Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just curious... since you apparently know a lot about rat morphs, can you tell me what the parents were and what that makes mine? I just don't understand all of the t- stuff..... thanks!

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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Redtail "Kilo"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches" (Didn't name her!)

It's hard to say what the parents are. I bred a pair that looked like your pair and I got all normals (double hets). Once the double hets started breeding, I knew that I had a chance to produce both T and T- babies. From the babies that were produced, I am only assuming that the white ones are Type II. However, realize that the only way to know this for sure is to do dermal tests to look for the presence or lack of Tyrosinase. The only person I know of that has done this is Dr. H.B. Bechtel. His work helps to explain a lot of questions I have, but he is long since retired (dermatologist), and I haven't been in contact with him for over 2 years now.
What I can tell you about your parents is that they are obviously the same Type since all the babies came out albino (although technically if they were both het for the other type, then this could still happen). As far as naming them different colors, I think that is just a person choice. I have three siblings that look completely different from one another. One is amel lav colored, one is pink, and the other is a pretty orange cream color. It's just the variation that is common in this species. Don't get me wrong, there are genetics involved, and some people may breed for specific colors or lack of, but for the most part, the variability in black rats is quite normal. That's what makes them such an enjoyable and interesting species to work with. Hope this helps.

Dewey