I saw a discussion below about the genetics of the laddertail trait, and thought I would share some of my experience breeding this trait in Surinames (note: this applies only to Surinames). The trait is definitely genetic. However, the genetics are not simple, and probably controlled by a number of factors. The trait is also variably expressed, from squareish white spaces in the tail, to definite white blocks with white stripes running down either side of the tail (we used to call it "tail blocking", to a reverse stripe running up the body (in the most extreme). In breeding laddertails to laddertails I have gotten a high percentage (but not all) laddertails, and a couple of reverse stripes. In laddertail to normal breedings I have always gotten a few laddertails. I look at it a lot like a trait like color, the more you put into the breeding, the more you'll get out, but the results will vary considerably.

This is from a laddertail to a normal:

The father:

The mother:

Reverse stripe from a laddertail to laddertail breeding (there were also normals in the litter):

Laddertail sibling to the one above:

Miller Reptiles

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• The ladderttail trait in Surinames. - Barry Miller, Sat Sep 16 00:28:03 2006
• Beautiful animals..... - drimes, Sat Sep 16 11:20:37 2006
• Ridiculously nice Suris! np - PGoss, Sat Sep 16 11:28:54 2006
• My thoughts exactly..................n/p - ABCC, Sat Sep 16 11:40:43 2006
• that's some beautiful tail!!!!!!! n/p - slithering_serpents, Sun Sep 17 00:16:22 2006
• RE: The ladderttail trait in Surinames. - ABCC, Sun Sep 17 10:18:54 2006