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This is the only 100% BCC line I am aware of that is proven genetic for ladder tails or connected saddles and these have both. The unrelated different looking imported Guyana parents which were aquired at different times from different sources have proven two years in a row that this is some form of dominant gene as 2/3 of the babies from each litter showed this and and only one parent had these characteristics. Many also have large side medallions and many have that great Guyana purple color. These are my second favorite litter of boa constrictors of all time.

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wow! Mike, they are really srarting to color up, the last one is my favorite.
Greg c

Genetic like most "ladder tails" likely polygenic such as color or the Pastel trait or genetic as in dominant or co-dominant and a single gene mutation? 2/3 of a litter twice doesn't answer that yet. The type of inheritance would be very interesting to prove and find out. That would be easy enough to prove plus... Aren't you dying to know if they happen to be a dominant or co-dominant, if there is a "Super" form? If so, that would be the first pure locality captive produced mutation in a "true" Red Tail. I'd be after that if I had them.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Also, do you have any more definitive pictures like pictures of the little including the normal or non-ladder tail siblings right along side? That would be great to see.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Maybe I need to be more careful but “proven genetic” and “dominant” in my world have a simple meaning: When one parent has one or more very pronounced physical characteristics and the majority of his/her offspring show the same even though the mate does not show the same. So looks to be the case here.

I have produced several 100% BCC litters from various bloodlines and have seen pictures of many more but ladder tails and/or heavily connected saddles are a rare treat. I may breed these back together some day or maybe someone else will but I hope this is not some form of mutated freak gene that produces some weird looking “super” form of striped, zig-zaggy pattern or solid dark color, as that would ruin it for me. I would just want more of the same.

Is there a way, in your opinion, to improve upon this look? Or is this the ultimate BCC for you?

jb
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Jonathan Brady

Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

Close to ultimate but everything could look better with more color, contrast, cleaner, longer tail pattern etc. I just have not seen BCC with an overall package that moves me more except for maybe the mid 90's Blair Belem Brazilian litter. I would have added the "connected head stripe to first widows peak characteristic" but I will never complain about these. I believe the babies that I produced last year from those snakes I bought as "Genetic Reverse Stripe Surinames" have a more outrageous total package but they do not look pure BCC to me so I am not including them. They are my designer project. I must say that the litter of French Guianas? that Barry Miller produced in, I think 04', and Bob Futo's 03' litter "A" Surinames and Tom Carlton's 02' Guyana litter, the 07' Zoo Boatanica litter and your (Jonathan Brady) 08' Guyana litter sure challange my current opnion on favorite BCC litters except I do not expect to see anything like that Blair Belem litter ever again.

any photos of the Blair Belem Br litter?

If 2/3's of the litter have the trait, it implies both parents are Het's (if it's simple dominance). Take one of the offspring without the trait (recessive) when it's old enough and breed it back to the parents. If half the babies turn out to have ladder tails, the parents are indeed hets and the trait is dominant...

Those are very nice, my favorite is #6. Which parent do you think gave them their visual traits?
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Joel Thomas

Don't tread on me!

Holy crap those are nice!!

Take care,

Kevin