Inbreeding Siblings?

[R.W.]

Is it safe/okay to breed together a male and female that both came from the same clutch. Say I bred two het. albino :insert snake of your choice here: and happen to get both a male and female albino on the first try. Could I breed these two albinos together?

 

[Susan]

It's done quite frequently, especially when you are trying to create a specific gene combo or to isolate a new gene in homozygous form. Just remember to outcross that line down the road.

 

[westexherps]

Susan is right. We do it all the time. Just pay close attention to the babies before any are sold etc. Sometimes when breeding genes that are closely related you'll see something undersirable pop up. I.E. if all the siblings have some hidden gene, then their offspring might show it.

 

[mike17l]

Like some others have said, no problems with it at all. It is done very often with animals that are hard to find. However, it is not recommended for some of the more common morphs, as it is very simple to get breeding stock that is not related.

 

[kathylove]

Inbreeding accentuates whatever genes are already in the bloodline. It makes it more likely that the same genes - good or bad - will find each other and express themselves in the next generation. Inbreeding is a common way to reproduce a new recessive trait when only one animal is available that carries it. For example, the first amel. corn was bred to a normal, and then the babies back to each other or to the amel. parent to produce more amels.

In most cases, there won't be noticeable deleterious genes expressed in the first generation. Continued inbreeding over several generations to increase the expression of a "certain look" in okeetees, sunglows, etc, may also increase the expression of unwanted genes as time goes on. So very careful attention to detail, and careful culling of future breeders must be followed in order to avoid introducing problems.

It is easier for most people to just avoid inbreeding unless there is a reason such as the ones mentioned above, or if sibs are the only available choice, and you plan to outcross the next generation. You should also plan to avoid breeding the sibs again if genetic problems show up in early pairings (not likely though). If you are purchasing from a good breeder, they should have an idea if a particular bloodline typically produces problem babies. Then you will have a good idea whether or not that line should be outcrossed.