Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my first Boa this weekend. I keep mostly colubrids and lizards and have been wanting one for a while. I purchased a male hypomelanistic colombian red tail. Please bare with the long post and questions, as I'm a little confused.

After a bit more reading I realize this is a co-dominant trait. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. This means the hypo form will display itself visually in both the het and homo form. I'm assuming the only way to prove if an animal is homozygous for this trait is from breeding.

I believe what I have to be a "het" for hypo which means it is visbly noticeable but not as much as a super or homozygous hypo would be. Is there anyway to visially differentiate a "super" from a normal hypo.

I was told that when young the way to differentiate the hypo from a normal is a reduced (ALMOST NON EXISTENT) black borders on the tail, and more of a pinkish hue as opposed to a gray color. The pinkish color will become more and more visual as the animal ages??

One other question. Are supers sold under a different name to differentiate them from a hypo. Anyone have any pics or can lead me in the direction of some pictures of color differences in adults and/or juvies (hypos-supers).

Thanks for bearing with this long post and I hope it makes sense. I'm a bit tired at the moment. I'll post a pic once I get a chance.

Rick

Hypos are dominant, both the het and homo forms being indistinguishable from one another.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Salmon (AKA hypo) is better called a dominant mutant gene than a codominant mutant gene.

A het for hypo has a salmon mutant gene paired with a normal gene. Just as a het for albino has an albino mutant gene paired with a normal gene. The appearance (phenotype) of the het is what determines whether a mutant gene is considered dominant, codominant, or recessive to the normal version of the gene. There is a chart showing the differences at the bottom of the page linked below.

The het salmons and the homozygous salmons are variable enough that the only way to be certain what you have is by breeding test.

"Super" is herper slang for a snake that is homozygous for (has two identical copies of) a dominant or codominant mutant gene. As far as I know, super or super salmon is about all there is for a different name. And most of the time the ads say something like possible super.

You might want to look at Rich Ihle's http://www.salmonboa.com. He originated the line. He does call salmon a codominant mutant gene. I do not agree with that because too many breeders on this forum have said that the homozygous and heterozygous salmons overlap in appearance.

Paul Hollander

genetics primer