breeding checkereds

[guidofatherof5]

No. Sometimes siblings are bred together.

[Steveo]

Sibling/sibling or parent/child parings are typically done to propagate recessive traits such as albinism. In most species you can get away with it for a few generations but you do need to outcross to an unrelated animal every so often. It's always better if you can get the desired results by crossing unrelated animals, but that's not always possible.


I used to breed show-quality fish of many species in college. The way line breeding is typically done in that hobby is to develop two different desirable traits in two different lines for a few generations, then combine the two and see what you get. Since it's much easier to ship reptiles compared to fish, it's usually not too difficult to find an unrelated animal to work with.

Finding albino or morphs in the wild is really advantageous because 1) it's cool and 2) it gives you (presumably) an unrelated animal to work into your stock.

[chris-uk]

I've known ball python breeders to breed siblings together. Is it different with garter snakes?

I think it's less common with garters than royal (ball) pythons for the simple reason that with royals it's all about breeding the latest morph and whilst the original breeder can breed offspring back to the parent anyone buying a pair from the breeder only has one option.
With garters there are morphs, but the majority of keepers are as interested in normal garters. Sure, a lot of us have at least one morph, but there's so many garter species that I think most crave the more unusual species more than the different morph.

[twostripes42]

I think it's less common with garters than royal (ball) pythons for the simple reason that with royals it's all about breeding the latest morph and whilst the original breeder can breed offspring back to the parent anyone buying a pair from the breeder only has one option.
With garters there are morphs, but the majority of keepers are as interested in normal garters. Sure, a lot of us have at least one morph, but there's so many garter species that I think most crave the more unusual species more than the different morph.

That makes since

[Spankenstyne]

Totally agree with the above. Even though it wouldn't likely be a problem, it's always a better idea to try and outcross lines when possible. Helps at least offer some possible genetic diversity to keep the lines strong. The funny thing is that pretty much every "normal" CB checkered is het for albino anyway, so finding a "normal" from another breeder will probably get you a het.

[guidofatherof5]

Totally agree with the above. Even though it wouldn't likely be a problem, it's always a better idea to try and outcross lines when possible. Helps at least offer some possible genetic diversity to keep the lines strong. The funny thing is that pretty much every "normal" CB checkered is het for albino anyway, so finding a "normal" from another breeder will probably get you a het.

Good point Chris. Mine are all hets.