Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard that egg stress can cause different mutations aberant coloring or patterns. How true is this and what other traits/mutations can be attributed to egg stress not genetics? Does anyone have an example they can post?
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I wouldn't call them mutations if they aren't genetic. I THINK that egg stress might cause classic jungle like looking animals but if my theory is right it wouldn't be anything they can pass on to their offspring.

I hatched two fairly classic jungle like possible possible het stripes in two clutches my last year using the Styrofoam incubator (2002). Their incubation times overlapped and one was the loan survivor of her clutch. They are both shown with their more normal looking siblings/half siblings in this picture. I hatched another one (possible possible het pied) in 2004 as the only survivor from a pretty bad clutch.

I can't yet rule out that genetics might be involved (there are rumors of some het stripes being bright colored) but with the bad luck that people have had reproducing classic jungles and the fact that these where all three from stressed clutches I'm suspicious that their bright appearance was caused by some sort of stress during incubation.

np.

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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer