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[antsterr]

In two of my pairings this year I've ended up with some really orange coloured amels. I suppose it's possible that it's just a bit of variance, both mothers are very brown and have produced normals that are more on the brown than red. two genetic theories I have is that they could be either het caramel and showing through a bit or homo hypo, which hasn't been proven to effect amels but it does effect snows. Both clutches produced caramel and hypo hatchlings as well.
Todays challenge is to identify which of these are amel and which are butter.

 

[Shiari]

reading comprehension fail!

The two on the right of the first photo are butters. The others are amels. Butters are a funky yellowy-brown. They don't have the vibrant reds or oranges.

 

[antsterr]

I'm in agreement with that. Butters are in my opinion, kind of ugly ducklings. They sure turn out amazing, but only after about 6 months or so do they start looking nice.

 

[Tara80]

Actually, it looks like you have some, what VMS calls "Oak" I believe (also known as Buf or Toffee). I'd go check out his web site (Sean Niland), maybe e-mail him. He's got a lot of research in on this. My money is on her having the Oak gene.

 

[antsterr]

Hmmm. hmmmm. hmm.
I've pondered this Buf theory for a few years and I just don't know. How can you really know? What does one do to prove Buf other than look for a ratio of 1:1 normal and buff looking snakes?
It started with an "orange butter" who I've posted and asked about before. He was said to have come from two very normal looking butters who were originally imported (we're in Canada) from serpenco. There are no breeders in my part of the world who (I know to) claim the Buf gene. I'd be interested to hear some more thoughts on the matter. Below is the "orange butter" who is father and grandfather of the orange fellows above as well as the mother and a clutchmate of the mother who this year also produced red and orange amels.

Father (also father of the mother) proven butter, het or homo hypo:

Mother, het caramel, hypo, amel, diffused:

Mother's sister, also het caramel, hypo, amel, diffused.

Orange butter's orange sister (from the same breeder, one year later) in contrast with a yellow butter. She was sold as butter but I've yet to prove her.

 

[NiklasTyreso]

In the last pic: The "orange butter" have the same orange blotch colour as the blotches in the "yellow butter". '

If they were not amelanistic the "yellow" would look much yellow with orange blotches, but the "orange" would look grey with orange blotches.