Hypo

[nuno]

Hi, what is the definition of hypo and how do you get a snake to be a hypo? I seen a picture of a Salmon hypo Boa, why is it salmon.

[lance]

it ate to much fish
just kidding i dont know
sorry had to do it

[josefg]

Hypo means that it has a reduced ammount of one of the 3 pigments that give the snake its color.

The three pigments that give the colors to snakes are:
melanin - gives the black coloring (therefore hypomelanistic is reduced black);
erythrin - gives red coloring; and
xanthin - gives the yellow coloring.

Donno about the salmon boa

[Bryan Self]

The samon boa is a form of hypo. The founder is Rich Ihle. Here is a picture of one of my hypos and a link to Rich's site. samon boa

[Edwin]

There are 2 types of hypo for boa constrictors:

Hypomelanistic: absence of black pigmentation. Commonly called Salmons, Hypos, Orange Phase. Super Salmon etc.

Anerythristic: absence of red pigmentation. Don't know their common names.

I have read somewhere that hoggs are naturally hypomelanistic.

[J.J.]

wow, thanx guys, I never knew that!!!

[Bryan Self]

Anerythristic boas are not hypos they are anerys. These are two different genetic mutations. Hypos are a lack of black and anerys are a lack of red. They look nothing alike. It has not been proven that orange tails and samons are the same. Also there is another line. I think it is Sharron, boa woman, that produced them. They are a different hypo with out a doubt. Here is a page of boa morphs. boa morphs

[jsnake0]

hypo het anery ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
to much work to keep it all straight