Here is the answer to the most frequently asked question I have received this year pertaining to ball python genetics.
In 2002, we obtained a Piebald male that sired 2 clutches of eggs in 2005. Out of 14 offspring 7 were visual Leopards. With a 50% ratio we knew we were working with a new dominant gene. The name Leopard was assigned to this gene because of the leopard yellow color that was created when the Leopard Pastel and Leopard Spiders were produced in 2005.
In 2009, we produced 6 clutches of Leopard x Leopard for a total of 26 offspring. Out of the 26 offspring 21 were Leopards. There was no visual super form produced. Due to that fact we are considering the leopard gene to be dominant not co-dominant. The one question we have yet to answer is, “Can the Leopard gene be isolated from the Piebald gene or are all Leopards 100% Het Piebalds?” If the Leopard gene cannot be separated from the Piebald gene that would make all Super Leopards Piebald's as well.
In 2011 we bred a male Leopard Pastel Piebald (that was produced from a Leopard Pastel X Leopard breeding) and produced 3 clutches of eggs for a total of 15 eggs. All 15 babies were Leopards. We are confidant that he is a homozygous Leopard. This also strengthened our theory that the Leopard gene could not be separated from the Piebald gene, making all homozygous Leopards Piebalds as well.
In 2013 we bred a Spider Piebald (from a Leopard x Spider Leopard breeding theorizing that is was a Super Leopard) to 3 females for a total of 23 eggs. None of the offspring were Leopard. We are now convinced that the Leopard gene and the Piebald gene can be separated.
To further support our theory we have been made aware of 2 other Super Leopards that were not Piebalds. One of which is owned by Markus Jayne and was proven after producing 5 clutches with 100% of the offspring displaying the Leopard trait.
The up side to this is that Leopards Het Piebald are now more valuable, however the down side is the only way to determine a Super Leopard from a Leopard in a Leopard x Leopard clutch is to raise it and breed it. So all Leopards from Leopard x Leopard clutches must be labeled Possible Super Leopards.
