Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Most breeders I have talked to say that ALL hypos shed clear. However, I have heard a few breeders say that some hypos do and some don't. Having "reduced melanin" should mean that the melanin is reduce by "some amount". Shouldn't that mean that some balls who have more melanin might not shed clear?

Anyone with hypos, your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim Cranwill
www.cranwill.com
cranwill@mts.net

Sorry, I don't have any proven line hypos yet but I find this subject very interesting so hopefully you will eventually get an answer from someone "in the know".

I can't remember which one but I think I remember one of the big breeders telling me that some "ghosts" do have a little pattern in their shed but the better ones don't. It would be interesting to get more info on if the ones with the pattern are proven lines or not and which lines.

Another very interesting question that I haven't heard near enough on is which lines are compatible. Just when I was starting to think incompatibility was over stated and most where compatible I saw where in 2002 a breeder paired up a bunch of imported "ghosts" and I don't think he got any ghosts out of them. Unfortunately I don't know much of the details such as how these ones stacked up on the shed test and if he rearranged the pairings this year and had better luck (i.e. where some of them not really ghosts or where there compatibility issues).

Hmmm.... that's interesting. I have possibly two different lines of ghosts (if one is in fact a ghost after all) and I wasn't very confident about pairing them up only to have a bunch of double het non compatible ghosts. But it makes you wonder about those non compatible ones. Maybe some weren't actually ghosts, like you said.

I really thought I would get more responses to this thread. Maybe once we get the ball rolling.

Thanks,
Tim Cranwill
www.cranwill.com
cranwill@mts.net

It can be frustrating getting responses when not many people know the answers you need. All I can suggest is to keep asking every now and again; hopefully you will eventually get an answer.

I suppose the problem might be one or more of the following:

1. The big breeders are very very (did I mention very) busy.

2. When they do post on kingsnake they often get cut to shreds (with an audience this large there are always a few loose screws).

3. Many of these types of questions leave them open to criticism. In this case, who wants to say "some of my ghosts have a little pattern"? Then their competition can post that all of theirs shed completely clear and move up a notch in this very competitive business.

4. Any information could help your current or future competition.

5. Politics. People get their feelings hurt and keep score a lot.