Genetics

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I'll ask this now, since I've wondered about it, but never wanted to start a thread about it. How big of a concern is inbreeding? If you breed the offspring back to their parents, or other siblings- how high is the risk of birth defects, and the like?

Basically,

all genetic mutation color morphs, such as albinos, anerythristics, axanthics, hypo's, erythristics and all those others came, at some point, from the wild. The original snakes that are found are collected and kept, and then bred to make more of the color morph. I myself own three color morph animals collected directly from the wild, one of which is my Albino Dekay's Brown snake, which as of now is the only albino specimen in captivity (to our knowledge) and the other two are my Hypo eastern and a female flame eastern, both of which I caught myself. I haven't found any albino's yet... but with my luck... I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[zooplan]

You breed two albino garters and they only produce normal-coloured offspring. If it was the same gene, some would be normal-coloured and some would be albinos.

This is wrong:
If you breed two albinos of the same gene together= all offspring will be albino.

[Stefan-A]

This is wrong:
If you breed two albinos of the same gene together= all offspring will be albino.

Thank you for the correction. I thought about checking that before posting it, but I was far too lazy, so I got it confused with what happens when you breed hets. Thanks again.

[poissonguppy]

This is wrong:
If you breed two albinos of the same gene together= all offspring will be albino.

But, if you bred two garters that have the recessive trait for albinism, then their babies would be both normal and albino... right? I'm thinking punnett square, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Quibble]

But, if you bred two garters that have the recessive trait for albinism, then their babies would be both normal and albino... right? I'm thinking punnett square, but maybe I'm wrong.

I believe if they both had one recessive gene, then there's a 1/4 chance for albinos, 3/4 chance for normal but only 1/4 chance they will be normal and not carry the recessive trait.

correct? ish?

[Stefan-A]

Correct, I think. Two hets should produce those ratios.

[k2l3d4]

Okkkk.... you all are really confusing me with all of the technical terms that comes with the breeding of snakes..... but in all of this I have a question... I was on another snake forum and had asked a question when I found out that my Albino Checkered was in all actuality a male snake instead of a female like i thought.. obviously I found out because he was breeding with the normal colored Checkered female that I have.. when I asked what colors I could expect any babies to be from them I was told that the most likely would be green like the mother, but such breeding of an Albino and a Green checkered was "looked down on" by breeders because the babies would be "mutts" .... I was quite disheartened by such a response and would like your guys's opinion on such a thing.

Kady

[Stefan-A]

Okkkk.... you all are really confusing me with all of the technical terms that comes with the breeding of snakes..... but in all of this I have a question... I was on another snake forum and had asked a question when I found out that my Albino Checkered was in all actuality a male snake instead of a female like i thought.. obviously I found out because he was breeding with the normal colored Checkered female that I have.. when I asked what colors I could expect any babies to be from them I was told that the most likely would be green like the mother, but such breeding of an Albino and a Green checkered was "looked down on" by breeders because the babies would be "mutts" .... I was quite disheartened by such a response and would like your guys's opinion on such a thing.

Kady

Well, it seems to me at least that the person who said that doesn't know what the hell he/she is talking about. (could you PM me the link, I'm always curious about what advice people give regarding garters on other forums) The only "mutts" one could get from a mating of two snakes, are hybrids and that requires that the snakes are of different species or subspecies. You do have two individuals of the same species and subspecies, it seems. The only difference is that at least one of them carries the gene for albinism. Those offspring should all be normal looking (unless the mother is heterozygous for albinism), but they should all be heterozygous for albinism. So your two snakes don't produce more albinos, big deal. Their offspring will.

Zygosity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punnett square - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[zooplan]

To say it the easy way:
All offspring will be heterozygous!
And your breed will enlarge the genpool of
´marcianus´ ablino strain.

[k2l3d4]

Garter and Water Snakes - www.ReptileForums.com here is the link into the other site that I was at that really does not give a whole lot on garters.....

One guy tells me this on his post:
tricksterpup
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 563


I always recommend keeping your snakes in separate containers. Its safer that way. Snakes do not need to be kept together and they do not get lonely.

If money is the problem, just go out to wallmart and buy a Sterlilte clip on top 15 qt tub. This would be perfect for your pet until you pick up a new setup. They run any where from $3-4.


Here is an example on how I keep one of mine.
they are clear enough for you to see your snake and for them to see you. Trust me, this come comes right out when I am around and comes straight to the front.. thinks its feeding time.


__________________


I love the fact that this person tells me that they do not get lonely...... I find my lady and gentleman in the same cubby even though I have two there on the warm side... not like they are going for warmth.

The other person that was talking to me: Aeries
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 175


see how the tails are wrapping? Looks like they've already bred. This can be really detrimental to a snake that's too young. I don't know too much about garter's in particular, but they do give live birth.

I am not sure if that is true, but I do not see them being able to get pregnant before their bodies are able to handle it.
The other part about the "mutts" was an older post that is no longer on the site.