Questions about the calico gene

[lowelldan]

OK, I figure this is the best place to ask these kinda of questions, since NERD is like the king of the calico retic. Does Calico to calico breeding yield 100% calicos. I thought it was a sex linked trait. Is it just females that end up calico, or all females and a small number of males. Has anyone ever bred a calico to a het calico and gotten no calicos to show for it. I know the trait shows up after the animal is 7 or 8 foot plus, but has anyone seen the change sooner than that size. Are there any signs that an offpring might be a calico or is it a total guessing game until they reach the right size?...
After seeing Andy's insane looking female, I decided I must have one. I just dont really know the deal when it comes to the odds this trait has, it seems somewhat unreliable to me right now, but maybe I dont know enough. I've seen possible calicos (calicoXhet calico) going for as low as 500 bucks. I've also seen (on NERDs available page) a calicoXcalico female for 800 bucks, but I've never seen an actual calico up for sale for any price. It just seems a little odd to me. I want to buy a possible calico, but I really want to know what my odds are of ending up with a calico when the snake grows up. Sorry for the long rambling post. Any hep would be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[Ryan77]

Since Andy won't answer I'll give it my best. I've got somewhere around 10 "calico hets"(including a trio of andy' smokin' cal het babys). I personally look at every different calico as a different strain of calico. Therefore, I buy most of my stuff in pairs. I have a few different males and females ready to breed now. Some are siblings, some are not. Most of my hets come from calico moms but I do have a few double hets. Calicos are my favorite retics. I decided to roll the dice on my hets. I expect a positve outcome. If you want a "lock" on a calico then shell out a few bucks on a wild caught. I myself am fired up (and nervous to a point) about this years "breeding season".

[PadraigC]

Im a huge calico fan but, I have to think with my training in Biology that the calico gene is extremely polygenic and there must be a few varying lines......to top that the gene must somehow have a relationship with hormones as well since most calicos arent noticeable till around the onset of sexual maturity....but with that being said I think the breedings and work being done by the people who didnt "give up" on the calico gene(s) is going to pay off sometime big time.....

[peterf]

Every calico we have had, has turned darker WITH age. All have been similar size (except one) and none has changed with links to maturity- having nearly all been mature snakes.
Interestingly though, the calico attached is pictured in 3 forms. 1 originally, 2 looking almost normal (she has stayed like this through 4 years and 2 egg layings and finally in the last few weeks, (in the next post) where she has started developing big patches of reduced pigment.
Work that one out!!!
I can't!

[peterf]

Here are the changes in the last few weeks.

[lowelldan]

really weird trait... I still need to get one as soon as I have some extra space and cash...

[Ryan77]

really weird trait... I still need to get one as soon as I have some extra space and cash...
Yes. Yes you do. The sooner the better.:D

[lowelldan]

easy for you to say buddy, I still live with my mom... I dont know how she would handle another monster. Lucky for me, my female weirdXweird is completely tame and gentle. I dont know how she would handle a retic with an attitude. But yeah, I've gotta work some magic and see if I can get my hands on a calico...

[Ryan77]

Push, push, push! As long as your a responsible keeper I am sure she will have faith in you. CALICO!!;):D