Thanks for that update rabernet.
So sounds like we are back to the question of why is there no public proven homozygous spider.
Is it:
1. Not enough spider X spider breedings have been done to produce a homozygous spider. Remember that NERD reported enough spider X spider breedings where done for them to be sure there wasn't a visible different super spider.
2. Not enough of those possible homozygous spiders have been bred to find the ones that are homozygous. I suppose this depends on how many possible homozygous spiders where produced early on. I know TSK produced some female possible homozygous spiders in the last few years that have yet to breed. I would think that most all of the early spiders where bred but more recently perhaps some are just pets.
3. Homozygous spiders are proven but for some reason aren't being publicized. Could just be in the hands of keepers that aren't on the net and/or don't care to give out such information. Could be that they are upside down all the time and don't photograph well.
4. Spider is homozygous lethal. This might be very difficult to prove. I don't know enough about python reproduction to know if this is even possible but what if they die at conception. Would they come out as slugs or could they possibly not get shelled at all? The pearl is easier to make the homozygous lethal case for because a visually different assumed homozygous animal actually hatches and lives for a while but if the homozygous spider doesn't even hatch you are trying to prove something by its absence.
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