Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for some help...I have heard here and there that breeding kahl albinos to kahl albinos is not a good idea. I have kept snakes for over 8 years but I am new to boa genetics.
I was considering purchasing a group of kahl strain albinos, one male 2 female. I decided on all albinos because I wanted to avoid creating wild type appearance boas. Frankly, there are far too many wild type boas being sold in my community at dirt cheap prices to stupid, irresponsible people and I don't want to contribute to this.

I just want to hear from anyone what the risks/drawbacks are regarding albino x albino breedings.

I understand the risk of deformities if closely related animals are bred together, but my albinos would be unrelated boas of different ages, from different breeders, of hetxhet parents.

One more question, (again please understand I am very new to boa morphs) is there a type of boa morph, that as a 100% het for albino, bred to a kahl albino, that would create 100% het albino offspring having an appearance that would make them valuable enough as juveniles that I would have a good chance of finding them decent homes? Perhaps in the $300-$400 range?

Thanks!
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Heather J. Martin
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1 Solomon island ground boa, female
1 Green anaconda, juvenile
1 Burmese python, 10', female
2 juvenile het for albino boa constrictors

Hi Heather,

two points on albino X albino breedings:

First one you already touched upon, genetically close animals will have a higher probability of deformities. I've hear asd long as the albinos are relatively unrelated (all kahl albino's are related at least some) then albino X albino should be ok. You are already planning on getting animals that are outcrossed.

Second point is albino females are less efficient at thermoregulating and will need to be kept a few degrees warmer. Without pigmentation, they can't make themselves darker to absorb/retain heat better. Again, a fixable problem.

For your last question, there are two routes I can think of. Both of which would have to be dominant or co-dominant to pass on any trait.

1 - add a color morph - Salmon het albino X albino:
25% sunglow
25% albino
25% salmon het albino (DH sunglow)
25% normal het albino

If you bought a super salmon het albino (higher pricetag duh) then:
50% sunglow
50% DH sunglow

2 - add a pattern morph - (Motley or Arabesque) het albino X albino
same outcome as color morph.

Either way, the only way to produce only visual morphs would be to get a homzygous morph.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.24 BRB
11.13 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for the info. I have been doing a lot of looking around this weekend on the net concerning albino x albino, I understand now what you mean by all kahl albinos/hets being somewhat related. I read many, many accounts concerning eye deformities...way too many--I think I will play it safe and go with albino x het. The genetics examples you provided were helpful, I am leaning toward DH sunglow; I had also thought about genetic stripe albino x genetic stripe het albino. I am going to do a few more weeks of research in the archive forums here and elsewhere before I buy my boas. I get the genetics on simple morphs (albino, etc.) but I'll probably be back here with questions on some of the stranger varieties...
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Heather J. Martin
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1 Solomon island ground boa, female
1 Green anaconda, juvenile
1 Burmese python, 10', female
2 juvenile het for albino boa constrictors

It will be more expensive, but why not try working with the Sharp line of albino? I am sure it is far less common in your area, and is usually priced higher (for 100% hets as well).

Additionally in my opinion they are nicer looking albinos. Just a thought ...
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- Jason F.