HOG (High Orange Gene)
Origin of the gene: Top Snake, purchased 2019, first produced 2021, super 2025
Species: Ball Python
Name of Gene: HOG (High Orange Gene)
First produced by whom: Top Snake (in South Africa)
Year First Produced: Top Snake purchased an Albino Pied sire and Pied Het Albino Dam paid from Con Prinsloo in 2019. It appears one of these parents (suspect the dam) may have contained the gene as her orange colouration maintained and remained bright orange as she aged. The original origin of the grandparents and great grandparents of our dam and sire are unknown but suspected to be African import pieds, albinos and or hets of various combinations of pied and albino. First produced in 2021, super proven 2025
Genetics Type (Incdom/Codom/Recessive/Polygenic/etc): Incomplete Dominant
In complex with other genes?: Unknown
Other names/aliases for it?: N/A
Description: The gene is both a colour and pattern modifying gene which adds strong oranges which maintain with age. It has been found to be highly reactive with the Pied and Albino and Anthracite genes (new gene Top Snake is working on).
In Pied, HOG adds significant random patterning into the saddles and very strong orange colouration in the saddles making the pied look like a super orange dream pied but in the complete absence of orange dream. The saddles also have a characteristic “rough” pixilated edging like in yellow belly pied. The saddles can have either very aberrant busy patterning or a prominent stripe down the dorsal spine. In super form, the striping is dominant and bridging across the dorsal spine is common leading to projections down the flanks forming like “tridents”. Colour remains bright and rich as the snake ages
In Albino, HOG adds significant orange and the colour remains bright and rich as the snake ages. Random orange blushing of a different hue is also common interspersed with the pattern.
In other gene stacks, it has been observed that the gene leads to very strong orange flaming and coloration from the belly scales up the flanks. Many new interactions with other genes are expect.
In base form, the gene looks similar to a normal however the key holes in the aliens are reduced and present as a granite speckling, the base coloration is significantly more orange and very rich in colour compared to a normal.
Appearance; What it does/looks like?
• Head: Dark head with very slight blushing
• Body: The gene looks similar to a normal however the key holes in the aliens are reduced and present as a granite speckling, the base coloration is significantly more orange and very rich in colour compared to a normal. Some do display the alien heads as projecting upwards to the dorsal spine which give then some “banding”.
• Belly: Nothing particular
• Tail: Nothing particular
Proven Lines: Unique lineage
Related Genes: Unknown. Characteristics and interaction of HOG no not appear to be similar to that of Orange dream and/or Scrambler
Proven: Incompelte Dominant with proven super
Unique: Why do you believe this is a new morph and not an existing one?
HOG is unique based on the colour and pattern modification properties, especially when interacting with Pied and Albino.
Problems: Any problems? None
History: The history behind its discovery? Top Snake purchased an Albino Pied sire and Pied Het Albino Dam paid from Con Prinsloo in 2019. It appears one of these parents (suspect the dam) may have contained the gene as her orange colouration maintained and remained bright orange as she aged. The original origin of the grandparents and great grandparents of our dam and sire are unknown but suspected to be African import pieds, albinos and or hets of various combinations of pied and albino. First produced in 2021, super proven 2025
Disagreement or Controversy: None
References here on the community:
https://www.morphmarket.com/za/c/reptiles/pythons/ball-pythons/3185283
https://www.morphmarket.com/za/c/reptiles/pythons/ball-pythons/3185287
https://www.morphmarket.com/za/c/reptiles/pythons/ball-pythons/3185383
