O.K. Dumb question time.

Extremely limited understanding of what happens with dominant and recessive genes but I don't have a clue as to what happens if you breed 2 very different looking "normals". I really want a Miami to go with my Okeetee regardless of what the result would be if I bred them but what would the resultant appearance possibilities be?

Also, is there any online source that explains corn snake genetics for dummies?

TIA!

Most guides on genetics are going to focus on single-gene mutations like Amel and Anery. Here's one of the best ones I know for that: http://cornguide.com/geneticspages.php

BUT...Okeetee and Miami are line-bred traits, polygenetic in nature, which means their appearance is controlled by several genes acting in concert. Typically a paint analogy works reasonably well for line-bred traits. If you mix orange (background color of typical Okeetees) and grey (the defining characteristic of Miami-phase), what color do you get? On average, kind of a muddy tan. Eh. Selecting the holdbacks with the palest background color and the thickest borders will, after several generations, likely yield some decent Miami Okeetees. Unless you begin with fairly exceptional animals, it could take a very long time to produce high quality offspring.

I don't have much experience with polygenetics in reptiles but I do have some in breeding fancy mice. With some of those I'm 8-10 generations into line breeding. From what I have found with mixing two different normals you stand a 25-50 percent chance of the single desired trait carrying over to the babies. Now with mixing Miami and okeettee they have multiple traits that make up each appearance. Things like thick borders, thin borders, grey background, orange background, red saddles, orange saddles....etc. The possabilites are endless. As dragonling stated you would need to hold back ones and refine the desired look.

Thanks guys. sounds like an interesting experiment. I guess if I get het for some other traits that I like I will possibly get some pretty sell-able hatchlings to keep my "project" going.

Well, just went off on a tangent! Saw a female Alabama on SMR's site and I just had to order her! Guess I'll decide how to select offspring in a few years. Maybe by then I'll add a caramel or reverse Okeetee to my "stables".

You can try breeding Miamis and selecting the ones with the thickest saddle borders from the progenies. Then, breed those progenies and again, take the ones with the thickest saddle borders. Continue this line breeding and you can come up with a Miami with Okeetee phase like borders.

I think in a few years, when my new Alabama is breeding age I might do 1 or 2 clutches with the Okeetee to grow out and see if there is anything worth pursuing. After that I will most likely buy an Alabama male for her and an Okeetee or reverse Okeetee female for Shesha. Eventually I'll move to a place with enough acreage to have a dedicated snake house on it.