Dominant ball python gene
Harlequin Ball Python: Genetics and Pairing Odds
Harlequin is a dominant gene: one copy shows fully, so half the babies from a Harlequin bred to a normal are Harlequin. Two copies look the same as one, but a homozygous animal passes the gene to every baby.
In Lock and Lay, Harlequin can't be bought at the start. It turns up only as a spontaneous mutation, from a lucky egg, and the first breeder to hatch one gets their name on the discovery board.
What Harlequin pairings produce
| Pairing | Babies, per egg |
|---|---|
| Harlequin × Normal | 50% Normal50% Harlequin |
| Harlequin × Harlequin | 75% Harlequin25% Normal |
Try Harlequin pairings yourself
Put any two animals into the ball python morph calculator for the full odds, hets and supers included. Or breed Harlequin ball pythons in Lock and Lay, a free ball python game where every clutch follows these same odds and the babies sell on a live market.