Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have recently had a number of questions pertaining to our G1 Hypos, so here is what we know.

This is a new Hypomelanistic mutation that is simple recessive but it is not compatible to any of the other proven Ghost/Hypo bloodlines. This is both a color and pattern mutation. The pattern is reduced in both the homozygous and heterozygous forms. This mutation appears to only reduce the melanin in the lighter colored areas of the ball python. The dark pattern is considerably darker than any of the other Ghost/Hypo bloodline we are working with. Although there is a reduction in the melanin this bloodline of hypo dose not appears frosted or like it’s in shed, its color stays crisp.

Hatchling

Adult

G1 Het Hypo Adult

Thanks,
Greg

Graziani Reptiles

Very nice. That is an impressive snake and a very cool project.

Dave

Greg,

Just a few quick questions, it is always exciting to find new genetic traits that do something similiar to ones we already know, but slightly different.

First, I was wondering do they shed clear like normal ghost/hypos?

Second, does it seem that the pattern trait is independent from the G1 Hypo trait? AKA, do the normal siblings exhibit reduced pattern as well?

Thanks again, and great project you have going there!
Dan

First, I was wondering do they shed clear like normal ghost/hypos? No there is a faint pattern on the shed.

Second, does it seem that the pattern trait is independent from the G1 Hypo trait? AKA, do the normal siblings exhibit reduced pattern as well? We have only produced 100 % hets so far.

There is one other marker on both the homozygous and heterozygous that I forgot to mention. They have a light spot on the top of their heads similar in shape to the Yellow Bellies and Fires.

Thanks again, and great project you have going there! Thank you.

We produced a set of twin G1 Hypos this year. I will try and get a good pic of them tomorrow and post it.

Greg

Graziani Reptiles

I love my het! Thanks greg!
He is also a good example of the exceptional pattern. He is one of my prettiest snake and isn't even homozygous.

He's in the middle of this image...

Justin Kobylka
J. Kobylka Reptiles
www.jkobylkareptiles.com

Hi Greg,

Nice animal. I was wondering what makes your Hypo a Hypo? I am sure that I am just misunderstanding but if the animal does not shed clear? Is not compatible with any other Hypo line? Is not faded or ghostly in appearance? By definition what makes the G1 a hypo? I appreciate any information you can provide for the clarification and definition.

Also did you receive my email about your Clowns for this year?

Sincerely, Kyle
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Kyle J. Stevens
Royal Variations Ltd.

Many a false step is made from standing still.

Hypo is short for Hypomelanistic which is a reduction in black and/or brown pigment. No where in the definition of Hypomelanistic dose is state that the animal has to shed clear. That is just one of the characteristics of the first proven bloodlines of Hypomelanistics. The term ghost actually comes from corn snake mutations and it is a double simple recessive trait (Anerythristic (lacking red pigment) X Hypomelanistic). In ball pythons we have Axanthics (lacking yellow pigment) instead of Anerythristics. An Axanthic X Hypomelanistic will produce a "True Ghost". So when the term Ghost was assigned to the first proven Hypomelanistic mutation it may have been premature, but none of us ever expected there to be so many ball python mutations and that it would get this confusing.

We are only looking at each of these mutations through the naked eye not on a cellular or chemical level, so to know what is truly going on in these mutations is difficult to say the least.

From what we can see in the G1 Hypos there is defiantly a reduction in the brown/black pigment of this mutation making them some form of Hypomelanistic.

Hope this helps,
Greg

Graziani Reptiles

Hi Greg,

The determining factor as to being a Hypo is the reduction of black or brown pigment. What confused me was the amount of black or brown pigment that is around the goldish pattern. That seems to be more brown or black pigment than most Hypos “which have a lot less”. So basically your Hypo is a high contrast Hypo with darker brown and black “not reduced very much” around the Goldish pattern but because the goldish pattern has less brown or black hence the Hypo name?

I appreciate the information. Also did you receive my email about the Clowns?

Sincerely, Kyle
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Kyle J. Stevens
Royal Variations Ltd.

Many a false step is made from standing still.

.

Greg,

I spoke with you a few months ago on the phone about your Hypos and you asked me to call you that night up until a certain time. I did not get a chance to call you until later that night so I emailed you instead. perhaps you did not receive the email? Anyway I apologize if you thought I did not try to contact you.

Your Hypo line is very nice regardless and I appreciate your comments and information.

Sincerely, Kyle
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Kyle J. Stevens
Royal Variations Ltd.

Many a false step is made from standing still.

>This is both a color and pattern mutation. The pattern is reduced in both the homozygous and heterozygous forms.

