One Eye!?!

[Aurora]

So I have the opportunity to pick up an albino redtail CHEAP!!! She is from a local breeder (I do not know the individual) and only has one eye. She arrived at the local pet shop about 3 months ago with her brother, both of which were missing an eye. I am told they where born like this, and so was the remainder of the clutch. The deformity has significantly dropped the price so it is very tempting.

So here is the hang-up. She is currently a baby doll but she is also no more than 18" long, real late '07 or super early '08. the only other time I saw a one eyed snake was a 10' burm (who lost it to a rat) and after a year he started turning aggressive, super aggressive! So the questions I pose are; is this genetic? Has anyone ever experienced a whole clutch with a deformity and if so what was the outcome?

I should also mention the gentleman who bought the male hasn't been back since. I have always wanted an albino boa, and would love to breed them however if it's going to cause serious aggression or most likely be passed on to offspring I don't think I am interested. Thanks for all your thoughts and input in advance!!!

Nick

[Lorelei]

Usually it is from too much inbreeding. If you are planning on the purchase for breeding purposes, personally, I wouldn't do it. If it is just a pet, then I don't see why giving it a good home could be wrong.

[Aurora]

Thanks for the info, I don't buy any animal for breeding specifically however I don't want to ever eliminate the possibility. Decisions, decisions...

[Joel]

If the whole clutch was filled with one-eyed snakes, I'd definitelty not be doing any breeding with that one.

[chuck33]

I agree with Joel and Lori. It (one eyed snakes) have poped up in several breed of snakes, burms, redtail boas and retics. And generally it pops up in certain genetic traits like albinos (in all 3) some in hypo boas, some in Tiger retics that are het for some trait that are line bred or inbred trying to get supertiger albinos, or supertiger amels. Not all of it is genetic, Bob clark has a snake with no eyes that was just a random fluke in a clutch. He still has it and Jeff has sent me a few pics of it. He said it was freaky when you upen the cage and a snake with no eyes turns and "looks at you". I guess his heat pits still work fine.

Now I have wanted an albino or a sunglow boa for a while, but if the whole clutch came out with one eye, then I would pass. If it were one of my clutches, as sad as it is to say. None of them would be sold, and they would prolly all end up in a freezer, and the pair of adults would never breed each other again.

Chuck

[The Snake Guru]

Abnormalities like this do pop up from time to time....in the albino boas it is normally due to inbreeding issues. Like everyone else I wouldn't breed that particular snake.

On the temperment part....you do have to be a bit more careful with these....they sometimes startle easier when you approach for the side that had a missing eye. However they can be perfectly fine....or absolute demons just anything else individual personalities vary.

~B~

[lorenmps]

If it's affordable enough to buy as a pet I would do it just bcause a snake like that needs to go to someone that appreciates what it is and will take good care of it. It's better you get it than some guy off the street who just buys it because it has one eye.

[Aurora]

If it's affordable enough to buy as a pet I would do it just bcause a snake like that needs to go to someone that appreciates what it is and will take good care of it. It's better you get it than some guy off the street who just buys it because it has one eye.

I totally agree with the whole it needs to go to the right home. I think I'll do some digging, see if I can't get a hold of the breeder. Get the facts from him directly. If I do decide to get him you all will be the first to know!!!

[TailsWithScales]

Along with what other have said I too agree with it being a genetic deformity. In all honesty it doesn't take a whole clutch to show genetic deformities like that. So there is a good chance this baby may be the only one to receive the lacking genes to make it a whole snake so to speak. That sounds a bit harsh but that's the minor truth that breeders who do a lot of inbreeding do not tell buyers about.
If you do plan to breed this baby I strongly suggest breeding her to (no flaming me for this) a wild caught import. The reason is that it will help to clean up the genetics with the new bloodline. That way you can ensure there was NO inbreeding done at all in a captive bred line.

Personally I'm a sucker for hard luck cases and would get the little girl. :D