Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Whenever I see people call something a Paradox (whatever) I am always told its because the animal IS a certain morph, but has a weird characteristic that contradicts said morph, but isnt anything else. IE albinos and the crystal, with stark black bits that look like a ballpoint exploded on the animal. Now in the case of the paradox albino, its always bugged me to even call the animal an albino. By very definition the albino cannot produce black pigment, yet there we go, black spatteres all over. So its NOT an albino, period, "paradox" or otherwise, as it can and blatantly does produce black pigment. What Im not seeing, that would make an animal a real "paradox" (by the definition of the word) is patches of wild type, say on the albino. But its indeniable that you HAVE black pigment on these otherwise devoid of black morphs. So. WHAT is the genetic marker that adds this weird exploded pen mess of stark black? Why do these animals have it?
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Sign of the Serpent

According to Websters:

Paradox: "one that possesses seemingly contradictory qualities or phases."

The fact that you can have an albino with black ink explosions on it is exactly what makes it a paradox. It has contradictory qualities that don't make sense.

I don't think anyone has proven any paradox to be genetic . . . yet. Tom, there's your next challenge.

Best wishes,
Python Joe.

No, an albino with black is not an albino at all, as the definition of albino is something that cannot produce black pigment. it would technically be a normal with highly concentrated pigment areas. not a cant-make-black-pigment-albino
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Sign of the Serpent

Did you read the definition of paradox? THAT'S what makes it an ALBINO paradox. The black contradicts what the normal albino is, yes. But it's still an albino WITH these paradoxical black markings on it. That does not make it NOT an albino.

Hi Joe,
Here is your quote.
"I don't think anyone has proven any paradox to be genetic . . . yet. Tom, there's your next challenge."

Here is what I wrote to Tom in his Paradox Crystal Ball post below.
Now back to your Paradox Crystal Ball, WOW!!!! The fact that you produced it along with Crystal Balls in the same clutch seems to prove that the Mojave is some how hiding the Paradox gene. It just doesn’t seem likely that two different occurrences of Paradox could show up (first in The Snake keepers Paradox Hypo Super Ghost and now in your Paradox Crystal Ball), if it wasn’t some how connected to the Mojave. That is very exciting in it self and may help to bring the lowly Mojave (if you look at the prices they are being offered in the classifieds) back up in price a bit. LOL

I am hoping that the Mojave proves Paradox genetic. LOL

Albey
Albey's "Too Cool" Reptiles

Excellent post Albey ... you are always wearing your thinking cap!!
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gail

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SBF

lol, I think you might be taking this hobby to serious.

Kyle

Albinism does NOT mean that an animal cannot make melanin. Albinism means that melanin is not displayed. Melanospores may not function or a myriad other things may cause it but the end result is a lack of black pigmentation from a visual standpoint. In the case of paradox animals some alleles may be what are called "floating alleles" or the gene that causes the melanospores to funtion may be working in some areas. But the animal is an albino, a distinct and unusual albino, but still an albino, with tendencies that cannot be explained, hence the paradox moniker. If there is melanin missing VISUALLY in any area it is still an albino.

All the 'lack of or not lack of melenin' aside. My take on albinism has always been that it's a complete lack of color with pink, or occasionally light blue, eyes. Therefore only a white snake with pink eyes is an albino. Which would make an albino ball, in reality, anerythristic(sp). And also make the luecistic, except for the black eyes, closer to being an albino than the actual albino ball. Not tryin' to add fuel to the fire here, Just my opinion.

Quig

Your opinion is invalid because by definition albinism is a VISUAL lack of dark pigment. Other colors can be present and still be an albino.

I'll accept that, but it's still not how I look at it

Quig

Hello

I think that you guys are missing something. The animal that doesnt produce melanin its an amelanistic. Albino can produce melanin becuase there are 2 kinds of melanine reacted by tyroynaze - eumelanine and feomelanine. Thats why albino T animals are brown, yellow... The So called Albino balls are amelnistic snakes. I think that its also possible that the paradox animals pop out because of the incubation temperature...Im not sure about that. Just an idea.

Thanx

Gabor
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Gabor Kaminski

Amelenistic was the word I was looking for And there ARE several degrees of albinism, so maybe the whole discussion is off.

Quig

could this be similar to the ultramel corn snakes. The ultra form is "codom"(for lack of a better word) with the amel form and thus you have both charateristics displayed. Go to South Mountain Reptiles or Serpenco web sites and look at their explanation of ultramel corns...could this be similar to what happens here?
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1.0 het albino ball
1.0 norm ball
0.4 norm ball
0.1 snow corn
1.0 butter corn
0.1 norm corn
1.0 southern plains rat
1.0 striped Cali king
1.0 western hog