Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We'd like to get into breeding for recessive genetic traits, but have heard something about lethal genes where the offspring will not survive unless a certain breeding method is used. We're specifically looking at the marketed "leucistics" out there (we do know that they aren't REAL leucistics). Can two Dragons manifesting the "leucistic" trait be bred together successfully, or will there be some sort of lethal gene combination? What about hets? What about breeding them to other clear-nailed Dragons, or breeding to other Dragons that are het for clear nails? Can anyone shed some light on this?

If it makes a difference, we are intested in purchasing the "leucistics," not hets.

Thanks in advance!

I haven't heard about any lethal genes... That would be interesting to look into though if you have any info on that. I have heard that alot of times if you breed closely related beardies they will be weak and mosdt won't survive the first few critical weeks. Maybe that is what you are talking about?

As far as the leucistic animals go.. The leusistic trait was bred to the hypo-pastel trait producing clearnailed beardies...this proved they are both hypomelanistic animals. So any het for hypo pastel or leucistic bred to each other will produce roughly 25% clearnailed hypomelanistic animals 25%het for hypo and 50% will be normal or not het. I think that's right but you might check the punitive square at one of the ballpython breeders sights to be sure. If you breed breed a clearnailed to a het fo clearnailed you get 50% clearnais and 50% het for clearnails. and a clearnailed to a noraml gets all hets.

Basically the only differance in the two are color. The hypo pastel comes from more colorful lines and the leucistic is whiter. Hope this helps.

Later,
Robert
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

Thanks, but I know about inbreeding, line breeding, and what results I should get when breeding a het to a het, a homo to a het, etc. I was just curious about what would happen if I were to breed a "leucistic" to a "leucistic," because someone mentioned that there's some specific way to breed them or we'd end up with some offspring that wouldn't survive past the first year. I didn't know if it had something to do with mixing the wrong combination of genes or something. Sorta like how all tortoise shell cats are female because the tortoise shell gene mixed with the male chromosome ends up being lethal. On a Punnet square, two "leucistics" bred together should result in all "leucistic" offspring, but would those offspring survive or be born at all? Do you always have to breed a "leucistc" to a het in order to get healthy offspring? The same would apply to other clear-nailed Dragons. Can two be bred together, or do they always have to bred to a het?

This is what someone said to me:
"there is a way to breed them or you will end up with immuno inferior progeny.....as in really bad. Someone will take your money and not know what they are doing."

I just want to make sure that if I were to get into breeding for "leucistics" and other clear-nailed Dragons, that I'm doing it right.

I've never heard that. I would have to say that they were talking about inbreeding. You should email Kevin Dunne at Dragons Den or Rob and Vicki at dachiu.com They would be able to answer that question for you. To the best of my knowledge as long as they are not closely related clear nailed to clear nailed breedings are fine. In fact I'm pretty sure that Rob and Vicki have done it. Not sure about Kevin. He is the one that the leucisitc actually originated from. They would ber able to answer that better than anyone here I'd imagine.

Later,
Robert
-----
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson