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A Genetics Question....

eighteenmonther Apr 16, 2005 05:35 PM

Would a "true ghost" be produced by crossing a pair of double hets together that were produced by crossing an axanthic to a ghost/hypo (yellow/orange or green)? Are there any pics of a true ghost, if this is in fact what would be produced by that breeding scenario?

Thanks everyone.....

Replies (4)

BallPython13 Apr 16, 2005 07:32 PM

Yes when a dbl het for axanthic and ghost/hypo bred to a dbl het for axanthic and/ghost/hypo can pouduce true ghosts, axanthics 66% possible het. for ghost/hypo, ghosts/hypos 66% possible het. for axanthic, and 66% possible dbl hets for axanthic and ghost/hypo. And No one has produced a true ghost yet, and some breeders I think are breeding dbl hets for axanthic and ghost/hypo this season, there might be a true ghost this year or next year. Hope This Helps Scott Glover

RandyRemington Apr 16, 2005 07:39 PM

Yep, in ball pythons the term "True Ghost" has been used for the expected double homozygous hypomelanistic (AKA "ghost" in ball python speak) and Axanthic. I don't think anyone has produced this yet but hopefully this year someone will. The reason for the "true" part is that in most other species "ghost" is used for the combo of hypomelanistic and axanthic/anerythristic but in ball pythons it got applied to a single mutation. Some have tried to get the industry to start calling ghost balls - hypomelanistic to avoid this confusion but the term "ghost" seems to stick.

Once we are a little further down the true ghost project there will be many ways to produce them - for example true ghost X true ghost will produce 100% true ghosts and true ghost X axanthic, het ghost will produce eggs 50% chance true ghosts. However, the first true ghost will probably be from the 6.25% (1:16) chance from each egg from crossing a pair of double hets created a couple years back by crossing hypomelanistic and axanthic.

eighteenmonther Apr 16, 2005 08:39 PM

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! I'm trying to envision what a true "Ghost Mojave" would look like...

RandyRemington Apr 16, 2005 11:30 PM

Here is a page with a (only?) hypo Mojave. I guess a true ghost Mojave would be just a broad outline of a pattern. Will be fun to see.
The Snake Keeper Hypomelanistic Mojave Page

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