Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are alot of the "new" mutations coming from Africa in the last year or two truely new, or are they variations on existing co-doms and recessives?

It seems like many resemble existing mutations to me?

You would think that someone would want to keep something that was genetically unique, and not sell it for 3k or 5k, for someone else to make their own line?

Also, I notice if you look on some peoples websites where they keep a chronological rundown of new mutations and the persons/business that hatched them first, there hasnt been very many listed in the last couple years?

I see alot of new designer mutations, but not very many truely new genetic traits...

Its just something I noticed recently and its got me wondering?

They are breeding mutations and have been for awhile over there. Looks like someone trying to cash in on morph if you ask me.

#1 way to sell a snake is make people think its rare! Even if it is ugly.....

You are not going to know until they are bred. Look at how many amazing looking animals like luecistics, ivories, etc., came from animals like fires and yellow bellies that so many people said were pretty looking normal balls. Most new genes apparently will be subtle like those, because the crazy looking stuff, like the solid pink champagne balls, are obvious to anyone in Africa and they want big money for them. Big money that most people do not have to spend right now. So the stuff with the weird eyes, odd belly, strange spot or mark here and there, could be the het for a super that is very radically different looking.

Thats my point, there havent been very many new genetic mutations in the last two years. I dont think its a money thing either. If something as unique as a Piebald was to turn up, it would fetch BIG bucks.

It seems to me, the ones you now see being sold as possible genetic anomalies that come - Straight Outta Ghana..Boy!!, are going for substantially less than you would expect if they were truely unique genetic mutations?

The point I am struggling to make is that maybe there are no more unique mutations left?

Or, if there are, they may be latent and might pop up if just the right two snake were left to breed...

This copulation may-or may never occur?

This is especially true if you consider that anything that looks even a little different is scooped up and shipped out to the USA or elsewhere?

Maybe it is like the Dr Seuss and the Lorax...

I understand what you are saying but there have been some very cool new animals in the past year or two that you must have missed and some that people do not know about yet.

My example of the champagne balls, wouldn't you consider a solid pink ball with a patternless red head and with a few spots on it, that is at least proven dominant mutation and may still prove to have a super form, isn't that pretty cool????

There are a couple more things like that over there that are being bred over there and sold to people here and in Europe. They are getting tired of selling everything off so some animals are being bred now. There is also a new double visual over there for sale right now that I know of. There is a bunch of stuff always popping up you just need the money and contacts to get it.

You seem to know more about it than me. I really havent followed the Champagne Ball. It is (the Champagne Ball) a totally new genetic mutation and not just a cross between existing traits?

I am just going by what I see on here and other similar sites, I do not import from Africa and would have no contacts or anyone to call over there.

What really struck me are the websites that have the year-by-year breakdown of all the new mutations and the person who first proved them out.

From 1997 to 2003 there was many, many snakes discovered with totaly new genetic traits every year...

From 2003 until 2007 the number seems to rapidly decline year by year?

Again, I am not talking about combinations of existing traits. The Bumble Bee is an awesome mutation, but the Pastel and Spider are the real genetic mutations. I know you know, I say this for people who may not understand what I am trying to get at...

Only time will really tell I guess?

There are still new and different things coming out of Africa - the big boys like to keep such things under lock and key - dink around with it and when they're ready let it leak out - lots of stuff that the general community doesn't know about.

Eventually the well will dry up - but I don't think it has just yet.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

They (Big Boys) never called me to let me know....the nerve!!

Only Kidding - Lol!

If you think about it though, it is already so amazing that there have been so many unique proven genetic mutations found in ball pythons. Look at corn snakes and boas. Or at burmese pythons. In a much longer time with much more production and collecting and importing (prior to these past few years), there was so much focus on the mutations of the cornsnake and then the burmese python and now the boa. Even with all the designer animals produced and in the case of boas multiple sub species and species being bred to produce morphs, the ball has still had so many more. If there was never another new trait found in the wild of a ball python they would still rule the numbers game with so many potential new combos to be done down the road. Think of all the triple and quadruple visuals that will be produced ay time now. It is amazing.