How are snake morphs created?

Morphs are bred by specialized snake breeders who try to isolate mutations found naturally in the wild. They use selective breeding to produce especially vivid and interesting color variations. The genes that make up ball python morphs are passed on through inheritance – just like with humans.

How are reptile morphs created?

Some mutations may have a lethal effect on the developing animal. Other mutations alter where a skin pigment is produced, or the level to which that pigment is produced. These types of mutations are the genetic basis of the various color and pattern morphs that you may come across in reptiles.

What are dominant genes in ball pythons?

Examples of Dominant Ball Python morphs include the Spider gene and the Pinstripe gene. Both of these mutations can be bred together to make a homozygous super form that is no different visually than the single gene Spider or Pinstripe but when used in breeding will make a 100\% yield of visual offspring.

Is piebald ball python dominant or recessive?

Piebald is a recessive base morph of the immensely popular ball python. There are several base morphs of the ball python species, from which breeders and herpetologists have selectively bred many, many designer morphs—probably more than you can count! Piebald coloration is coded by a recessive gene.

What is a recessive gene in ball python?

Recessive Ball Python Genetics. Recessive Ball Python Morphs require both of the genes at a particular locus to contain the abnormality in order for the mutation to be visible. If only one of the genes at a particular locust contains the abnormality then the Ball Python will be a het for that mutation.

What ball python genes are dominant?

What is a morphs snake?

Morph refers to the specific genetic mutation of a snake. So, a snake with yellow and black scales is a different morph to one with white and yellow scales, even though they are the same species.

What are snake morphs?

Can you breed any morph of ball python?

As a rule, morphs can all be bred with each other. Remember, they are all the same species, and like species can mate with each other. Below I’ll give you a rundown of which ball python morphs are best to start with, and which you should avoid, but first I’ll take you through the basics.

How to breed snakes for snakes?

After you feel you have the best pair of snakes for breeding, you will need to be 100\% sure that the snakes are properly sexed before continuing with your breeding efforts. You will need to be sure you have a male and a female. To determine the sex of the snake, a process called probing is performed.

Do snakes mate and reproduce sexually?

Most snakes reproduce sexually, but some reproduce asexually. They mate in the spring after hibernation, using pheromones to attract mates. A male snake mates with a female snake by inserting one of his hemipenes into the female’s cloaca.

How do you determine the sex of a snake?

To determine the sex of the snake, a process called probing is performed. Breeding any snake can be a complex process, but rewarding. It requires knowledge, because there are definitely some hazards with breeding.

Can two different snake species interbreed?

According to the Journal of Herpetology, bull snakes and fox snakes, two colubrids, have been known actually to interbreed in the wild, even though they belong to different genera. This is rare. It is possible, but highly unlikely, that similar snake species interbreed in the wild.