What Does “Het” Mean in Bearded Dragons?

Customer-Friendly Intro

“Het” is short for heterozygous. It means a dragon carries a gene for a trait (like Hypo, Trans, Zero or Witblit) but doesn’t show it. Hets are the backbone of serious breeding: they quietly move powerful genetics forward until the right pairing makes them visual.

1) When “het” is used (and when it isn’t)

• Use “het” only for recessive genes: Hypo, Trans, Zero, Witblit.

• Don’t use “het” for incomplete-dominant/co-dominant or polygenic traits: Leatherback, Dunner, Genetic Stripe (polygenic), colour phases (Red Devil/Orange/Purple).

• Example: “het Leatherback” is incorrect. Leatherback shows with one copy; two copies = Silkback.

2) Visual vs Het vs Normal (plain-English definitions)

• Visual: has two copies of a recessive gene → shows the trait (e.g., visual Hypo = clear nails, reduced black).

• Het (heterozygous): has one copy → looks normal but can pass it on.

• Normal (wild type): no copies → doesn’t show it and can’t pass it on.

3) Breeding outcomes (what each pairing typically produces)

• Het × Het (recessive): 25% Visual, 50% Het, 25% Normal.

• Visual × Het: 50% Visual, 50% Het (no Normals).

• Visual × Normal: 100% Het.

• Het × Normal: 50% Het, 50% Normal.

• Visual × Visual: 100% Visual.

4) “100% het”, “66% pos het”, “50% pos het” — what the labels mean

• 100% het: genetically certain (e.g., Visual × Normal, or the non-visual babies from Visual × Het).

• 66% possible het: from Het × Het when a baby isn’t visual. Among the non-visuals, stats say 2 out of 3 carry the gene → 66% pos het.

• 50% possible het: from Het × Normal (you can’t tell which half carry it).

• “pos het” = might carry it, based on the maths of the pairing, not a guess.

5) Common het combinations you’ll see in Australia

• Het Hypo, Het Trans, Het Zero, Het Witblit (single recessives).

• Double hets: e.g., Het Hypo/Trans or Het Zero/Witblit.

• Visual + het stacks: e.g., Hypo Het Trans, Trans Het Zero, etc.

• Remember: Leatherback/Dunner are not “hets” — they’re incomplete-dominant visuals.

6) How listings should read (clear labelling for customers)

• Visuals: “Hypo Trans Zero (visual)”.

• Proven hets: “100% Het Zero”, “100% Het Hypo”.

• Possible hets: “66% Pos Het Trans”, “50% Pos Het Zero”.

• Stacks: “Hypo (visual), 100% Het Trans, 50% Pos Het Zero”.

• Avoid: “Het Leatherback”, “Het Dunner”, or “Het Red” (those aren’t recessives).

7) Why hets matter (for keepers and breeders)

• Keepers (pets): a Het animal can be cheaper than a visual while still carrying valuable genetics.

• Breeders: hets let you build towards visuals and combo morphs without producing only visuals every clutch. They’re essential for projects like Hypo Trans, Hypo Zero, Trans Zero, Witblit combos, etc.

8) Proof, records, and trust

• You can’t see a het by eye. Proof = breeding records and lineage.

• Buy hets from breeders who document pairings clearly (sire/dam genotypes, clutch notes, photos).

• Phrases like “possible het” should always tie back to the exact pairing that created the probability (Het × Het or Het × Normal).

9) Quick FAQs

• Q: Can a het show small visual clues?
  A: For true recessives, no — they look normal. Any “hint” is coincidence or another gene at play.

• Q: Do pos hets become proven?
  A: Only by breeding and producing visuals (or by the certainty of the pairing, e.g., Visual × Normal makes 100% het).

• Q: Are hets weaker or smaller?
  A: No. Being a het doesn’t harm vigour. Growth and size are more about husbandry and line selection.

• Q: Should I breed two different hets together?
  A: Yes, if planned: e.g., Het Hypo × Het Trans can produce Hypo Trans visuals. Always pair with a goal and maintain line health.

10) Bayntons’ labelling standards (how we present it on-site)

• We list visual status first, then hets/pos hets with their certainty:

• Example sale card:

• Genetics: Hypo (visual), 100% Het Trans, 50% Pos Het Zero

• Nails: Clear (Hypo)

• Notes: From visual Trans × Hypo het Zero pairing

• Every het claim we make is anchored to documented pairings. That’s how customers can trust what they’re buying.

Summary

• “Het” = carrier of a recessive gene (Hypo, Trans, Zero, Witblit).

• Use “100% het / 66% pos het / 50% pos het” based on the exact pairing maths.

• Don’t use “het” for Leatherback, Dunner, Genetic Stripe, or colour phases.

• Hets are crucial for building elite combo morphs while keeping lines healthy and affordable.

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