Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hypo dragons, supposed to have clear toenails correct?

No but a lot of them do. All hypo means is reduced black.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

So technically speaking a dragon can be a hypo and have reg toenails?

I think so, I've never seen one that had all regular toenails usually at least a couple are clear but I suppose it's possible. I think the reduction in black on the body and shoulder patches is more important in determining hypo than toenails.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

The reason I ask is this, I got a dragon in the mail today that was sold as a "hyposnow." Pics were an almost snow white dragon. What I received is a brown dragon that is just a little bit light. Even after hours under the basking light and plenty of time to lighten up it is very brown, not white at all. Also has all normal toenails, no clear at all. What I saw in the pics was worth the money I spent, what I recieved is not. Going to give it another 8-10 hours to change colors before I decide but I don't think this thing is ever going to look as pictured. It may end up lightening up further when it gets older but still not like what I saw in the ad.

Here are some pics of what he looks like at this point:

http://dragoncharm.com/DSC00043.jpg

http://dragoncharm.com/DSC00044.jpg

Shoulder patches look brown to me and I really don't see any black on it. I would express your concern to whoever you ordered it from but also give it a couple days to settle in. Shipping is stressfull and it may take a few days to get back to normal coloration. Looks like a nice fat healthy animal though, lets just hope it lightens up now. Even my snow x leucistics can look like crap when they're cold or stressed but 90% of the time they look like they do on my website, it's a really big change but it happens.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

I've talked to her and she has offered full refund and will even provide shipping on her account. I have the refund in my paypal account as we speak and a fedex account number in my inbox. Going to give this thing a little more time to settle but if I don't see something soon he will be back in a box. If it was a mediocre female I would grin and bear it but males I have enough of, he was only bought because of the exceptional pic. I am pretty sure I am going to ship it back though, put the cash towards 2 leucistics I would like to pick up.

Why is it that everyone says there dragon looks better when it is heated up and under the heat lamps? mine looks the best right when it wakes up and the tank is a little cooler because the spot light is off. when its up it darkens up alot. when its sleeping its like an orange creamsicle. either way its always pretty. but i was curious on that.

I think they look best when they're happy and calm. For some that's when they're under a heat lamp, others when they're sleeping, some really color up in a bath, it just depends on the particular dragon IMO.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=586369,586369

-Randy
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AlphaDragonZ
www.AlphaDragonZ.com

Thanks for the link.

So basically, any light colored Dragon that has a diminished amount of black coloration can be considered a "hypo?" It just gets very confusing because the term seems to be used so loosely to the point where anything can be considered a "hypo" to some people. I've tried doing research on my own and have only come across mixed answers, even in books, so I figured it was time to fess up and ask for directions! LOL.

It's good to know that the clear-nail aspect is something that is a separate recessive trait that goes along with hypomelanism. At least I know that if the Dragon we got today lightens up it isn't a total loss because it has normal toenails.

So, if I am correct in what I have gleaned from the discussion in the link, could this female be considered hypomelanistic?

couple good posts by Paul from Sanfire on Hypomelanism

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=281690,281690&key=2003

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=279582,279995&key=2003

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=279582,280228&key=2003
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Mystical-Dragons Web Site
Webshots photos

Thanks so much for the links! That's exactly what I was looking for. So, basically, as with "Leucistics," light colored Dragons can and are marketed as "Hypos," but genetically speaking, they are not. The only true Hypos, on a genetic level, have clear nails.

Yes many light colored dragons are marketed as hypomelanistic. My thoughts are if the nails are dark that is melanin in the nails. If it can produce it in the nails it can produce melanin all over the body. I've seen some clear nailed hypo pastels with yellow and orange stress patterns on the belly.. These are for sure hypomelanistic to an extreme, possibly hyperxanthic? maybe just a progression from years and years of breeding for colors. What shows on the back of these dragons where the black pattern is normally is a lavender blue coloring at their darkest. If your looking for simple recessive and dominate traits the clear nailed hypo dragons would be what I would go for. If you want hypos with some color bred in look towards the pastel lines, you want white I would go towards the marketed leucistic dragons. Either way you go I wish you good luck with your new dragons.
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Mystical-Dragons Web Site
Webshots photos