if Im wrong.

And there are different Ghost lines out there. So I know of Butterscotch ghost, orange ghost, and yellow ghost. Are there anymore Ghosts?

I heard from one guy that yellow Ghosts are compatible with orange Ghosts. I heard the opposite from another guy I considered an expert but already told me something wrong about Fires the other day. He also said that breeder lines matter too.. Why does breeder line matter? If the morphs are the same, it should be ok right?

Infos on the Ghost morphs would be appreciated.. I know I can get the right answers here.. Thank in advance.

There are also Green and Blue Ghosts. My personal favorites are Butterscotch ghosts, but I own one so I'm a little biased.

Ghosts were the original name given to Hypomelanistic bps, however a true ghost is an anxanthic/hypo combination.

Breeder lines matter for looks and compatability reasons. Not all hypo lines are compatable with each other, most are but some are not.

Ghost is another name given to hypo or hypomelanistic BPs.

I was talking to Adam at 8ball pythons, and he said that a few years ago, breeders were under the impression if you bred an orange ghost to an orange ghost you only get more orange ghosts, now, they think that you can actually get butterscotch ghosts, orange ghosts and yellow ghosts out of an orange to orange breeding.

I've done no breeding, so i cant give my opinion on this, but i thought i'd pass along the info he'd given me.

To go back to the original question, from what i have heard....:

Orange, butterscotch and yellow ghosts are compatible through eachother.
Green Ghosts, im not sure about.
Blue ghosts are only compatible with other blue ghosts.

I have herd it both ways too... I played it safe and stuck with the same line for future breeding projects. I didn't want to take any chances.

Has anyone tried to breed different lines?

Orange to Butterscotch has been done. Not sure about others.

So Axanthis Ghost is a true Ghost? I heard that b4. So it's a visual of both Axanthic and Ghost makes a true Ghost.. Axanthic with any ghost?

If the Axanthic ghost is the true Ghost, what about all the other Ghost? Should they be considered Hypos instead of Ghosts?

So how many Ghost morphs out there total?

Does anyone have pictures of them all to compare? I can't tell between them.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

Orange to Butterscotch has been done. Not sure about others.

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Did it work? If so, what was the outcome?

Hypo's are one of those morphs that I will only use one type of just to be sure. Hate to have a clutch not produce because lines are not compatible. My two cents. I like the butterscotch. Color screams.:)

I've read that no one has produced an actual Ghost/Axanthic before...something about the genetics won't produce a true cross.

So... (in my head) a Ghost/Axanthic would be a silver snake probably with a pattern (or something like that) cause the hypomelanistic (low-melanin) gene would suppress black/brown and the axanthic gene would suppress yellows...

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Originally Posted by t-Roy

So Axanthis Ghost is a true Ghost? I heard that b4. So it's a visual of both Axanthic and Ghost makes a true Ghost.. Axanthic with any ghost? Yes.

If the Axanthic ghost is the true Ghost, what about all the other Ghost? Should they be considered Hypos instead of Ghosts? This is one of those naming dilemmas in the bp world. To me Hypos are hypos and ghosts are Axanthic/Hypos. I think they were originally called ghosts because it was more marketable than Hypos.

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Here is a link to a thread with some true ghost pics...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ght=true+ghost

Post # 7 has a good picture...

Cool, so it can be done...*very exited about possibilities*

Do the lines matter when trying to cross hypo to axanthic? Example, I have a Bell line hypos and VPI line axanthics. Would they produce true Ghosts?

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

I've read that no one has produced an actual Ghost/Axanthic before...something about the genetics won't produce a true cross.

So... (in my head) a Ghost/Axanthic would be a silver snake probably with a pattern (or something like that) cause the hypomelanistic (low-melanin) gene would suppress black/brown and the axanthic gene would suppress yellows...

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That was true until about 6 months ago. The Sutherlands (TSK) hatched one out last summer.

Your description is relatively accurate, although it is darker than I thought of when reading it. I would call it a combination of silver grey and charcoal grey.

I wonder if they would lighten with age or "brown out" at all. Its going to be exiting to see what happens.

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This is one of those naming dilemmas in the bp world. To me Hypos are hypos and ghosts are Axanthic/Hypos. I think they were originally called ghosts because it was more marketable than Hypos.

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Totaly agree with you, why is a Ghost, a double recessive Axanthic/Hypo with all other subspecies of snake mutation project and yet, people are still calling them Ghost instead of Hypos, the SnakeKeeper where the first to produce the double homo Axanthic/Hypo and named it ''The Ghost'', not a True Ghost, why is this not adopted by the ball python community?

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Originally Posted by RegiusCo

Totaly agree with you, why is a Ghost, a double recessive Axanthic/Hypo with all other subspecies of snake mutation project and yet, people are still calling them Ghost instead of Hypos, the SnakeKeeper where the first to produce the double homo Axanthic/Hypo and named it ''The Ghost'', not a True Ghost, why is this not adopted by the ball python community?

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Because people are still trying to figure out what all the different bees are ;)

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

I've read that no one has produced an actual Ghost/Axanthic before...something about the genetics won't produce a true cross.

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What???? huh???? Im confused with this.

If no one ever produced one then why does a name for it exist? Doesn't sound right AT ALL.

And what about the pictures of them being shown now?

http://www.ballpython.com/kingsnake/true_ghost_lg.jpg
I want a true ghost now. How much does one cost?

Apparently true Ghosts have been produced, just recently. I have read about people trying to do it and have been unsuccessful, a theory was that the the genetics weren't compatible. Maybe only certain lines are, who knows. TSK was successful, which is awesome. I haven't come across any others though, but thats for a different thread I guess (don't want to change the subject too much).

Its definitely on my list of things to try for .... they ARE hot!

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

Apparently true Ghosts have been produced, just recently.

Its definitely on my list of things to try for .... they ARE hot!

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Ok now Im not confused anymore..

Hell yeah.. i like it. If only the silver was white :) but that's asking for too much.

So there are total of 5 ghost??? The blue and green ghosts, are they really those colors?? I doubt it very much. Somestimes, I feel the name exaggerates too much.

Anyone got pictures for comparison? And what ghost are compatible with each other?

Hi,

Here's a pic of a blue ghost from greg graziani's site.

Personally I'd swap at least one kidney for one.


dr del

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

Apparently true Ghosts have been produced, just recently. I have read about people trying to do it and have been unsuccessful, a theory was that the the genetics weren't compatible. Maybe only certain lines are, who knows. TSK was successful, which is awesome. I haven't come across any others though, but thats for a different thread I guess (don't want to change the subject too much).

Its definitely on my list of things to try for .... they ARE hot!

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IT's not that it's not possible it's that it's a double recessive, which has a 1/16 chance if producing 1 from a double het clutch.

So when I see for sale ad, they'll say %100 het Ghost, That means I must ask what ghost right? Because there are different kinds and might not be compatible with another right??

If not all ghosts are compatible, which ones are compatible with each other?

Yes... You should ask.

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Originally Posted by t-Roy

Ok now Im not confused anymore..

Hell yeah.. i like it. If only the silver was white :) but that's asking for too much.

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Don't forget about the recessive Desert Ghost. This may be more to your liking.

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ner...ll-python.html

hmm. that's a co dom ghost. The picture you showed is nice. It's nice but not blurry as ghosts. here's one for sale. It looks dirty and ugly lol!
So that of course is a totally different ghost.

But for recessive ghosts, which ones are compatible with each other?