Hypo/Pastel Checkered gave birth today-ironically

[flickerfriend]

Their very nice looking.

[Jeff B]

I'm thinking the same Brad, time will tell, even though I only have these 3 and mom I think I will be able to hopefully add to and support your data, and of course you will also likely add more data next year. I think if I can duplicate your results and you also duplicate them there will be significant evidence. The other thing to do is breed one of your supers to a normal or saaaaay a granite, and see if all babies are visual pastels. I think one thing that is confusing is that the adults do fade a bit, rather than getting brighter or holding that lemon yellow, but it reminds me a lot of the pastel ball python gene, same thing, they usually brown out a bit.

Jeff, I'm forced, kicking and screaming, to be dragged back to the view that there is indeed a "Super" form to this gene. I can't think of any other explanation that is nearly as likely.

[Jeff B]

Thanks for the words Randy, Steve and flicker, sorry not ignoring or not appreciative, just wanted to address Brad first as this is his line of pastel I am working with.

[Jeff B]

You know Brad the other possibility is that these are actually suttle visual hets of a recessive gene that shows the full visual phenotype in the homozygous form which would be what you produced this year. Food for thought, there are some recessive genes that show themselves slightly in the heterozygous animals in other snake species, this is well acknowledged. Either way im keeping that normal as a control and breed it as well for more data to add to solving the puzzle.

[BChambers]

I'm hoping for one or two more litters this season, so maybe things will be clearer soon. i will indeed be trying your suggestion, among others, next season. I also have a "Super" from last year that may be gravid already (by the sire of the earlier clutch). Crossing fingers!