Albino Sulcata tortoise

Being Heterozygous (Het), they are carriers of the genetic morphs (Ivory, Albino, and New Morph Gene) but don’t display the gene visually themselves. However they do tend to have white growth lines between their scutes which “normal” Sulcata certainly don’t have, along with light/yellow shell and skin coloring.

Double Het (Heterozygous) hatchlings come about when you breed a visual Albino Sulcata to a visual Ivory Sulcata. Their offspring are 100% Het for Ivory and 100% Het for Albino, hence “Double Het”. Het stands for heterozygous essentially meaning they are carriers of a recessive gene, in this case both Ivory and Albino. Since they carry both the Ivory gene and the Albino gene they are the only tortoises in the world able to produce both Ivory and Albino offspring. What’s even more unique is 1/16 of their offspring when bred back to each other will be a brand new type (morph) of Sulcata that has never existed before which to say the least is extremely exciting and valuable!

Ivory to Double Het = Half visual Ivory (which are also 50% Het for Albino), and the other half 100% Het for Ivory and 50% Het for Albino

Albino to Double Het = Half visual Albino (which are also 50% Het for Ivory), and the other half 100% Het for Albino and 50% Het for Ivory

But here is where things get interesting…

Double Het to Double Het = (10 different genetic outcomes) Along with being able to produce BOTH Ivory and Albino hatchlings, 1/16 babies will be a brand new double visual morph that has never been produced before. Since this new morph does not yet exists we do not know what it will look like and it will be the first of its kind which to say the least will be extremely valuable. There will also be two brand new 100% Double Hets created with the new mystery gene which when bred back together will also create a brand two new morphs. ENDLESS possibilities!!