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Ball Python Morphs Explained...

Posted By:

aaron

Hello Hello.

I'd like to have a thread for n00bs (such as myself) on ball python morphs. I am not really versed in what's out there, what the differences are, how the dominant / codominant versus simple recessive (or in conjunction with?) all works.

I'd like to get a Q/A in here as kind of a primer for ball python genetics, for people who are just getting into them, as well as myself who probably should understand it more. Since I don't own any (I had a pair of het pieds, but gave them away for future considerations, and now I kinda want em back :) ), never really took the time to see how everything works, what begets what, and what the (seemingly endless) possibilities are. To me, many of the ball pythons look the same, but that's because I haven't taken the time to really get into them from a distance.

I realize it's a big topic, but I'm just looking for basic beginner information .. because I'm a beginner with BPs (I'm not in the market, just want to understand it a little better when people talk about it)

Thanks :)


Points:	250
Topics:	General Health
Tags:	Ball, Codominant, Dominant, Genetics
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

7/25/2008 6:34:31 PM

dalvers63

You ask a big question, sir! I can give the basics and will be happy to answer any questions people have that I can.

Here's a basic list of morphs and what they are. I know there are some I missed, I'm sure others will add in!

Recessive (requires both parents to have the gene):
Piebald
Albino
Caramel Albino
Hypomelanistic

Co-dominant (requires one parent to have the gene. If both parents are the same co-dom trait, you get a "super" form)
Mojave (super = blue eyed leucistic)
Lesser platinum/Lesser (super = Platinum)
Pastel (super = Super pastel)

Dominant (one parent must have the gene. At this time there is no "super" form known):
Spider
Cinnamon

As I said, I know there are a LOT more. One of the best places to go and see a lot of the morphs with genetics is the NERD website. They have done SO much in breeding and figuring out what bred to what = what!

Member Comment

7/25/2008 7:21:14 PM

stangs13

Actualy the cinnamon is a co-dom mutation.

And the lesser creates Blue eyed lucys. Not platinums.:D

Im not sure if I am aloud to post this arron, but go to www.ball-pythons.net and look around. Thats the number one source on the net for ball pythons, and there a great comunitiy!

Assisted Answer

7/25/2008 7:23:37 PM

Playballp

I believe Cinnys are a co-dom trait, not dominat and there is a Super Cinny morph an all Brown snake, its SWEET! but most of them are born with some cosmetic defects tho. I'm too lazy to list all of the morphs out there so I'll just post a link to "THE MATRIX" http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/proven_unproven_traits.asp And Aaron...I feel you on the lost of your Het Pieds. I would want them back too!

Member Comment

7/25/2008 8:28:36 PM

dalvers63

See, there ya go :-) That's what I get for not looking before typing. Thanks for the correction!

Member Comment

7/26/2008 1:32:46 AM

Kaiyudsai

But ball pythons are so little :)

Member Comment

7/26/2008 2:08:05 AM

Noah Criswell

That is a daunting task. I will help any way i can but i could list morphs for an hour here. Maybe there is an easier way to get this on this site? Im no computer guy...Aaron this is where you work your magic ;-)

Member Comment

7/26/2008 2:40:40 PM

stangs13

LOL at Kaiyudsai!! Im only 15, but when I get out of the house and get settled...there will be retics out the wazoo at my house!! There my fav. species.

Member Comment

7/26/2008 8:51:50 PM

Kaiyudsai

Retics sure are a handleful........ seems like Im always feeding them

Accepted Answer

7/27/2008 7:45:50 PM

Whatnow Customs

these are the most helpful pages i know of in helping someone understand ball python morphs and genetics:

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_intro.html

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_simple_recessive.html

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_double_recessive.html

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_codom.html

http://ballpython.com/page.php?topic=genetically

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/

here are some pages to give you visuals of a bunch of different morphs:

http://ballpython.com/page.php?topic=morph

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/nerd/index.php/ball-pythons/nerd-s-ball-python-collection.html

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/collection/pythons/ball/

http://www.ballpython.ca/collection.html

http://www.ballpython777.com/

i know its not exactly question and answer type post but i hope it hepls clear up some or all questons about genetics and morphs anyone may have.

Member Comment

7/29/2008 4:53:54 AM

FyreFocks

While i agree with Kaiyusai, corns arent any bigger.

Assisted Answer

7/29/2008 9:18:59 PM

Primevalbeauty

I think we migrated off the actual thread.
Dominant traits, will show up in the first generation. Using the spider as an example.
Spider X Normal = Approx 50% Spider/ 50% Norms
Co-Dominate traits act very similar to the dominant except that they have a super form. So they act as kind of a visual het for the super form.
Using the pastel as an example.
Pastel X Normal = Approx 50% Pastels/ 50% Norms
Pastel X Pastel = Approx 50% Pastel/ 25% Norms/ 25% Super Pastels
Thats where it gets fun. The super form of a co-dom trait, takes on a new Pattern
Super pastel X Normal = 100% Pastels
Super Pastel X Super Pastel = 100% Supers
Very Like the recessive traits,
Recessive On the other hand is fairly straight forward believe it or not.
Animals are either Heterozygous - No visible trait, normal appearing gene carriers for the trait, or Homozygous - Displaying the trait
Using Albino as an Example
Albino X Normal = 100% Het for Albino offspring, none exhibiting the albino trait but all carrying the albino gene.
Albino X Het Albino = 50% Albino 50% Het for albino
Albino X Albino = 100% Albinos
Het Albino X Het Albino = 25% Albino, 50% Het for albino, And 25 % Completely normal.
I think what gets people confused is the last and het to normal which throws 50% Hets and 50% Normals, but theres no way to tell until you breed them. The animals either carry the gene or do not, they do not carry a percentage of the gene. The percentage merely indicates what chance you have that a particular animal from a specific breeding carries the gene.
In parting there I think there should also be a rating for breeders, as to what percentage your chances are that they kept accurate records. Possible hets can pay off.
Make sure you trust your breeder:)

Member Comment

8/31/2008 2:08:49 PM

John Romano

AH, you hit the bane of my existence! The butchering of genetic terms for use in the sane community. Co-dominant traits mean that both traits are dominant and both are expressed at the same time. The most common example is blood type. Both A and B are dominant types. If you have a person with type A reproduce with a person who has type B you don't get 50% A and 50% B, you get 100%AB. Don't get it? Lets do a hypothetical true codominant breeding in snakes. If you have black morph and a white morph in a snake species and both traits are dominant it would play out like this.... Black X White = 100% black and white animals, looks like black and white blotches. ( F1 generation) Now breed the F1's, all 100% black and white, the results should be 25% black, 25% white, 50% black and white blotched animals. In the pastel example above it is multiple genetic factors that make that occur, it is not simple co-dominance. The fact that Super Pastels X Normal gives you regular pastels is a classic example of intermediate dominance (red trait x white trait give you pink trait). So you have multiple genetic rules coming into play here. That is true Mendelian genetics. I have found that snake genetic terms have been bastardized and used incorrectly, but at this point it is such common nomenclature that it seems it is here to stay.

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