Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was talking to a friend yesterday and the topic of blackback ball pythons came up. I said I was interested in getting one, and he said to be careful. He has heard that if you use lower temp.s in the incubation of the eggs that the offspring will take on the apearance of being a blackback. He also refered me to the captive reproduction section of The Ball Pyton Manual. Note the photo pg.55.

My questions are, is this true? Also, Is there a sure fired way of telling the difference if it is true?

Any imput (even sarcastic remarks) is appreciated, thanks.

Blackbacks are Blackbacks. If you like the looks of one, add it to your collection. If you're looking to breed Blackbacks, Corey Woods has a proven line. Simple recessive, I think.

Or you could always buy a CH/WC Blackback and hope it's genetically reproduceable. Then you'd have your very own line. =)

Chris
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"I don't know about you...but I find comfort in that." -- Cowboy

In other words if you want a genetic black back you will pay thousands, otherwise a normal that just looks like a black back isn't much more than a normal!

Jason

you are getting a visible het for Red Axanthic.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

"scientia est vox"

Corey also has a line of just blackbacks....aside from his Red Axanthics....
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Luke Martin
Bronze Serpent Reptiles

I believe he changed the name of what he calls "black backs" (non hets for wood line axanthic) because it used to be the only genetic black backs were his het for woods line axanthic.

Also are those genetic?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

"scientia est vox"

He's got 2 lines....one line is het for Red Axanthic
The other line is just genetic black back....
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Luke Martin
Bronze Serpent Reptiles

I dont see anything labeled as "genetic blackback" he has things called "blackbacks" with no mention to the genetics of them. So i don't know if they are genetic.

however the het for red axanthic IS a genetic blackback.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

"scientia est vox"

Just email him and ask him to post on this thread or ask him and tell us what he says....
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Luke Martin
Bronze Serpent Reptiles

market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=32&de=271949

He's actually got 2 lines of black backs...plus his Red Axanthics....one line is dominant and one line is recessive from the looks of it.....
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Luke Martin
Bronze Serpent Reptiles

...misread...looks like the blackbacks are dominant....
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Luke Martin
Bronze Serpent Reptiles

.
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"I don't know about you...but I find comfort in that." -- Cowboy

Black Stripes, i knew he called the blackbacks that aren't het red axanthic something different. What is his recessive line? all i saw was his red axanthic line, and dominant black stripe line.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

"scientia est vox"

Sorry, didnt read your post titled correction.

Thank you for that info though.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

"scientia est vox"

Not really. If it has a black back, then it IS a Blackback. It may not be genetically reproduceable, but it is still a Blackback. There is no "just looks like a Blackback". It either has a black back or it doesn't.

Chris
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"I don't know about you...but I find comfort in that." -- Cowboy

This is true but the non-genetic black backs I've seen look no where near as good as a genetic blackback. Most of the non-genetic black backs aren't even black "all" the way down the back.

Jason

I have a very nice looking blackback female. In '03, she
layed 7 slugs and 1 healthy egg (bummer!). The baby was nearly identical
to her! It was a stunning baby blackback. I'll try to post
some pics later on. I still have both.

So, in summary: I think it is quite possible that if you breed
a blackback, you have a chance of producing more blackbacks.
I'm guessing that some will and some won't. After a couple
generations, you could probably start making claims as to
whether or not it is inheritable.

Regards,
Chris Simone

Below is a [not so great] picture of the mother blackback...