Celia,

First off, MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS to a very very cool unexpected litter. I know that you were expecting Motleys, and I was scratching my brain at how this could come out. In over 140 plus good litters, I have NEVER had a Sperm Retention from the Previous year. I have had a few females give birth to babies from multiple fathers in the same year though.

With loooking at that Mom, and seing those Babies, I have NEVER seen F1's look that good. Especailly from seing your hypos from last years litter. They were awesome, but, they didn't look close to as nice as these babies. I again scratched my brain.

Then, I remembered your Post about you Priming your females with different males a few weeks ago. I personally wouldn't do this, but if it works, and works well, then you can never argue with results, but whenever I use 2 different males, it always baffles me that the one that breeds the least usually is the Father. (Not ALWAYS, but more often then not).

I really hope you don't take me wrong becuase you know I love you guys, and this is in NO WAY negative. However, after looking at those pictures of the Babies, they really look like they are the result of a HYPO to HYPO. Those babies are too nice to be f1's, and they have NO black after the tail. They look like SUPER SALMONS. Also, I have noticed in some of my Hypo to Hypo Breedings, that some of the normals look a little Jungle like with nice big saddles and great color. So, in my opinion, I would say you maybe "Primed" your female with a Salmon male, DH Sunglow, or sunglow or whatever. Maybe you were cleaning cages and threw a hypo in there for a Day? I know the Maybes could go a MILE LONG.

After reading your post of putting in "lesser Important" males to get the follicles bigger for "Important Males" then that makes a lot of sense. I am in NO WAY saying that this could be a "lesser" important Male, because your babies are absolutley STUNNING, and I would LOVE to have a litter like that. I know they aren't Hypo Motleys, and that is what you were hoping for, but to say you are dissapointed with those would be an OUTCRY. Yes, they aren't Motleys, but that litter is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, I could be TOTALLY wrong, as animals change when they shed, and I could be seing them wrong, but your Photos are TOP OF THE LINE!!!!!! I was going to call you and give you my opinon, but I realized it is WAY late, and I already jumped out of bed to go check on my litter due today. LOL

Again, I could be WAY wrong, and it is late. But, the major thing that leads me to believe this is a SUPER SALMON litter is the color and patter of the Non Hypos, and the color of the Hypos. If you look at last years litter, you would know that it couldn't be the same father. They look totally different, and I don't know anyone who has had a litter from the same father in a next year that was viable.



Here is another reason why I think they MAY be super Salmons. Two years ago, I bred a Salmon to a Sunglow, and I backed her up with the Jungle. The Sunglow bred only 3 days, and the Jungle two months. My litter came out VERY Similar to yours, however, my babies weren't even close to as nice. I was very perplexed at what they were, and I thought they were Jungles, and Salmon jungles because Super Salmons or Poss Dom Salmons. have whacky patterns that look like Jungles too. After a few sheds, I came to the conclusion it was the Sunglow, and I had potential dominant DH sunglows. They didn't look as good as yours, but my Mother Hypo wasn't in the caliber of your Hypo either. So, that is just one other reason I think this may have happened.

This is ONLY MY opinion. Again, it may be late, and my mind is toast. However, I want to say a MAJOR CONGRATS to you and Sean. You desearve this awesome litter, and no matter WHO or WHAT they are, I would Kill to have EVERY ONE of those Babies over here. LOL.........

Thanks soooo much for sharing your posts, and Ideas. This is a great learning experience from us all. I would be interested to hear others opinions, and also yours Celia.

Take Care, Jeremy

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