Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone give me a little clarification on the Platinum/Lesser relationship? Thought that I understood it, but not so sure now.

Derek

Platinum appears to be a combo of lesser and hidden. Hidden appears to be an allele (different version) of the same gene as lesser. However, the hidden mutation paired with the normal version of the blue eyed leucistic gene apparently looks pretty normal and even the homozygous hidden seems to remain normal looking. I'm not actually sure "hidden" is the official name but it does describe the mutation. I have also heard them called platy sibs but the first cb ones where actually the normal looking offspring of platy and they where siblings of lessers.

Some of the allele combo snake in the blue eyed leucistic complex are actual leucistics like lesserphantom = karma and I think also any combo of Russo, mojave, lesser, butter, and mocha (can't remember for sure if all have been done or not). However, platy is like the other non white allele combos in this complex such as mojavespecial = crystal and mojavemystic = mystic potion.

The important points to remember about an allele combo vs. a combo of mutations of different genes are:

1. Even though for some reason there are many different mutations of the blue eyed leucistic gene in the entire population any one individual snake can only have two copies (including normal); one from mom and one from dad.

2. Even if a ball python does have two different versions of this gene it can only pass one version to each individual offspring. This is why a mojavelesser blue eyed leucistic can't produce more blue eyed leusictics bred to a normal.