T. s. tetrataenia or T. s. infernalis???

[reptileparadise]

I would like to know what you guys think.

This animals was born here from two very nice parents. Both parents look like pure T. s. infernalis.
All littermates where normal infernalis. Nearly all have a perfect pattern, one or two have a somewhat distorted pattern and one looks like this.

I'm wondering what your experience is when it comes to variations in pattern within a litter of infernalis.

All input is appreciated!
Sadly, I can't contact the previous owners of my infernalis anymore. I know very litte about their lineage except that they are nice, blotched, specimens...
First picture is the animal (in shed) I'm "worried" about. The second is a typical clutchmate (recently shed).

[Stefan-A]

That's an interesting problem indeed. I suppose it's not impossible for that level of variation to occur. Even my first vagrans litter had some pretty interesting variations in pattern and coloration.

Is it possible that there actually is a tetrataenia in the family?

[reptileparadise]

I have 0 san frans in my collection at the moment....
Or at least, untill this was born....

[Stefan-A]

I have 0 san frans in my collection at the moment....
Or at least, untill this was born....

I meant "family" as in including its ancestors. Grandparents etc.

[reptileparadise]

Aaaaahhhh, I knew that!

Well, thats what I was thinking. Maybe the parents are outcrossed hybrids. Something I really, really, really, really don't like!
So I'm hoping that this is a somewhat common variation in pattern and that I won't have to euthanise the whole bunch...

[Spankenstyne]

Just looks like some pattern variation or aberrancy to me. I don't have any of either but some folks I know that have infernalis seem to get the same variation sometimes as well for what it's worth.

[infernalis]

I have heard from more than one source that Infernalis & tetrataenia have been crossed in Europe to try and strengthen the gene pool due to the heavy unavoidable inbreeding.

So it is possible that somewhere down the line some San Fran genes were infused in the lineage.

[bkhuff1s]

euthanize... really?! i think that's a little extreme

[Hollis_Steed]

euthanize! Are you kidding me? There are plenty of people out there (like me) who are not interested in breeding and just enjoy the snake for the snake. Before you decide to euthanize I will gladly pay shipping to give one a good home!

[Stefan-A]

I have heard from more than one source that Infernalis & tetrataenia have been crossed in Europe to try and strengthen the gene pool due to the heavy unavoidable inbreeding.

The question is, what source have they used?