I like your snakes, Greg!

Can you give some details on the pedigree of these snakes? In other words, what are the data that lead you to the conclusion that the mutant is a recessive?

How do you know that this is not any of the other hypomelanistics?

How reliable is the pattern reduction as an indicator for the heterozygote?

Does the name "hypomelanistic" seem overworked to you? It does to me. Might a different but more or less synonymous name help you to separate your stock from the rest of the hypomelanistics for marketing purposes? After all, if I already have hypomelanistics with less melanin than your hypomelanistics, why should I get your stock, too?

Paul Hollander

Can you give some details on the pedigree of these snakes? In other words, what are the data that lead you to the conclusion that the mutant is a recessive?The data we have proving this mutation simple recessive is multiple breedings producing heterozygous offspring in the first generation and homozygous offspring being produced when Heterozygous offspring was bred back to their homozygous mother. We did do one breeding this year of Double Het (Orange Ghost X G1 Hypo) that did produce both G1 Hypos, Orange Ghost and one reduced pattern normal looking ball python which we believe to be a G1 Het. We are not sure if the Orange Ghost is a Double Homozygous animal because the further reduction in melanin may have masked the G1 Hypo. But He dose have a reduced pattern.

How do you know that this is not any of the other hypomelanistics? We have bred this mutation into 3 other bloodlines of Hypomelanism (NERD Orange Ghost, Hypo/Ghost for Morton Wrights’ stock and an imported line of Hypo/Ghost) all 3 breedings produced double hets with reduced patterns.

How reliable is the pattern reduction as an indicator for the heterozygote? So far it seems to be 100% all but one of the breedings have been produced by at least one of the parents being homozygous G1 Hypo.

Does the name "hypomelanistic" seem overworked to you? It does to me. Might a different but more or less synonymous name help you to separate your stock from the rest of the hypomelanistics for marketing purposes? That is why we call them G1s to distinguish between the two mutations. When set next to a Ghost/Hypo the G1 Hypo has a lot of similarities, not to mention it is indeed a form of hypomelanism. We could come up with another name but I think this would confuse people.
After all, if I already have hypomelanistics with less melanin than your hypomelanistics, why should I get your stock, too? At this time we are still crossing the G1 Hypos into other mutations so we will have to see what the outcome of those combinations will be. So far the G1 Hypo Pastel is different from the other Hypo Pastels that have been produced. As with the other proven Hypo mutations the G1 Hypo also removes the dark pigment on the back of the ball python creating a cleaner looking ball python. But the G1 Hypo having a darker pattern makes a crisper Hypo cross. I’m not saying it makes better Hypo crosses just a different Hypo cross. It is just one more mutation to play with.The G1 Hypo crosses may be more appealing to some and others may like the original Hypo crosses. The only reason you should get my stock too is because it appeals to you. If people don’t think it is appealing as the other Hypos we take no offence.
Graziani Reptiles

Thanks for the information.

>How reliable is the pattern reduction as an indicator for the heterozygote? So far it seems to be 100% all but one of the breedings have been produced by at least one of the parents being homozygous G1 Hypo.

Seems to me that this indicates that the G1 hypo mutant might be better described as a codominant mutant gene than a recessive. With a recessive mutant, the heterozygote would look normal. From what you write, a heterozygous G1 shows the abnormal reduced pattern, and a homozygous G1 has both a reduced pattern and reduced melanin.

Paul Hollander

Seems to me that this indicates that the G1 hypo mutant might be better described as a codominant mutant gene than a recessive. With a recessive mutant, the heterozygote would look normal. From what you write, a heterozygous G1 shows the abnormal reduced pattern, and a homozygous G1 has both a reduced pattern and reduced melanin. The reason we are not labeling them co-dominant is we are not convinced that the pattern is visually different enough to pick out all of the heterozygous offspring. Although the heterozygous offspring exhibit a reduction in pattern I don’t believe that it is enough to consider it a mutation by itself. I would say more like a marker. It is like producing Pastel Jungles Het for Clown, Het for Axanthic, Het for Piebald of Het for Genetic Stripe, all of these Pastels are visually different but not enough to label them new mutations.

Greg Graziani
Graziani Reptiles

Darnit Paul, you beat me to it, was reading the two of yours discussion and was thinking in my head, "if the hets are close to 100% reduced pattern, then you don't have a recessive, you have a co-dominant/incomplete-dominant morph, much like the spotnose(het form not very dramatically different than a normal despite the spot on the nose, and slight difference in pattern)"

-Dan