Morphs

[Strider]

I have two questions about breeding. Im new to Ball Pythons and am thinking about breeding some in a few years.

My first question is what is a Het?

My second questions is how do you breed Ghosts? I read that they are het. from axanthic and albino but they look like normal axanthic to me or maybe im just not looking at them hard enough.

Thanks.

[gncz73]

a het looks normal but it carries a gene of a morph like albino or pied.
now a ghost is just that a ghost it's not a cross between axanthic and albino if you cross those two and then breed them back to there off spring you have a chance for a snow ball.
now be careful buys hets. i would only buy from a well known breeder.

[Smulkin]

This is an ongoing project but contains explainations of many such terms:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules...._content&eid=1

[Strider]

Another thing i wish i had found earlier.

[frankykeno]

I'd second that about hets. Stick with an established, reputable breeder as far as hets go. There are 50%, 66% and 100% hets and that still confuses the heck outta me. If you haven't already studied a punnet square, you're going to so wish you'd paid more attention in senior biology back in high school LOL.

As I'm often reminded (thanks Adam) it's all a genetic crap shoot as well to some degree and all the statistics in the world don't guarantee a thing when it comes to breeding other than with breeding homozygous snakes (2 of those breeding guarantee all their offspring do not carry a normal gene, just the morph) or at least that's my very basic understanding of it.

Why oh why was I checking out the guys in senior biology and NOT paying more attention to genetics!!!!!!! (I think I was homozygous for party girl back then LOL)

I believe if you check out this link it will help explain things as well.

http://www.ballpython.ca/genetics.html

Their site is quite nice for a beginner as they include clear pictures of much of what they are explaining and for a visual creature such as myself, it's a lot easier to comprehend.


~~Joanna~~

[tigerlily]

Why oh why was I checking out the guys in senior biology and NOT paying more attention to genetics!!!!!!! (I think I was homozygous for party girl back then LOL)

Omigosh Joanna, you're just too funny I was having a horrible start to my day thanks to my 3 yr old, but now I feel much better. Thank you

I actually paid attention in high school, but I never thought to actually be able to use that information. I'm a big nerd at heart I even had a class in college breeding fruit flies. (stupid virgin fruit flies ) We even took the little pests to a nuclear reactor to force mutations. Those little things are a pain! Of course my party genes did eventually kick in (college). The party gene is much more fun!

[daniel1983]

now a ghost is just that a ghost it's not a cross between axanthic and albino

But a True Ghost which a cross between an axanthic and a hypomelenistic ball python....maybe thats what he was refering too?

[Watever]

Well there is more you should know.

allelle : 1 part of a gene. Babies receives 1 allelle from each parents making the pair.

Heterozygous (het) : 1 allelle of a particular gene
Homozygous : 2 allele of a particular gene.

But you have different gene

Recessive : Only the homozygous (2 allele) will show (albino, piebald, axanthic, Ghost, Clown, ...)
this will help you understand how you breed recessive
http://www.ballpython.ca/what_get/recessive.html

Dominant : You only need 1 allelle in the pair of gene to see the morph. Also mean you can't identify a homozygous from a heterozygous. (ex : spider, Black Head, Phantom, ...)

Co-Dominant : That mean, one allelle is kinda dominant on the other normal gene. But the homozygous form do not look like the het form, that's why it's co-dom. A het won't look like a homozygous. The homozygous form is usually called "Super". (Ex. : Pastel and Super-Pastel, Mojave, Spot-Nose).

If you want to know more about the morphs, go here for a list of them. Some of the genes are said Dominant but has been seen co-dom finally or not sure yet.
http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/ma...ven_traits.asp

This might help you too
http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/squares.asp

This one is really good but long to read
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_intro.html
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/gen...recessive.html
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/gen...recessive.html
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_codom.html

Hope you will have fun lol !

[frankykeno]

Poor Christie (not to hijack this thread but...) just remember the kidlet is 3 and it's his or her job to make you nuts and make you wish you'd raised toy poodles instead of horrid lil humans. Then said horrid lil human will suddenly kiss your cheek or say "you are the bestest mommy", or present you with a slightly wilted dandelion and you will quite simply melt.

This is know as the Horrid Lil Human Secret Weapon....do NOT fall for it! (Well we know we will fall for it but do try to at least appear to not fall too hard, the lil boogerheads note this and use it to their advantage in the toy department at Wally World every dang time! LOL)


~~Joanna the Fallen~~

[tigerlily]

Yup, it's too late. Fallen hard and probably have a concussion. I think I must say they're driving my nuts a little too often. My son (5 yr) informed my daughter (3 yr) she was driving me nuts. Little boogers. Shoot, my daughter is the master manipulator. Anytime she gets in trouble her first words are almost always.....but I love you mommy! I didn't catch on for awhile. There are those moments that kill any urge for more procreation, and start you wondering what made you think to do it in the first place. Then there are the ones (when they're sleeping mostly) that they look so angelic and you think more would be such a blessing. My daughter is my new course in patience. She's a teenage drama queen trapped in a 3 yr old body. I'm terrified for when she's actually a teenager!!!