Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what are the genes needed to make a leucistic ball python besides breeding the two together????Any help appreciated

One gene that appears to have a whole complex of different mutations (different versions of the same gene - alleles) is the blue eyed leucistic gene. Different mutations that appear to be of this same gene include lesser (butter may or may not be the same as lesser depending on who you ask), mojave, phantom, Vin Russo, mocha, special, hidden, and probably a few others I'm forgetting and I know at least one and probably more as yet unnamed. There are also some suspected but not yet proven compatible possible new additions to this complex like Mystic. Why there should be so many different mutations of this gene I don't know. Each snake can have at most two copies of any one gene so it doesn't mater how many different versions there are the most any one snake can have is two (one from mom and one from dad) including the normal version of this gene.

Most of the combos of the possible versions of this gene are white but I doubt all have been made yet. Some would argue the two copies of mojave combo isn't white enough to be considered leucistic but the following are other combos in this complex that are probably universally considered not truly leucistic:

Platy (lesserhidden)
Super phantom (aka homozygous phantom, phantomphantom)
Crystal (mojavespecial)

But I think when all the combos are made most will be mostly white like karma (lesserphantom).

I believe crosses have been made to show that the black eyed leucistic gene is a different gene and not compatible with the blue eyed leucistic mutations but I can't confirm that. I'm also not sure if the breedings have been done to be sure of compatibility between black eyed leucistic genes but it might turn out that fire, flame, and sulfur are all different versions of a black eyed leucistic gene. Basically black eyed looks to be a 2nd leucistic complex not compatible with the bleu eyed leucistic complex.

I don't think ivory is considered a leucistic but it's more white than some of the combos in the blue eyed leucistic complex. However, it also appears to be a third different complex with yellow belly, specter, whirlwind (specter and whirlwind may or may not be the same) and probably a few others that are similar to yellow belly like orange belly. Although the ivory (yellow bellyyellow belly) is white you have super stripe (yellow bellywhirlwind or yellow bellyspecter) which isn't white at all as combos in this complex.

very good explanation! i think it covers all the complexities of blue eyed and black eyed lucies. worth keeping for future references!
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