Terminology, help.

Pyzik · 03-11-13, 01:14 PM

Okay so in my search I am coming across all these different morphs (variations in color right?) and I have learned what anery is (lack of orange coloring).
Albino is obvious. Tiger is obvious.
But here are a few I can't figure out.

Het - ?
Paradox - ?
Snow - ?
Nuclear - ? Bright stripe along back?

Thanks for your time and patience with me. Trying to take in all I can!

stephanbakir · 03-11-13, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyzik

Het - ?
Paradox - ?
Snow - ?
Nuclear - ? Bright stripe along back?

Thanks for your time and patience with me. Trying to take in all I can!

Het is shortform for heterozygous, you get a "het" animal when you breed a Homozygous animal to any other non homozygous animal (or het... but I wont get into that right now)
For the most part with recessive genes, "hets" don't show, so the animal carry's the trait but its incomplete and therefor isn't visual.

Paradoxes in sand boas are weird, the term paradox in relation to albinos generally means that while the animals is albino (and shouldn't show melanin) the animal has spots where you can see the black pigment. I should be impossible, and in every other species of snake I know of it cannot be reliably recreated. In sandboas it is... don't ask me why... I have no idea.

Snow is a combination of the recessive genes Albino and Anerythristic

Nuclear... I duno sand boas so I'll leave that one to someone more qualified

Pyzik · 03-11-13, 01:52 PM

Thanks!! I won't ask you about black pigment in albinos but I have seen them in my research and too wondered how it was possible. I don't like the look so more info isn't really needed I guess.

CK SandBoas · 03-11-13, 02:35 PM

A Nuclear is linebred, and in my opinion, a Tiger is not that obvious. A tiger is the result of a Rufescens x Normal Kenyan, which can also give you Stripes. I have seen Normals labeled as Tigers before, so it's really important to know the lineage of the animal beforehand

Pyzik · 03-11-13, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKgal

A Nuclear is linebred, and in my opinion, a Tiger is not that obvious. A tiger is the result of a Rufescens x Normal Kenyan, which can also give you Stripes. I have seen Normals labeled as Tigers before, so it's really important to know the lineage of the animal beforehand

Ah! I just assumed it meant stripped..

Chu'Wuti · 03-11-13, 03:01 PM

and hopefully you know the difference between striped and banded . . . I had to learn that one a long time ago, then had to be reminded (sons say I'm getting senile, but I swear it's not true!).

Pyzik · 03-11-13, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu'Wuti

and hopefully you know the difference between striped and banded . . . I had to learn that one a long time ago, then had to be reminded (sons say I'm getting senile, but I swear it's not true!).

Well, maybe... Stripes run the length of the body and bands run around the body?

Another question! Why us there a breading season in captivity? I've found two places locally that will carry Sand Boas in the spring. If they're bread in a controlled environment couldn't they breed whenever?

CK SandBoas · 03-11-13, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyzik

Well, maybe... Stripes run the length of the body and bands run around the body?

Another question! Why us there a breading season in captivity? I've found two places locally that will carry Sand Boas in the spring. If they're bread in a controlled environment couldn't they breed whenever?

Kenyans can and will breed year round, but in my opinion, the best time is from January-March, the males and females really seem to be ready during that time frame.

And here is a picture of my Male Stripe, Spike, just for a visual reference

stephanbakir · 03-11-13, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyzik

Another question! Why us there a breading season in captivity? I've found two places locally that will carry Sand Boas in the spring. If they're bread in a controlled environment couldn't they breed whenever?

Since you control the temps and humidity, you control the "season"... if they breed in the spring you can simulate fall, winter and then spring and they will generally breed.

Bloedig · 03-11-13, 05:46 PM

This is a good explanation of Nuclears from Sandboamorphs.com

"The nuclear Kenyan sand boa is an exceptional example of line breeding for specific traits. Roy Stockwell of Canada has spent nearly 30 years selectively breeding for the following traits: 1) Extreme orange/red coloration, 2) reduction in the brown/black pattern, 3) nuclear color that does not dull with age. Due to East African sand boas (Kenyans) being Cites II protected, the importation of the nuclear morph from Canada is extremely costly and time consuming. Consequently, pure nuclears in the United States are rare and expensive. SandBoaMorphs.com has invested heavily into pure nuclears and through our controlled breeding program have worked hard to diversify our gene pool to provide the healthiest and brightest nuclears around. The nuclear morph is the ROCKSTAR of the sand boa world. When nuclears are born they tend to be a cream color that over the first year after each shed will brighten into the orange/red nuclear coloration."

Falconeer999 · 03-12-13, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloedig

This is a good explanation of Nuclears from Sandboamorphs.com

"The nuclear Kenyan sand boa is an exceptional example of line breeding for specific traits. Roy Stockwell of Canada has spent nearly 30 years selectively breeding for the following traits: 1) Extreme orange/red coloration, 2) reduction in the brown/black pattern, 3) nuclear color that does not dull with age. Due to East African sand boas (Kenyans) being Cites II protected, the importation of the nuclear morph from Canada is extremely costly and time consuming. Consequently, pure nuclears in the United States are rare and expensive. SandBoaMorphs.com has invested heavily into pure nuclears and through our controlled breeding program have worked hard to diversify our gene pool to provide the healthiest and brightest nuclears around. The nuclear morph is the ROCKSTAR of the sand boa world. When nuclears are born they tend to be a cream color that over the first year after each shed will brighten into the orange/red nuclear coloration."

I've met the guy from Sand Boa Morphs at several different shows (At every show I've been to, he ALWAYS has the booth closest to the entrance/exit door). Great guy with great snakes and really knows his stuff - if you don't get all your answers here, I'm sure you can email him and he'd be happy to answer any you have.

(not affiliated with him at all - I've just met him and talked a good bit with him)

CK SandBoas · 03-12-13, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconeer999

I've met the guy from Sand Boa Morphs at several different shows (At every show I've been to, he ALWAYS has the booth closest to the entrance/exit door). Great guy with great snakes and really knows his stuff - if you don't get all your answers here, I'm sure you can email him and he'd be happy to answer any you have.

(not affiliated with him at all - I've just met him and talked a good bit with him)

Appearances can be deceiving, that's all i will say about that particular individual.... really don't put a lot of faith in someone who says it's okay to feed crickets to their sand boas

**Aaron_S** · 03-12-13, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKgal

Appearances can be deceiving, that's all i will say about that particular individual.... really don't put a lot of faith in someone who says it's okay to feed crickets to their sand boas

Is their proof of this? Has he ever written it? Or is this just second hand words?

Pyzik · 03-12-13, 01:39 PM

Again, thank you for taking the explanation further.