12/30/2025
For an extended period,
I believed this self-produced male to be a Blackhead Yellowbelly het Hypo. However, as the animal continued to mature, noticeable changes began to emerge. The darker pigmentation progressively receded, while the yellows intensified into deeper orange tones with significant overall brightening. At that point, my initial assumptions warranted reevaluation.
The dam was a Hypo (Orange Ghost line) originating from The sire was a Blackhead Yellowbelly het VPI Axanthic produced by Given these genetics—and after consultation with my mentor and longtime friend, who has over 20 years of selective breeding experience—we began to explore alternative possibilities.
During an in-person evaluation, examined the animal and noted characteristics consistent with the potential presence of Typhoon, particularly given the lack of complete provenance on the dam’s deeper lineage.
Notably, Tim Bailey is the founder of the Typhoon gene, which aligns genetically with this outcome.
Typhoon is an under-discussed gene, but when paired with Hypo it can be exceptionally impactful. It enhances orange saturation, increases overall brightness, and introduces a more dynamic, “busy” pattern. While subtle on its own, Typhoon can act as a powerful modifier—an effective “secret sauce” that elevates and redirects the long-term trajectory of a breeding project.
