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Recently I have noticed a lot of motleys for sale that don't quite seem to have the motley look. They have the typical motley pattern... kinda, but I'm seeing a lot of them that don't have the "ladder-tail" that motleys have. The ones I am seeing recently have the more common saddled tails. I did not want to post pics in order not to invade anyones privacy or badrap anyone, but has anybody else noticed this? What can it be attributed to?

probably is from thinning the bloodline farther from the original strain. Its just like how the kahl strain albino is stronger now than it originally was.
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It all depends on what they are bred to.

Bred to thin saddled, disconnected boas, can result in Motleys with a more abstract pattern.

The results are either from selective breeding, or from some people who just bred them to whatever they had lying around.

Has happened to more than one morph, especially when money is involved with producing them quickly.
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The Motley mutation is a co-dominant mutation. It cannot be "diluted". Characteristics can be altered via other genetic forces but the Motley mutation remains the Motley mutation.

Hypo Motleys typically do not have the more desirable connected pattern but the Motley mutation is not diluted. It is simply altered. Genetic traits whether polygenic or single gene "mutations" will effect the appearance of the resulting offspring. Sometimes enhancing the more desirable connected pattern trait and sometimes not.

In the same way that the introduction of more color can alter the average appearance of Motleys. Until recently, Motleys were typically more along the grayish tones. Several folks have bred them to Pastel bloodline Boas increasing the red influence but in no way "diluting" the power of the Motley gene. We have so far only touched the tip of the iceberg with what we will see in the future from Motleys.

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I think it is a combination of things. First it does make a difference what you breed the motley to, some girls throw different looking motleys. Second I think alot of people are keeping the best and selling the rest. Lastly I think the first pics we saw of the motleys were the best of the best, the more normal ones were not shown now that more people have them you are getting a wider representation of them, similar to the first sharps that were shown, they were awesome now some sharps look less spectacular then some Kahls. Just my 1/50 of a dollar.

You are right about a lot of Sharps, but how a bout these two from my pc line het to het breeding. Eddie Kim posted pictures on 12/29. I can foward to you if you want pics. thanks

Dan,

Who bred a sharp to our PC line. We have been trying for a couple of years now! Are there are PC's het. sharp available that you know of? We would like to bring it back around if possible or at least see pics. Are you seeing any of the PC/Aby influence at all?

Happy New Year!

John
Salmonboa.com

I agree 100%!

I agree that people can just buy a motley and breed it to anything that they have lying around. Its my opinion that two good looking parents make better looking offspring, and in the case of the motleys, when you use an outstanding animal and plug it into another outstanding animal, your results should be good. I say you always get what you pay for! But what do I know?

Chris Nicholas
ps. I hope evryone is having an outstanding boa season, for you late started............get moving already.

Im trying my best but my male can only do so much. Hes been with two of my 3 breedable females so Im hoping for something out of those. My other female was bred by a male stripe p/h albino. so I might get a litter of all striped babies or some striped albinos or I might crap out this season. Next year is my year for sure.
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I have been fortunate to produce a number of Motley litters in the past two years using males that have high contrast classic patterns. In all but one litter all of the Motley babies produced had the classic pattern with a few showing some tail striping. The one litter that showed animals similar to what you describe was from an anerythristic female with a very pronounced circle back pattern. It seemed in those babies that the very prominent pattern in the female did effect the Motley pattern.
I agree that the gene isn't morphing. There have really been a limmited number of breedings and I think it is more a lack of our understanding what the range of normal is when the Motley gene is bred into other animals with variable patterns.
Bill Kirby
KRBS HERPS

I had an 05 motley that was real gray. To me that motley was one of the better ones, more original. Some of the motleys I see now do look lesser in appearance. I also have a late 06 motley and he is still very gray in color, much like the originals. I personally perfer the gray motleys. They look different and are a great example of the motley morph.