With Markers?

[sw204me]

I keep seeing post of hets "with markers", can you tell a het by these markers, do they even mean anything, or is it just to try and make you feel better about the snake? How can a het pied or het albino have marks?

[Sputnik]

The het term is only as good as the breeder who produced them. Research before buying!

Pieds do have het markers, so in a clutch that has pieds and normal appearing neonates, the normals that have the het markers have a better then avarage chance of being the real deal.

Hope that makes sense!

[sw204me]

But how can a het show markings? Wouldn't that make it different then a normal, which is what a het is? a snake that looks like a normal but carries the gene..?

[JLC]

But how can a het show markings? Wouldn't that make it different then a normal, which is what a het is? a snake that looks like a normal but carries the gene..?

You might say a "yellow belly" is a het ivory with markers. And because the markers are consistent and identifiable, it gets its own morph name, even though, to the unpracticed eye, it looks pretty much like any other normal. Spotnose might be another one...very subtle differences from a normal, but it's super form is quite amazing.

The reason there aren't other hets with their own morph names, even though people claim to see "markers" is because the markers aren't consistent or reliable. SOME het pieds have some black border along the lower 1/3 of their belly scales....but not all of them have it. And some normals will have this same markings. Therefore, it's not a true marker.....just a....hint...if you will.

[frankykeno]

I agree with Scott here. Your best "marker" is the solid reputation and good paperwork of the breeder you choose. Research and choose your breeder with as much attention to detail as you do when you pick which snake you want. Confidence in the breeders we work with will always be the first "marker" Mike and I rely on when it comes to hets.

[Freakie_frog]

Pieds do have het markers, so in a clutch that has pieds and normal appearing neonates, the normals that have the het markers have a better then avarage chance of being the real deal.

Hope that makes sense!

None since the het Pied marker is a myth is a ploy for breeders to sell their poss het pied off spring. I have a 100% het pied that displays the "marker" and one that doesn't. Hell I have a totally normal animal that shows the "Marker"

Your best bet is to buy a quality breeder and if you want a poss het then its a gamble and you need to know that going and and see what happens

[jkobylka]

Well it looks like there is going to be some disagreement.

Het pied markers are not a myth. Peter Kahl himself will tell you they are not a myth and has not produced any poss het pieds in the past 5 years.

What they are not is 100% accurate. There are plenty of het pieds without the marker. But honestly, probably 80% of them have it, way higher percentage than if you grabbed a bunch of CH.

I personally know several breeders who sell poss het pied females without markers as normals, because sure they could be hets but the percentage chance is significantly lower than the others animals in the clutch.

I don't feel I'd feel right selling them as poss hets when I know they are probably not hets based on the marker.

There are normals balls with a striped belly. The marker isn't the same as say a yellow belly... And absolutely, your best bet is to buy from a quality breeder, so your not gambling.

Justin

[Freakie_frog]

Well it looks like there is going to be some disagreement.

Het pied markers are not a myth. Peter Kahl himself will tell you they are not a myth and has not produced any poss het pieds in the past 5 years.

What they are not is 100% accurate. There are plenty of het pieds without the marker. But honestly, probably 80% of them have it, way higher percentage than if you grabbed a bunch of CH.

I personally know several breeders who sell poss het pied females without markers as normals, because sure they could be hets but the percentage chance is significantly lower than the others animals in the clutch.

I don't feel I'd feel right selling them as poss hets when I know they are probably not hets based on the marker.

There are normals balls with a striped belly. The marker isn't the same as say a yellow belly... And absolutely, your best bet is to buy from a quality breeder, so your not gambling.

Justin

Well ok heres the thing some people think that there is something to it some like me don't. If people feel like their getting better odds buying poss hets with the marker I guess let them. Its like lucky socks or not letting anyone touch you before sitting down at a casino table for luck.

[lillyorchid]

Het pied markers are not a myth. Peter Kahl himself will tell you they are not a myth and has not produced any poss het pieds in the past 5 years.

Hey Justin,

Just letting you know that Pete does produce pos het pieds. In fact he has a lot of them and a lot of combo's who are pos het pieds. He also does have het pieds who do not have markers who are now proven hets and those who do have markers who are not hets. He will keep a het with markers over those who do not though. Does he believe in the markers, yes he does and from what I've seen they do seem to be some kind of sign for a het, but it's not always 100% right. I only know this is because I worked for him till about a month ago and had many convo's with him about het's, het pieds, and pieds.

The bottom line is... do your homework on a breeder and don't always jump as the lowest price. You get what you pay for and if you go to jo schmo from money hungry reptiles and they say they have these awesome het's for $20 bucks but don't give you paper work on that animal then you do not have any kind of guarantee on the genetics o that animal.

[jkobylka]

Hey Justin,

Just letting you know that Pete does produce pos het pieds. In fact he has a lot of them and a lot of combo's who are pos het pieds.

Hey your absolutely right... i'm talking about normal poss het pieds, but I completely overlooked the combo stuff. Everyones producing lots of poss hets when going for the combos.

Thanks for noting that. My point is, not everyone who believes in the markers are saying that just to sell animals.