Forum Visitor to the Ranch (Dan72)

[ProXimuS]

All three are soo beautiful! You can even see some iridescence on the dark phases belly in the last pic. Steve, mind explaining what is t+ albino, or supplying a link. I remember it being explained before, just not where.....

[guidofatherof5]

TYROSINASE POSITIVE ALBINO (T+) in T.radix is called the Nebraska albino.

TYROSINASE NEGATIVE ALBINO (T-) in T.radix is called the Iowa albino.

From Scott F. website. Scott Felzer's Garter Snakes, specializing in aberrant garters
Tyrosinase-negative Albinism - albinism due to absence of tyrosinase.
Tyrosinase-positive Albinism - albinism in animals capable of synthesizing tyrosinase, but unable to synthesize melanin

From Jeff B. website. Garter Snake Morph
Albinos generally have a complete lack of melanin, yet still can produce xanthin and erythrin, which is why they will still have varying amounts of reds, yellows, and orange. That is why the combination of erythristic morph types with albino has enormous appeal and designer morph potential. The reptile world often classifies albinism into two main types of albinos: Tyrosinase positive (T+) and Tyrosinase negative (T-). Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is involved in one of the first steps to melanin production, it converts the amino acid tyrosine into the compound dopaquinone. Ablino snakes are often lumped into one of the two groups T+ or T- based on the idea that the T+ albinos have a darker more caramel/purple look, however this is a guess at best and a gross oversimplification of what causes the different albinos in snakes, due to a lack of knowledge and research being done at the biochemical and genetic level of snakes, and/or public knowledge of such studies. Having many different possibilities or mechanisms that can cause albinism is the reason that even though two types of albinos in a species may or may not be genetically compatible, so when 2 albinos from different parentage are crossed might not produce albinos but rather double hets for the two different albino types. For example it is well know that the Iowa albino and Nebraska albino types in the plains garter are not compatible, and recently it was discovered that the Bluegrass albino and Shuett albino in the eastern garter are not compatible.

[ProXimuS]

Thanks, Steve! Very helpful

[EasternGirl]

I love those albinos! Beauties! All of them are gorgeous. Thanks for the pics.

[guidofatherof5]

Dan the dark phase radix is opaque again.
I think this quick shed is in response to the crusty vent which by the way is looking much better.

[snake man]

Can we get some post shed pics soon.

[guidofatherof5]

Can we get some post shed pics soon.

Moved to its own thread.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...ase-radix.html

[guidofatherof5]

I will work on it.

[EasternGirl]

Where has Dan72 been?

[ProXimuS]

Where has Dan72 been?

He's hunkered down in the corner of Steve's snake room. He visited and realized he could never leave