Ironic title I know and a light hearted reference to Herptoculture’s often crazy name game, such fantastical names are not new to the reptile industry in general.
Now to the reason for this posting……..
I like to test out new genetic combos whenever the opportunity presents itself, this year is without doubt one of those years.
As readers of this blog will be aware this season I bred the patternless gene into the snow gene, the pairing consisted of a F1 (het for patternless/ albino patternless) female x Yellow Snow male.
From the clutch of 5 eggs I hatched 5 babies, all ‘normal ‘ phenotypes but of course multiple genotypes.
All five are very beautifully coloured with fantastic patterns and speaking of patterns, I’m now convinced more than ever of something I’ve been looking at for a few gens…….
…..The patternless gene seems to play a role in the patterning of the sides in ‘normal’ and albino non visual patternless offspring, displayed by a notably reduction in the side pattern.
Not quite white sided as in sayi , but perhaps a similar trait which demonstrates it is within the genome.
With that said here’s one of those 5 hatchlings mentioned above and the inspiration for the funky title of GTAB gopher.
Check out that green hue and how funky are those sides?
I think this mean green male has to be a KEEPER, but I will be offering someone the opportunity to get in on the ground level on this project this season. Stay Tuned details to follow!
pituophisart 
the color of the head and especially the color of the large scales above the eyes is very special, these are very interesting also from ancestral, not to mention all the potential “het” they contain, you are right, here you see a big potential “green phase”
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Yes that one has very nice colours on the head and the overall colour on the back has a very greenish hue. The general colour palette for the ‘wild/normal’ is more on the browns and beige side and that what makes the green look so special on this one.
The het part is very interesting as it means the green could potential be inherited into patternless and also snow or axanthic patternless phenotypes.
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That greenish colour has been observed before, I think it is common and nothing special. Years ago I once hatched a clutch of eggs from a wild caught gravid Sonoran gopher snake. The offspring had a greenish tint to them like these.
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yes but this is not affinis it is annectens and nothing special??…. Try this…..I’ve hatched close to 1000 babies and I’ve never seen one this colour before, add that to the fact these are the first ever triple hets of this combo in existence.
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Have to agree, simply stunning a keeper.
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Thanks for the positive comments Simon ! much appreciated
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