**Enigma Neurological Problems** not to be bred?

[Ed Clark]

Not to be pessimistic, but you cannot be *sure* that culling will work - many genes have multiple effects through a variety of mechanisms, and can even be processed into different proteins by exon splicing. While some defects in morphs truly are the result of unrelated genes that got 'dragged along for the ride', and thus amenable to culling, other defects are intrinsic to the morph.

Agreed but I choose to pick the strongest Enigmas I have to use as breeders to hopefully produce strong hatchlings, it surely will take some work and time to see good results...if good results actually will be seen. I can't believe what some of the breeders are selling as far as spinning babies.

Any Enigmas that spin are geccicles, culling them is the only sensible thing to do for me. I will have alot of hatchlings soon to look at. this has been a fun project so far.

 

[KelliH]

I have, bought my core breeders.

My apologies, I must have been misinformed.

 

[geckogrl6]

Thanks for the opinion Kelli. Unfortunately, she was full grown when I got her, so I can't comment at all on her young looks. As far as the enigma problem goes, and for that matter, the spider balls as well; one thing about these situations kinda bugs me. Yes, it is possible that selective breeding, outcrossing, and culling might get the problem out of the morph. Is also possible that is won't. But I am concerned that the problems are not determined by the original breeder BEFORE making the morph widely available to the public. I am NOT in any way trying to point fingers here, and to be honest, I don't even know who originated this line. But it seems to me that once the morph is publicly available, the risk of uneducated, irresponsible owners perpetuating the negative traits is astronomical. And it is too late when the trait is discovered after successive generations to recall them all and/or effectively regulate breeding and culling. Is there a reason (other than the draw to be the 1st on the market $$$) why never-before-seen new morphs are not being selectively bred to a another generation or two before marketing the animals? Or was this done, and the 1st few generations had no signs? If so, that would certainly bode well for selectivity getting it back out if there were initially animals w/o it. Just my 2 cents, and again, I am not trying to attack anyone

 

[Ed Clark]

one thing about these situations kinda bugs me. Yes, it is possible that selective breeding, outcrossing, and culling might get the problem out of the morph. Is also possible that is won't.

It seems to be more likely that out crossing, selective breeding, culling etc will have little or no effect with Enigmas...but doing something to try to improve the morph is much better than doing nothing at all.

 

[KelliH]

It seems to be more likely that out crossing, selective breeding, culling etc will have little or no effect with Enigmas...but doing something to try to improve the morph is much better than doing nothing at all.

Exactly, which is why I sacrificed quite a few animals (Enigmas, Siblings and non related leos) and took the initiative to get this thing figured out. I love the morph and do not have any negative feelings about them at all, only about some of the people involved with them.

 

[KelliH]

But I am concerned that the problems are not determined by the original breeder BEFORE making the morph widely available to the public.

I agree with you 100%. Had Enigmas popped out of one of my own colonies there would have been no selling or mass producing until thorough testing was done. I'm not knocking the way anyone else chooses to do things, only stating what I would do.