How can we Guess Genetics??

[Jon-e-Boy]

I was wondering why people try to guess genetics? I see people with salmon x salmon clutches and try to say " I'm almost positive this baby is a super salmon because of it's coloring."? What does coloration have to do with it? Just because it is a great looking salmon with little to no black, what makes it a super? I thought it all had to do with concealed genetics that you couldn't find out about until breeding. But if there is a trick or something I'm missing, please fill me in. Thanks. :P

Jon

[HerperCCC]

Super salmons are boas that have two copies of the salmon/hypo gene. this results from being the offspring of two salmon boas. since it only takes one copy of the gene to get the "salmon look," you can't really tell for sure which ones are salmons (1 copy) and which are supers (2 copies). Hope this helps!

[Jon-e-Boy]

No man, that's not what I'm saying, but you kinda responded in the end. I've been breeding for a few years and I know all about genetics and morphs and have produce possible supers as well. I am just baffled about how people who sell salmon x salmon offspring say that "I'm positive this one is a super." My contention is that you really can't tell and people really shouldn't mislead others into thinking they are able to guess the genetics of animals when selling them. Let me just add a part to my question/statement if you will.

For those who have had several salmon x salmon breedings and proved the genetics of the offspring, what is a key characteristic found in super salmons that might be lacked in most of the other f2 salmons in the clutch? Thanks Herper for the response, and sorry for the confusion.

Jon

[HerperCCC]

Oops, that's what I get for responding late at night. I reread the post and feel silly.... :(

As far as I know (and I'm not very experienced w/ hypos, but have looked @ a ton of pics!), the supers have a more reduced pattern than a co-dom salmon. (smaller "bow tie" shaped saddles), and are generally cleaner, with less speckling and less black pigment all around. This leads to the red color being more prominent, as you hinted to in your first post. I'm sure there's more to it that salmon breeders could help us out on, these are just my observations.

So those of you that know, fill us in! :'(