Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I'm looking to buy a bearded dragon book that my daughter can use to understand genetics better. Any suggestions? Would like something current that talks about trans, hypo, leather, pictures are always a plus too.
Thanks,
CK & CK2

I don't know of any book that covers Bearded Dragon genetics with any significance.

Leathers and Trans. are relatively new arrivals on the market, so it's doubtful you'll find a book with references to them at all. Books are generally at least a few years behind other media.

Your best bet would be to read old posts on this forum and other Bearded Dragon forums where breeders post for the most current information.

I ended up ordering "Bearded Dragons in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series)" by Allen Repashy last night on Amazon.com. It's a 2009 so I thought it might be the most current. Says it has color pics too so my daughter should like that.

I have that book. (I actually have every BD book) And I think you'll be disappointed. The best book out there on Bearded Dragons in my opinion is "Your Bearded Dragons Life" by Liz Palika. It is out of print but can still be bought used at Amazon. It's good reading at any age and covers more than any other book out there.

None of the books out have genetic info. Just some basic mating info.

There really isn't any book specifically about bearded dragon genetics. As already mentioned the most current information about specific bearded dragon genetics can be found in reptile and bearded dragon forums like this one.

'The Bearded Dragon Manual' by Philippe de Vosjoli, Robert Mailloux, Susan Donoghue, Roger Klingenberg and Jerry Cole does have some some information about various morphs in bearded dragons but it doesn't include most of the newer morphs (translucent, leatherback, silkies etc). It isn't a newly published book (2001) but does have good information. I also have the book BDLvr mentioned but not the one you recently bought.

However, there are plenty of books available about genetics in general, though most relate to human genetics or plants but they will teach about the differences between recessive and dominate traits etc. These behave the same way in any animal species so a book on basic genetics may be of better use. With reptiles the usual genetics that are worked with deal with pigmentation and pattern. Lesser types relate to the actual scale formation or lack of scales.

Below are a couple sites on reptile genetics, which explain the basics and a bit more advanced concepts mostly with snakes but the same principals can be applied to bearded dragons and any other reptile.

www.vmsherp.com/LCGenetics101.htm

www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_intro.html

www.ballpythons.ca/genetics.html (this one has some nice pictures to show the results of combining different mutations.

Doing a bit of searching on google I found these two sites which shows pictures of various dragon morphs and gives explanations of each.

www.mbdragons.eu/en/genetica.html

www.ukbeardeddragons.co.uk/morphs.htm
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

> However, there are plenty of books available about genetics in general, though most relate to human genetics or plants but they will teach about the differences between recessive and dominate traits etc. These behave the same way in any animal species so a book on basic genetics may be of better use. With reptiles the usual genetics that are worked with deal with pigmentation and pattern. Lesser types relate to the actual scale formation or lack of scales.

The principles of genetics are the same for lizards, snakes, mice, fruit flies, corn, etc. Once one has learned the principles for one species, it is pretty easy to move to a different species.

Here are some books that may be helpful:
Pritzel -- Genetics for herpers
Elrod & Stansfield -- Schaum's Introduction to Genetics
Miller -- A survey of genetics (Electronic copy free download at http://www.ringneckdove.com)

Miller's book is out of print. The other two are fairly inexpensive and are available through Amazon and other booksellers. Your public library may also have genetics texts.

> Below are a couple sites on reptile genetics, which explain the basics and a bit more advanced concepts mostly with snakes but the same principals can be applied to bearded dragons and any other reptile.

> www.vmsherp.com/LCGenetics101.htm
Riddled with bad information.

> www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_intro.html
Riddled with bad information.

> www.ballpythons.ca/genetics.html
Good as far as it goes but very limited in scope.

For what its worth, I learned genetics in a university course and working for several years at the university genetics lab.

Paul Hollander