Questioning the strawberry gene

I'm probably going to aggravate half of the members here and confuse the rest, but I have sincere doubts about our current understanding of the strawberry gene and its mode of inheritance. What's even more, I think it is directly tied into the red-factor discussion.

Although it is wildly believed that strawberry is an allele to Hypo-A, I'm starting to question that teaching. Some of this is due to my own breedings, but after talking to Don S. about it, I feel even more confident in this assertion.

It seems to me that at least some "strawberries" are just hypo-A's. It's no secret that known examples of this morph can greatly vary. Some like Serpenco's "scarlet" line (do any of these still exist?) were quite red, while other hypos can resemble normal/classic corns at maturity.

I do think that most strawberrys however, are what many of us have been referring to as "red-factor" corns. This gene/genes appears to act in a dominate manner, with the more red (or pink in the case of the salmon snows/ghost) being the super forms.

Although I do need to conduct several more test to prove this theory, as well as have those same test replicated by others independently, I think this particular model better fits the results I've been getting (and seeing in others) so far.

Questions are good! Testing is even better. I wish you well with this endeavor. I am definitely turned on by some of the strawberries I have seen. Being new to corns, I often wonder how the snakes color changes as the snake matures as something that looks stunning as a baby maybe not so much as an adult. Thanks for sharing for us newbies.:bird:

Just curious how many test breeding have you done with these genes (how many generations out are you with them) and how are you telling a difference? Are you looking at them microscopically or just what you see. Coming from the scientist in me you should have indisputable quantities of test done before before confusing people with a new theory. I agree there is some differences within some animals I have some myself that I question but I would do breeding through the f-2 before stating the results. Which you may have, hence my question?

I have strawberrys from several different sources, including Jim Stelpflug (who originated strawberrys as well as the salmon snows/ghost), Chuck P., and others.

Looking at them under a microscope will only tell you what they look like under a microscope, not how the gene is inherited.

If strawberry IS a dominate gene, you only need one generation to prove it. Since I've hatched out (as have others) what appears to be strawberrys in the F1's, this seems to validate the claim.

Whether I confuse people or not seems to beg the question.

snakepunk said:

I have strawberrys from several different sources, including Jim Stelpflug (who originated strawberrys as well as the salmon snows/ghost), Chuck P., and others.

Looking at them under a microscope will only tell you what they look like under a microscope, not how the gene is inherited.

If strawberry IS a dominate gene, you only need one generation to prove it. Since I've hatched out (as have others) what appears to be strawberrys in the F1's, this seems to validate the claim.

Whether I confuse people or not seems to beg the question.

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Looking at them under a microscope will show differences in genes that are hard to tell apart other wise. I think that is what he was getting at.

I have stawberries and redfactors both here, and must say mine at least don't look alike. Some may call some hypo a's strawberries but I don't think it is the case. Strawberry x hypo will get you hypo/strawberry. I don't think it is a dominant gene either because there are het strawberry animals around.
Red factor was used to create the neon snow lines that Poppy Corns are famous for. But please keep us posted on your breeding trials, new information is always needed even if some of us have to eat crow. lol Pass me some salt if that turns out to be the case

"I don't think it is a dominant gene either because there are het strawberry animals around"

But it does make you wonder :shrugs:

TS line stuff




Definitely het "hypo", all three and all are varying degree's of pink...

I surrendered my search (genetically anyway) and settled for finding the best visual pinks I could find, breeding, and seeing what happens.

First pic up is a strawberry female I have here second is one of my redfactor babies, as you can see there is a big difference.

Wow, that is beautiful! Crotalis that is one da :bomb:

Carpe Serpentis said:

Wow, that is beautiful! Crotalis that is one da :bomb:

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Thank you, I am hoping they get brighter when second generation comes around.

Dan, are you sure that the strawberry isn't just a hypo-A? The red-factor specimen looks like it is also an amel (?), which will make a difference. I do think that the super form/homozygous red-factor will be noticeably brighter than a "het".

I think the best way to prove this, is by breeding a really nice salmon snow or ghost to an anery. My prediction is that 50% of the resulting anery offspring will be pink.

The red factor is a fire, the strawberry is not just a hypo a. I have a breeding planned of salmon snow to anery stripe het hypo will let you know how it goes. let me find the rf normal pics for ya. Anyone with better rf normal bobling pics help me out with one lol

First pic normal rf hatchling second pic strawberry hatchling. You can see how the strawberry has more of a pinkish where rf is red.

It appears to me
There is an old old line of selectively linebred corns which were called 'strawberry'
and there is a rather recently found gene called the Strawberry Gene.
I have some of both.

I have noticed that carrying hets for amel, ultra, hypo a, dilute, and a couple other genes can influence the color we see on individual snakes. I have not looked at the multi homozygous individuals under a microscope to figure out if carrying a mess of visual hets makes a difference in iridophore counts/arrangements.

If some of these snakes are then bred together, based purely on what we are visually seeing (tossing punnets and conventional Mendel genetics out the window), it is possible to hit a target color.

Without knowing originally what genetically went into a Salmon or Coral line (as there are several different breeders versions of these around), and not knowing what visuals were removed from the original project line, is it fair to assume they are strawberry based?

Polygenetics is my friend.

IMO Hypo A and Strawberry are different. The pure line strawberries without ANY hypo influence (Proven no hypo a influence) Are pink base with red saddles. Hypo A Tend to range in base color anywhere from redish-orange with anywhere from dull red to bright red saddles.

It seems consistant with me that Strawberries have a pink base.

I'd also like to add that the photo shown in the first post does not look strawberry to me.

Considering that you can have strawberry, hypo-strawberry, and hypo all look different under the microscope they act co-dom with each other. If it was simply co-dom on its own, we would not be seeing the hypo express and we would not be able to get strawberries from non-expressing hets that are strawberry under the microscope.

BSLMichael said:

It seems consistant with me that Strawberries have a pink base.

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Are you referring to a strawberry amel, strawberry anery, or a strawberry snow here?
I have never seen a classic with pink ground color.
Do you have a pic?

Just for reference...

Strawberry male, originally from Mitchell Mulks


Red factor amel, from Bob Brown. The father was Bob's snake Ochre, a red factor ultramel het or homozygous bloodred (just don't remember)

great thread. I also have my doubts with the whole strawberry thing. meanwhile there are tons of breeders who started projects with JMGs corals and all label these babys as het strawberrys (JMG coral ghost = strawberry anery, does anyone ever proved that??), most of these breeders assume some JMG coral lookalikes in F2 (maybe + x), but when strawberry causes the pink groundcolour (I don't believe that), why do so much f1 anery babys show so much pink? I'd say it's more a question of linebreeding (the red factor?!) than strawberry.

The few "known" strawberry anerys which were produced from other lineages looked nothing like the JMGs. No pink groundcolour, just some cool pastel brownish saddles. I'm sure there won't be just a few breeders who will be disappointed with the project results. :shrugs: