Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted this in the green tree python forum a couple of days ago but haven't had any replies so I thought I would post it here and maybe get a little more help.

IS a blue phase green tree python simular to a recessive gene morph of other pythons. I mean if I breed to pure blue phases together will the resulting offspring be blue or is it just a naturally random occurance. Also who is a reputable breeder of blue phases. Thanks in advance for any assistance, Todd

I'll start with a disclaimer: I don't maintain any chondros, but I have studied them pretty intensely. As far as I know, there are two "types" of blue phases: females that turn blue later in life, usually because of hormonal factors during ovulation and pregnancy, and chondros that turn blue during their ontogenic color change. The chondros that turn blue during ontogenesis are usually regarded as the "true" blue chondros, with a better chance of producing blue offspring. I don't know that any breeder has definitively proven this to be a recessive, dom, or co-dom genetic trait. Greg Maxwell of Fine GTPs might be a good resource if you're really interested, he recently wrote a book called "The Complete Chondro" and breeds some of the finest chondros in the world (in my opinion). His website is www.finegtps.com and has a lot of interesting and useful info; see his collection of blue breeders as well as his other outstanding breeding animals at www.finegtps.com/GalleryAdult.htm. Other noted breeders working with blue chondros are Trooper Walsh (the father of chondro breeding and the first to breed them in captivity) and Tim Morris. Hope this helped some!

Thanks for the information. I will definitely check the links you provided. I myself have never kept chondros either but have always had a deep desire to maintain a small colony of true blue chondros. Thanks again for the help, Todd

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