Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I notice a lot of people really looking over young GTPs before deciding which ones they want to buy as well as a lot of breeders mentioning their holdbacks. This surpises me because they go through such a change from baby to adult. So my question is what are people looking for when they look at baby GTPs to buy? How is a holdback selected? Is there a way to judge future color? Are there certain pattern traits people to value more than others? Thanks!

There's really no way to tell exactly what the baby will become when it's done. Most of the time you can count on the red markings becoming blue, but even that's not a sure thing. Most people are simply looking for the baby they like the most. I look for bold patterns or whatever appeals to me. I don't think I really have a method....more like I look at them all and choose the one that appeals to me most just because. Breeders that have holdbacks are perhaps looking at markings or similarity of the baby to the parent when it was a baby. Unusual markings or colors are often held back in case they turn into something really special.
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4.5~Cornsnakes
1.2.2~Green tree python
1.0~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

It really depends on the lineage and past breedings.....but more so lineage. I tend to look for bold markings, reduced markings, dark reds, orange or odd colored diamonds, thick baby patterns, etc. A lot has to do with genetics. There is no sure way to tell what a baby will look like, but you can make a pretty good guess when a baby looks very different. When breeding, the key is to keep them all until they change.

A nice group of '06 yearlings




Adult

Good luck and have fun.
Brandon Osborne

You're a cruel man Brandon!! The rest of us have to live with your basic animal so we just pick out the one we like! For you....no matter what you have awesome critters!
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4.5~Cornsnakes
1.2.2~Green tree python
1.0~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

Thanks Meg! But seriously, there's nothing basic about any chondro. I think they're all beautiful. I'm just lucky to have some yellow, blue, and.......yeah. Lucky. You have some beautiful chondros as well. You should feel lucky.

Thanks again.
Brandon Osborne

Oh believe me, I wouldn't trade my kids for anything and I agree they are all beautiful. Even the plain jane/john ones! HOWEVER....yours have super drool-break the keyboard from wetness factor
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4.5~Cornsnakes
1.2.2~Green tree python
1.0~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com