Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, I am new to breeding and have been doing research on the best breeders and unique lines are all I see. How does a breeder, such as Chris Allen for example, achieve his own red line instead of just having crossbred morphs. I assume it has to do with consistancy of traits in multiple cluthes. If this is true, at what point is a newtrait established? Thanks for your time, I'm sure this is a lengthy answer.

Well, its not super complex.

Essentially, any breeder can buy a couple nice looking dragons, breed them, and call it his/her own line. The only issue is that many of them just got their dragons from larger breeders. And even then, the largest breeders exchange with one another all the time to keep up diversity.

It is important to note, that after several years of breeding dragons, and not buying a large number more from other breeders, your dragons will eventually wind up being a particular "line". But his based on relatively consistent genetics within your animals.

It is very important to keep careful records or the genetics running through your colony. Good breeders will do this, which makes sure they can offer and maintain the most diverse collection they can. Following their example is vital to success of your animals and their health.

Hope this helped some

phil

i do not normally write on this forum but i did a few days ago asking about the blue eyes (if it is a common trait) because i have never seen another like it. Only got two responses (thank you to both who responded). Since i am bored i figured i would give you my humble slant on the subject of "lines".

They are for all practical purposes, nothing more than a commercial gimmick used to artificially increase the price of an otherwise common animal. Bearded dragons, as with many other herps, have through the years become commercialized to such an extent that people have become brainwashed into thinking they are buying something rare and unique. I recently saw a pic of someone with like 10 beardies on her lap. Cool pic but below was a list of what they where. (giant x sunburst x hypo x pastel x kitchen sink x super high yellow orange phase tiger striped blah blah.

I really have to laugh because i could take the same pic with a some of my breeders and stick labels on them and everyone would go ooh and aaaah. When i sell a baby i sell it as a bearded dragon. Period. It matters not what "line" i stick on it, that commercialized label in no way reflects what that baby will look like as an adult. I provide a picture of the mother and the father which MAY indicate the potential the baby has as an adult BUT that is all.

If you really want to breed and do the hobby a favor then don't be so quick to jump on the "line" or "morph" wagon. Pick out some beardies that you personally like and breed them. Then provide your customers info on the parents and offer them a baby at a reasonable and fair price. You will make a satisfied customer and hopefully a friend.

In Medelivian Genetics there is no such term as a line. A animal with a distinct morphologocal trait such as a specific color consititutes a specific phenotype not considered wildtype(that found in nature). This phenotype will be recessive or dominant in nature such that it is either carried until mating with another recessive or breeds true with all generations. What is referred to as a line is most likely an animal displaying a dominant phenotype.

No, a line is just the term used to describe a group of animals with common genetic tendencies.

In this case, a line is considered something different than a trait.

Phil