Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So... From my previous posts, I think everyone has gathered that I am a newbie snake owner... I enjoy them very much and I am thinking about getting another one in the near future. I was offered a Male Ghost 100% Het male for $150... Problem is, I don't know what "100% Het" means... I don't really think I am going to breed, I may in the future, but if this snake is going to be an investment, I would like to know what the genealogy is and how it works.... If someone has the time to explain it to me, that would be great.... And think of me as a blonde... even though I'm NOT but explain it to me in lamens terms... lol Thanks!!!

Teri

So... From my previous posts, I think everyone has gathered that I am a newbie snake owner... I enjoy them very much and I am thinking about getting another one in the near future. I was offered a Male Ghost 100% Het male for $150... Problem is, I don't know what "100% Het" means... I don't really think I am going to breed, I may in the future, but if this snake is going to be an investment, I would like to know what the genealogy is and how it works.... If someone has the time to explain it to me, that would be great.... And think of me as a blonde... even though I'm NOT but explain it to me in lamens terms... lol Thanks!!!

100% het is just a way of communicating that the animal in question IS heterozygous for that particular trait or mutation. A number less than 100 (50%, 66%) represents that the animal is a possible het. The outcome of breeding a 100% het animal to a normal animal would be 50% possible hets. The outcome of breeding 100% het animals together would be morphs and 66% possible hets.

I hope that helps you.

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Louis Kirkland
Cornerstone Reptiles

That does help! So, this Ghost male 100% Het means he's probably a normal male with the ghost genes, correct?

Teri

pretty much, except there is no probably. If he's a 100% het, then it means he carries one normal gene and one ghost gene. He will pass on of those two genes on to his offspring. That means if you breed him to a ghost (a snake that carries TWO ghost genes, and therefore appears as a ghost) the babies will be half ghost (the ones that get his ghost gene, along with one of moms ghost genes) and half 100% het ghost (the ones that get his normal gene along with one of moms ghost genes)
Just remember that "het" means that they APPEAR normal, but carry the gene for the recessive trait. ie ghost, albino, axanthic, etc. I really like Kevin McCurleys book, "The Complete Ball Python", for its explination of the punettte square. It does a great job of describing how to use a punette square. Even I understood it!
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James.....
"I never fail. I don't believe in it. I just succeed at finding what doesn't work."

Just remember that "het" means that they APPEAR normal, but carry the gene for the recessive trait. ie ghost, albino, axanthic, etc.

The definition of heterozygous is, "having two different alleles for a single trait."

If the mutation in question is simple recessive, then the animal will appear "normal".

If the mutation is dominant or incomplete dominant, the appearance of the animal will not be normal.

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Louis Kirkland
Cornerstone Reptiles

yes, which is why I was careful to mention the recessive part. I just didn't want to confuse things. Its kinda tough to learn at first, so I thought I would just explain the recessive part for now. I still have trouble with the dominant traits and the complex stuff too! lol. Sorry, should have clarified that.
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James.....
"I never fail. I don't believe in it. I just succeed at finding what doesn't work."

That does help! So, this Ghost male 100% Het means he's probably a normal male with the ghost genes, correct?

Yes, if he's a 100% het Hypo (Ghost), he will be normal in appearance.

A word of caution. Please make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder. Since the animal will be normal looking, there is no way to know that it is actually a het until you prove it out by breeding. There are ways to check breeders out before purchasing.
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Louis Kirkland
Cornerstone Reptiles

Thanks for the caution. This snake is actually not from a breeder which, leads me to think that he may not be what they say he is... I'd like to see paperwork from the breeder this gentleman got the snake from to prove his genes...

I really like Ralph Davis's snakes.. I watch his youtube videos all the time and I think he has a wonderful collection (that and his rat barn is awesome!) I would honestly think about doing business with him in the future, but I know he's got a lot of high dollar snakes and I'd be paying quite a bit (therefore.... a savings account has been put into place.. lol!)

Thanks for all of the advice... I am not too sure if I am going to get into breeding... though I know that owning a morph of really high value and NOT breeding it would probably be really stupid... I'd really like to get a morph of some type.... it just seems that the ones I think are absolutely gorgeous are in the thousands!!! (Hey, I'm a woman, I have expensive taste!! Shoulda saw my husbands jaw hit the floor when I picked out my wedding set!! lmao!!)

Anyway, Keep the advice coming, I am very interested in learning about breeding and what kind of dedication it takes... I also had another question (come to think of it) I was told that the normal BP I own right now is a male...... Now, I have read about the popping technique, haven't tried it because I am affraid to hurt the little bugger... I am interested in knowing what sex my BP is...

Grr. another question since I'm talking about my Oliver... I got him on 3/1/08.... I weighed him on 3/16/08 and he was at 454g.... I have been weighing him about every other week (on the fridays that I do not feed him, since he's eating every other friday) and it seems he's been losing weight... I weighed him on 3/29 and he was at 446g... and I just weighed him last night and he had dropped another 10 grams.... (436g) To me, this looks like a steady weight loss.... I am feeding him small rats (hoppers i think is what you guys call them) but last night was the first time he refused to eat..... his temp is holding at 85* humidity steady at 60% has lots of water and a nice size hide, he's on coconut fibers for substrate.... I have him in a 20L right now... thinking about upgrading him to a 40gal breeder within the next few months or so... But I am just stumped when it comes to this weight loss...... I know it's off topic to my initial post, but since i'm here and writing, might as well! Any suggestions????

Teri

Anyway, Keep the advice coming, I am very interested in learning about breeding and what kind of dedication it takes... I also had another question (come to think of it) I was told that the normal BP I own right now is a male...... Now, I have read about the popping technique, haven't tried it because I am affraid to hurt the little bugger... I am interested in knowing what sex my BP is...

Grr. another question since I'm talking about my Oliver... I got him on 3/1/08.... I weighed him on 3/16/08 and he was at 454g.... I have been weighing him about every other week (on the fridays that I do not feed him, since he's eating every other friday) and it seems he's been losing weight... I weighed him on 3/29 and he was at 446g... and I just weighed him last night and he had dropped another 10 grams.... (436g) To me, this looks like a steady weight loss.... I am feeding him small rats (hoppers i think is what you guys call them) but last night was the first time he refused to eat..... his temp is holding at 85* humidity steady at 60% has lots of water and a nice size hide, he's on coconut fibers for substrate.... I have him in a 20L right now... thinking about upgrading him to a 40gal breeder within the next few months or so... But I am just stumped when it comes to this weight loss...... I know it's off topic to my initial post, but since i'm here and writing, might as well! Any suggestions????

Ralph has a video that shows him popping several snakes. You might want to check it out. At 400+ grams he will be more difficult to pop than a smaller snake, but not impossible. You can also probe him.

As for his weight loss, I recommend that you feed him weekly and feed a rat with a girth that matches your snakes largest girth and see if that helps.

Good luck with him!
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Louis Kirkland
Cornerstone Reptiles

Well.. i'm trying to feed him again now, and no luck. I have tried prekilled, FT, but he is used to eating live... I have tried to feed him once a week, but he seems to want to eat every other week.... so I give him a small rat, both last night and right now, i put the rat in there, and he goes right for it... but then shies away... last night he did strike at it, but missed and then seemed less confident about it and wouldn't eat... he just seems apprehensive about eating.... it's weird..... :/

Teri

Need to offer him food every week on the same day. If he refuses try again the next week. He should get the schedule down in a couple months. All my snakes are programed to eat on Sunday afternoon and I get very few refusals.
Link

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