Reptile & Amphibian Forums

with regard to eye problems in albinos, such as missing eyes, blindness and extra skin around eye sockets, are these problems found to be genetic when breeding an albino with one of these issues to a non gene carrier since outcrossing would take place. Is it found to be genetic at all? I found an albino and a het for a good deal, but the albino has one eye issue. Thanks for any opinions and expertise.

IMO, never a good idea to buy an animal that may have a genetic defect due to inbreeding. Exception would be if the morph was so rare it was either impossible to find or beyond your financial means.

Also, is the het unrelated by at least several generations from the albino with the eye defect? If you're purchasing from the same breeder, maybe not.

Good breeding stock is always preferable to inferior ones.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
2.7 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (adult breeders)
2.5 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (sub-adult from 2004)
4.8 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (sub-adult from 2005)
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I don't think it's known, for sure, if this "eye thing" in Albinos is genetic or not. At least, I don't think anyone has ever tried to breed animals to see if it's genetic.

As far as breeding.... I'd have to say, "don't do it". You don't know what the out come would be. It could be they would have normal healthy babies. It could be that you'd produce a litter with a few or several one eyed boas. Also the offspring from a one eyed Albino would be harder to sell. That is, if you intend on letting people know about it.

The price of Albino boas has come way down lately. It's made them more affordable. I don't know what sort of a deal you got, but I've seen Albinos for as little as 500 each, if you bought a lot of 10. I've seen them for 750 each if you buy them individually.

I guess it's up to you if you decide to breed them or not. If you do decide to breed them, and get babies, I hope you tell any potential buyers of the one eye problem that your Albino has.

was it Bob Clark or somebody that continued to breed his one eyed sharp strain albinos, it was mentioned on here before.