So is ghost and hypo the same?

[DooLittle]

So, the other day I did a thread about butters and lessers and find out they are basically diff lines of same morph. Now, I see ghost/hypo being called one and the same??? Is this true? I have one that is het for hypo, and was wondering. Curious, still learning all there is to know about the different morphs.

[Royal Hijinx]

My understanding is that yes they are the same. Some folks consider Hypo more accurate and use it instead of Ghost.

There are several lines of Ghost, and not all of them are compatible.

[PitOnTheProwl]

yes they are the same in term but you have several types. the most common right now is the Orange Ghost that I have seen. I know there is also a Green and a couple others.

[rebelrachel13]

To my knowledge, yes, in BPs a ghost and a hypo means the same thing.

[RobNJ]

Some folks consider Hypo more accurate and use it instead of Ghost.

This part kills me because ghost is simply the name given to the morph, like pastel or mojave, while hypo(hypomelanism/hypomelanistic) is the defining characteristic of the ghost morph. Fires and Vanillas also express hypomelanism, so would it be more accurate to call them hypos? It's a silly argument.

Jinx, that was not directed at you. Dr. Doolittle, yes they are the same. There are a few lines of ghost/hypo, some compatible to others, some not.

[Mike41793]

The ghost morph is called hypomelanism, so the snakes are hypomelanistic. Ghost and hypo mean the same exact thing. There are a few diff lines: orange ghost, yellow ghost, green ghost, dessert ghost...
But 99% of the time if someone says ghost or hypo they are talking about an orange ghost. If it is another type theyll specify. An abrreviation for orange ghost is OG. A pastel hypo is called a POG or pastel orange ghost.

Hope this helps

[OhhWatALoser]

This part kills me because ghost is simply the name given to the morph, like pastel or mojave, while hypo(hypomelanism/hypomelanistic) is the defining characteristic of the ghost morph. Fires and Vanillas also express hypomelanism, so would it be more accurate to call them hypos? It's a silly argument.

Jinx, that was not directed at you. Dr. Doolittle, yes they are the same. There are a few lines of ghost/hypo, some compatible to others, some not.

make sure you throw all the albinos in that list, they're all technically hypomelanosis.

[RobNJ]

The ghost morph is called hypomelanism, so the snakes are hypomelanistic.

I have no idea what you mean by this, but it's either poorly worded or just wrong. Hypomelanism, the reduction of black pigment, is the defining trait of the ghost morph. Ghost is simply a name. I think, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that the controversy between ghost and hypo is that in any other species that have a "ghost" morph is that it is a 2 gene animal, which is why the axanthic hypo is called the "true ghost."

[RobNJ]

make sure you throw all the albinos in that list, they're all technically hypomelanosis.

I thought albinos were actually amelanistic.

[Royal Hijinx]

I have no idea what you mean by this, but it's either poorly worded or just wrong. Hypomelanism, the reduction of black pigment, is the defining trait of the ghost morph. Ghost is simply a name. I think, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that the controversy between ghost and hypo is that in any other species that have a "ghost" morph is that it is a 2 gene animal, which is why the axanthic hypo is called the "true ghost."

It is also my understanding that there were issues in comparison with other snake breeds and what is considered a Ghost.