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Allure
of the Albino
- Without
a doubt, the most sought after phenotype of any species in the
animal kingdom must be the albino. Though Rosy boas have been
collected and kept for decades, the discovery of the first albino rosy
boa did not occur until 1993. This discovery propelled the
herpetoculture of the rosy boa into an entirely new direction - "
designer rosys". But first, we chronicle the discovery of the
first albino rosy boa...more
 Memorable
Field Experiences
At the heart of many rosy boa enthusiasts is an intense
enjoyment of the
outdoors and the bounty of wildlife one can experience through a little
effort and research. Finding rosy boas in the field has proven to
be a labor of love and highly rewarding when
successful. Some of the more memorable field experiences are now
shared by those who have spent decades searching, studying, and
observing the rosy boa in the field. more
Photo courtesy of Kenny Sharrack 2005
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A NATURALLY
OCCURRING "GHOST" GENE IN THE ROSY
BOA
The
appearance of the first "hypomelanistic" San Felipe
Rosy Boa was independently discovered in two separate
collections during 1995. These
two lighter phase San Felipe boas were distinct from their
littermates by a marked pigment reduction.
Fortunately, these two boas were a male and female
respectively, and later bred to establish the founding stock of
today's Ghost San Felipe Rosy Boa.
That's right, I said "ghost".
Firstly, these little rosy boas are not your typical
"hypo", but rather a true single mutation genetic
"ghost". The gene knocks out a significant
percentage of all three color pigments, making it a more true
ghost than one manipulated through combining 2 different
mutations. Eye color is black or purple-black, and in
extreme examples the boas look more like "snow" boas.
It also is clear to me the phenotypic expression is
co-dominant, with almost 50% expression in heterozygotes.
These we now refer to as "partial ghosts" or "50%
ghosts". Thus
far, the San Felipe Ghost Boa gene is the only example of such a
"ghost" genetic mutation in rosy boa collections
today.
This gene mutation, can, however, exhibit some
deleterious effects. These
rosy boas seem to be more fastidious than normal San Felipe boas
and have a higher associated captive mortality rate.
Even so, to the individual seeking a very unique rosy
with a significant future in designer applications, the Ghost San
Felipe Rosy Boas should be considered high on the collector
list.
Choosing
the Optimal Substrate
The
choice of substrate for your captive rosy boa can be critical to
maintaining its good health in captivity. The enclosure type
greatly influences the selection of substrate , thus for the purposes
here, the optimal substrate will be considered for two general
categories of enclosures.
1. Glass Aquaria
and Display Enclosures
2. Rack Systems
more...
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