This forum seems to be the place to ask the questions that I have not been able to get answers to yet. I have been getting answers similar to this about my genetic questions about Dragons. “Most Beardie people are not up on genetics”. Of course you don’t have to be to be able to breed and take care of Dragons, but I would like to know more about the reasons behind many of these morphs so more predictable results can be expected.

I am just getting into Dragons, but have been breeding reptiles of various kinds for over 20 years. I have recently been concentrating on Corn Snakes and Boas due to the variety of genetic mutant genes to work with. The Corn Snake World and Boa World have a good handle of the genetics of their beloved animals. There seems to be a lot of mutant type genes in Dragons as well, but they have really been mixed up due to the complete fear of in-breeding. I understand that in-breeding can have some very negative results if fatal genes are exposed, but a little more control when out-crossing could be beneficial.

So down to my question. What are the current SUSPECTED genetic mutant genes that have POSSIBLY been discovered in Dragons. I want to know all of the possibilities, not just the ones that have been proven. It is not difficult to prove out new mutant genes normally. Breed one to a Normal and produce F1 hets. Breed F1 hets together or breed the Mutant back to an F1 offspring and if the gene is recovered then it is very likely a mutant gene. This will work with recessive or co-dominant genes, but the co-dominant ones will leave more questions due to their possible variability as hets.

One of the first areas that jumps out at me in the Dragon World is the Hypo type genes or Hypo Group. In Corn Snakes, we have proven that there are four incompatible hypo type genes that are a separate genetic mutant gene from the others. If you breed two incompatible hypo genes together you get normals. If you want to reproduce a certain type of hypo, both parents must be carrying the gene either as homo or het. There seems to be three or four hypo type genes in Dragons depending on your definition of hypo (Reduction of black pigment). Pastel, Hypo, Clear Nail and Translucent. Are any of the big three, Pastel, Hypo, or Clear Nail, a different name for the same genetic mutation? Or, is it possible they are all different mutant genes? I have seen statements like a Clear Nail is the only TRUE hypo, which is definitely not the only possibility.

Discussions about some of the other possible mutant type genes would also be appreciated. Leusistic Dragons do not seem to be the same thing as many other Leusistic Reptiles. Leusistics are normally SNOW white with dark eyes. Leusistic Dragons are not. The Snow Dragons, seem to be some type of anerythrisitic type gene. Translucents and Albinos (Amelanistics) seem to be obviously recessive mutants. What about the Yellows and Reds? Selective breeding obviously has a lot to do with the intensity and saturation of color, but are there co-dominant genes at work here for excessive yellow and/or red pigment. It sure seems to be the case. I just bought a pair of sister Dragons. One is yellow and one is Red, but not intensely so. They are still young, so their true potential has not been seen yet. I can see the possibility that they are from a Het Red/yellow X Het Red/Yellow breeding if we are talking about co-dominant genes. A very intense RED or YELLOW Dragon could be what in the Boa World would be a Super or Homo Red. A lightly colored red Dragon could be a Het for Red Dragon genetically.

So tell me about some of the possible genetic mutations in Dragons. A quick list of the top of my head would be, Red, Yellow, Hypo, Pastel, Clear Nail, Albino, Translucent, Leusistic, Snow, and Patternless. These type may be caused by a mutant gene and would be different than Lines of Dragons like Chris Allen Reds and Desert Flames, which are most likely just Reds produced by different breeders. What do you guys think?!
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Joe Pierce
Snakes Alive!
"Home of the guaranteed feeders"
"If it won't eat, it is not worth a dime!"