Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If a melanistic garter is bred to a normal are the offspring possble hets. for melanistic?? Thanks! Jeff

Jeff,
The babies would be 100% hets.

Your female is from the same hill as your melanistic male, so there is a chance you may end up with some melanistic babies the 1st time you breed those two together. If you do get melanistic babies out of that breeding, all of the normal looking babies would be possible hets.

Dan

Thanks Dan!, That's what I hoped to hear! These guys are so inquisitive! I'm gonna post some pics of the female in a day or two,she has a full belly right now.lol! Take care!, Jeff

The black (aka melanistic) mutant gene is recessive to its normal counterpart. So all the babies from a black x normal mating must be heterozygous -- each one has a normal gene paired with a black mutant gene.

If you get black babies from a black x normal mating, then the normal parent must be heterozygous. And all the normal-looking babies must also be heterozygous black.

Paul Hollander

Thanks! That's what I wanted to hear but, It's nice to have it backed by those in the know!! Jeff

Hey Jeff,

Melanism is considered recessive, breeding them to normals should produce 100% hets. I had bred a melanistic to a peach flame many years ago (they were completely unrelated-found in different localities) and the flame produced all melanistics and 2 peach flames. This is one of the strangest "genetic" broods I've produced.

Did you call me earlier this week?

Scott

Thanks Scott,That's pretty much what I had figured!Nope I didn't call ya! Take care!, Jeff