Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've seen a few corn snakes lately that were referred to as a "Coral Ghost". They were absolutely stunning!

But I'm confused about what exactly is a "coral ghost".

I understand that a ghost is a double recessive combination of Hypo and Anery;a snow is a double recessive combination of Amel and Anery; a coral snow is a triple combination of Hypo, Amel, and Anery.

So what the heck is a "coral ghost"?

I'm guessing that it's from breeding a coral snow back to Anery?

Anyone out there have the answer to this? I MUST KNOW!

I dont know for sure, but I think the coral comes from blood red genetics more than hypo genetics. I would think the hypo genetics in the snow would be canceled out by the amel genetics coloration wise (the reduction effect canceled by the complete removal effect), but they would still have a patternless belly. Still, wouldnt expect much difference dorsally. However, the diffusion from the blood gene may cause the coral coloration effect. Once again, REALLY not sure on this one and I hope someone else more genetically talented responds.

>>I dont know for sure, but I think the coral comes from blood red genetics more than hypo genetics. I would think the hypo genetics in the snow would be canceled out by the amel genetics coloration wise (the reduction effect canceled by the complete removal effect), but they would still have a patternless belly. Still, wouldnt expect much difference dorsally. However, the diffusion from the blood gene may cause the coral coloration effect. Once again, REALLY not sure on this one and I hope someone else more genetically talented responds.

the original coral snows are from Don Soderberg.
There is no bloodred involved.
Here is what Don said about his coral snows.

"coral-type snows are not pink/coral colored because of hypo. Some may co-incidentally be homozygous for hypo, but the reason for the pink/red overtones is due to an allele from a different gene. It's not even inherited recessively like most cornsnake mutations (including the anery and amel that manifest snows). It's a dominant-type gene (dom/codom??)."

Now, there is no telling what the person is referring to when he says he has coral ghosts.
They could simply be high-pink ghosts
Or most likely they are ghosts that have coral snows in their background.
maybe corl snows to hypos or ghosts and those offspring bred together to produce some ghosts.
Not exactly how the coral "gene" would work but if it is dom/codom I would think it would pass from coral snow to hypo or ghost pairings to the hatchlings and when they are bred together to their offspring.

makes my head spin
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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I've seen one person selling Coral Ghosts that are quite colorful (and expensive). These are line-bred ghosts, selectively reproduced for enhanced color.

I saw someone else selling what looked like normal ghosts, but was referring to them as "coral." I view this a ploy to sell a snake by using a "buzz" word. The same way many normal corns are marketed as "Okeetees."

Part of the problem when you coin your own phrases for the morphs you produce is that anyone can take your name and use it (unless you trademark it, like one Bearded Dragon breeder did).

But to answer your question, as far as I know, the only two recessive genes at work with Coral Ghosts are hypo and anery - the same recessive genes that make regular ghosts.

Tim

Third Eye

The one you refer to are selctively bred, BUT that is not all there is to it. Yes his are selctively bred for color enhancement, they are belived to be genetically different than a typical ghost. Much like the post above (Don's quotes) and the post below, there seems to be something drawing out the reds in the animals that cause the color difference. It also seems to be a dominate trait. Strawberry is belived to be the gene.

There are a few lines of coral ghost that are markedly different in appearance. I think that is all correct, just a recitation of what Don said I guess. I can tell you I am happy with my Strawberries and coral ghost and can't wait until they breed next year.

dc

D, thats it!! Strawberry. I knew there was another ingredient in the coral mix, but couldnt really remember what it was LOL!!

Indeed. I stated "as far as I know, the only two recessive genes at work with Coral Ghosts are hypo and anery" and this is completely true. Is strawberry a simple recessive genetic trait? Has it been proven to be in Coral Ghosts (meaning they'd be expressing three recessive charactistics)?

I've known the guy who is working with Coral Ghosts for 20 years. He is unaware of anyhing else at work. And while it's possible there may be another gene involved, we do not know what it is. So it's speculation to say it's strawberry. It's also quite possible that the snakes are carrying and anery gene that allows more red than usual to be expressed.

Tim

Not sure how strawberry works. I just picked up a pair last year, but based on conversations with Don (SMR), they think strawberry or a "red modifier" may be somewhat of a dominate gene similar to Ultra.

From what I was told, if you breed a coral ghost to a normal ghost, then half of the F1's turn out to be coral ghpsts and the other half normal ghosts.

Time and breeding trials will tell I suppose.

dc

Well, I've ran across some stuff from "KJUN" on another forum referring to some "strawberry hypo's" that he produced in 2008. Don't know if that is in this particular mix or not, but it would lend credence to it since ghost's are a composition of hypo x anery genes. But as Tim said, the "coral ghosts" I saw were VERY expensive, but pretty interesting as well. Certainly don't know if those have anything at all to do with KJUN's "strawberry" hypo gene or not, but who knows.

Then of course there is the "salmon snows" on the same guy's site with the "coral ghosts" too..LOL!

Lots of pinks and names to choose from. Sort of like looking through a name book to name your newborn child..LOL!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I have seen what people are calling "Coral Ghosts"I am not sold on them, I have not yet seen any "hatchlings"..My buddy picked up a pair that are "supposed" to make Coral Ghosts" so we will see what becomes of this breeding.......

I have Coral Snows that are not derived from from Strawberry lines....The Corals that I have are from selectively bred "Hypo Snow" lines....The father is from Soderberg lines and the mother is from a good friends breeding trials.. I am hoping to breed them this year but I am still desiding if she is big enough or not.The ones that I do have are VERY pink and there is yellow going down the lower jaw about a quarter down the body......

We are thinking of breeding the possible Coral Ghost to my female Coral Snow,just to see what we get.....At the very least we will hae some hets.if the breeding does work out......Time will tell.......

~Andy~

Yes, the coral snow is definitely not the same gene for sure.

Good luck with that breeding project you have lined up with them.

I still say my friends ghost here from several years ago is the most outstanding one I have ever seen to date....just incredible!! He could have easily called it a "coral" ghost too, and it would have been quite appropriate. Far more ghost-like than the other one in my opinion too..LOL!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I just remembered that there is also "Pastel Ghost" corns also.....I do know that the males are more colored than the females.....Extreme examples are stunning.....And look as a "possible" Coral Ghost......The thing is I do believe that they have not proven out any Pastel Ghosts being able to pass on there genetics,no hets. proven yet to my knowlage.......~Andy~

I wish I knew more about my buddy's ghost, and what exactly produced it genetic-wise. He doesn't know for certain either, as he got it from a big collection from a guy. Record keeping was not his strong point at all either unfortunately...LOL!

I remember Kathy Love referred to some similar looking ghost a couple years ago with the coined name "special project" ghosts. As I recall, she didn't know exactly what was going on with them either, but they were far better looking than typical ghosts, and I think they displayed a nice pink hue as well. Don't know at all if these were the same thing as my buddy's animal though.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com