Questions about kinked caramels and breeding

[dr del]

Hi,

Was wondering about this last night while failing to get to sleep so I thought I'd ask the experts.

How would a kink in a female caramel affect her ability to breed and lay eggs successfully? Would it depend entirely on location or would complications result no matter where it happened to be?

I don't mean just physically either - how much would it figure into your decision on whether to mate her or not?

I watched Ralph's video with his kinked male and, ethical/genetic reasons aside, I it seems more likely a male would be able to breed without complications.

Do the kinked parents produce a higher ratio of kinked offspring or not? It was wondering this that raised the female breedability question.


dr del

[Wh00h0069]

I have never bred caramels myself, but would imagine that the kinking problem is genetic, since it shows up a lot in caramels. Since kinking is a genetic issue, then outbreeding would be very important. I also do not think that a kinked caramel should be bred, becasue it would be more likely that the babies would be kinked. I am no expert, and do not know this to be fact, but this is my opinion on the subject. Hope this helps, and hope to hear from others on this subject.

Tim Bailey is doing some research into the subject. I'm sure he will let us all know the outcome as soon as he knows more.

[Jerhart]

..Interesting thread!

I dont have an answer....but I hope to hear some insight!

[Wh00h0069]

..Interesting thread!

I dont have an answer....but I hope to hear some insight!

I agree, I wish we could get this issue figured out once an for all.

[BChambers]

We have four adult/subadult het caramels, and one nearly mature caramel male-not a kink in any one of them. they'll be breeding shortly.

I think that kinking in caramels is CLEARLY genetic. As such, any kinking (however slight) is a marker for the gene or genes that produce kinking, and IMO SHOULD disqualify that animal for breeding. I know it's painful, but if you want to be a serious breeder then you have to think about what is best for the future of the breed. Would you breed a German Shepard with hip dysplasia?

[West Coast Jungle]

We have four adult/subadult het caramels, and one nearly mature caramel male-not a kink in any one of them. they'll be breeding shortly.

I think that kinking in caramels is CLEARLY genetic. As such, any kinking (however slight) is a marker for the gene or genes that produce kinking, and IMO SHOULD disqualify that animal for breeding. I know it's painful, but if you want to be a serious breeder then you have to think about what is best for the future of the breed. Would you breed a German Shepard with hip dysplasia?

You are right Brad but unfortunately its done all the time

[TheMolenater2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baquu5GYyVA
By Ralph Davis reptiles.

[Jerhart]

WOW! I duno what to say about that video. Very interesting none-the-less.

[atp151415]

if i were you and you wanted a caramel or hets to make caramels. Buy from a breeder who can show his lines of caramels dont have kinking. When i was at bob clarks i asked him that and he said he has never had a kinked caramel

[Wh00h0069]

You are right Brad but unfortunately its done all the time

If that is the case, then that is likely why we see so many kinked caramels. If I were to ever buy one, I would make sure that the line they came from did not have kinks.