Info on Ghost's needed

[TessadasExotics]

While I agree, the counter argument is the name ghost came first in ball python due to their obvious ghostly appearance and also why does this particular hypo get called hypo? Fires, Vanillas, Desert Ghosts, Blue ghost, Extreme hypo, *insert other incompatible hypo morphs*. There are plenty of hypos out there, how can you call one proper?

I still call it hypo though, just because in my area, thats what people call it. To me it's a soda/pop thing.

There really is no counter argument. Yes the term Ghost was the first one used for this phenotype of ball python, but it was given wrongly. Fires and Vanillas are not Hypos, so I am not sure where you get that one?

[mainbutter]

Technically, the phenotype of a fire or vanilla is caused by a decrease in melanin.. making them a form of hypomelanism. These traits are incomplete dominant, with the homozygotes being SEVERELY lacking in melanin (more so in the super fire, compared to the super vanilla, but still..) to the point where the super fire isn't a mere hypomelanistic animal, but an actual leucistic animal.

[TessadasExotics]

When hypomelanistic animals shed, the shed skin is patternless. Our fire doesn't shed clear does yours? Are Albino's called Hypos? Technically speaking they are lacking in Melanin true. We have quite a few Balls that are lacking black pigment in them. Guess we can start labeling them Hypos as well?

Also technically speaking are we supposed to label Lessors, Mojaves, Yellow Bellies, etc. etc to be Hypos?

[OhhWatALoser]

There are two different forms of albinism; a partial lack of the melanin is known as hypomelanism, or hypomelanosis and the total absence of melanin is known as amelanism or amelanosis.

[TessadasExotics]

As I said, technically speaking, Albinos are Hypos. Are we supposed to start calling them Hypo? Is that what you are trying to imply?

[OhhWatALoser]

As I said, technically speaking, Albinos are Hypos. Are we supposed to start calling them Hypo? Is that what you are trying to imply?

Their amel not hypo so you don't have to worry about them. Albino is too general, start calling them amels.

My point was there are plenty of hypos, You claim the name ghost was given wrongly, how do you decided which one is "proper". You can argue to use the name hypo, you can argue the name ghost. Their just labels for an allele we think we can identify.

[TessadasExotics]

My point was there are plenty of hypos, You claim the name ghost was given wrongly, how do you decided which one is "proper". You can argue to use the name hypo, you can argue the name ghost. Their just labels for an allele we think we can identify.

True they are just labels.
The name "Ghost" was given improperly to Hypo ball pythons. The Ghost morph in other snakes is a Hypomelanistic (Hypo) & Anerythristic double recessive. So why should it be different for Ball Pythons? Snows are the same as other snakes, being Albino & Axanthic double recessive. Most if not all other simple base color morphs equate the same to other reptiles so why not the Ghost & Hypo?

The Hypo trait is actually quite similar to amelanism. Tyrosinase is produced but is blocked from gaining access into the melanophores. Therefore, the amounts of melanin produced are substantially reduced. Often areas which would normally appear solid black are almost translucent. Additionally many specimens seem to have reduced amounts of melanophores present. This may simply be the result of selection for the brighter coloration in captive populations. It is likely that several different alleles may be at work here, all lumped under the term hypomelanism by herpetoculturists.

[OhhWatALoser]

True they are just labels.
So why should it be different for Ball Pythons? Most if not all other simple base color morphs equate the same to other reptiles so why not the Ghost & Hypo?

Sunglow, Fire, Butter, Granite, Phantom, Platinum, Sulfur, Whiteout are all names that are used differently between balls and corns. Pearl for boas. Tiger for retics and amazon tree boas.

[TessadasExotics]

You argue just to argue. To each their own I guess.
I said base. I should have broken it down and made it more specific for you as I knew you were going to do this, as usual.

Of course there are hundreds of morphs and they are not all going to be the same across the board, but one would expect that a morph named after a particular pigment production would be the same as any other animal carrying the same pigmentation. But what do I know. Obviously not as much as you do, right?

[OhhWatALoser]

You argue just to argue. To each their own I guess.
I said base. I should have broken it down and made it more specific for you as I knew you were going to do this, as usual.

Of course there are hundreds of morphs and they are not all going to be the same across the board, but one would expect that a morph named after a particular pigment production would be the same as any other animal carrying the same pigmentation. But what do I know. Obviously not as much as you do, right?

It's not about knowing more, you claimed each base morph was used the same across the board, which I see each species does it's own thing. Besides platinum, all those listed above are base morphs in one species, but im just arguing to argue?

You claim a name was given wrongly because it is a hypomelanistic morph, but we have multiple hypomelanistic morphs, so what makes this one the correct one? No one can deny the ghost/hypo is hypomelanistic, but no one can claim the fire isn't either. Just because it is hypo doesn't mean you HAVE to call it that and any other name is wrong.

Their labels to identify alleles, nothing wrong here. I guess unless all the morphs listed above are wrong also? I'm done arguing now.