Breeding Mosaic and Sterile Line Sugar Gliders
When breeding sugar gliders with the mosaic gene, it is important to know some information about the lines you are, or plan to breed. There are sterility issues in some of the lines, and I feel it is important for people to know what these lines are so they can make an educated decision about adding them into their breeding program. *These lines have been crossed into other color lines, so it is important to understand these lines when breeding any sugar glider.
I will assume that if you are considering breeding for the mosaic gene, you are already knowledgeable about lineage, genetics and how to ensure the pairing is genetically compatible.
Intentionally crossing the sterile line mosaic gliders with other lines, you are introducing the sterile defect into an otherwise "clean line". Many breeders feel that sterile line gliders should not be bred at all, while others feel it is fine. That is a decision that you as a breeder must research and decide for yourself. Breeders also need to be aware that the sterility gene will pass to any color glider, not just the mosiac gliders.
It is believed that some of the founding line mosaics, originally bred by Helen Moreno, were inbred to the point of introducing sterility into the genetics, or that they were possibly cross-bred with the Caramel sub-species to introduce sterility in the lines. The sterility gene is predominately passed from the female to the offspring. Sterility can continue to be passed because females are always fertile, and that they may produce both fertile and sterile males. The sterile males cannot produce, the fertile males did not inherit the sterile gene; therefore they cannot pass sterility on to their male or female offspring.
Information regarding the possibility of Jason and Freddy - mosaic - TPG, having produced sterile males was incorrect according to a conversation with Priscilla on Jan. 8, 2013. She confirmed that Jason was fully developed and that Freddy did not produce sterile offspring. This information confirms that sterility is only passed through females.
I will assume that if you are considering breeding for the mosaic gene, you are already knowledgeable about lineage, genetics and how to ensure the pairing is genetically compatible.
Intentionally crossing the sterile line mosaic gliders with other lines, you are introducing the sterile defect into an otherwise "clean line". Many breeders feel that sterile line gliders should not be bred at all, while others feel it is fine. That is a decision that you as a breeder must research and decide for yourself. Breeders also need to be aware that the sterility gene will pass to any color glider, not just the mosiac gliders.
It is believed that some of the founding line mosaics, originally bred by Helen Moreno, were inbred to the point of introducing sterility into the genetics, or that they were possibly cross-bred with the Caramel sub-species to introduce sterility in the lines. The sterility gene is predominately passed from the female to the offspring. Sterility can continue to be passed because females are always fertile, and that they may produce both fertile and sterile males. The sterile males cannot produce, the fertile males did not inherit the sterile gene; therefore they cannot pass sterility on to their male or female offspring.
Information regarding the possibility of Jason and Freddy - mosaic - TPG, having produced sterile males was incorrect according to a conversation with Priscilla on Jan. 8, 2013. She confirmed that Jason was fully developed and that Freddy did not produce sterile offspring. This information confirms that sterility is only passed through females.
updated January 31, 2015
Sterile Lines
The founding gliders that you should be aware that carry the sterility gene are:
If you have any of these gliders names listed in your gliders lineage (you may need to look all the way to the beginning of the lines), then it is from sterile lines. This does not mean your glider is sterile, but if it is a female, the she does have the potential of carrying and passing the sterile gene on to her offspring.
Names are listed as they appear in The Pet Glider Database. Information in parenthesis is provided to further explain which glider is referred to as being from the sterile lines. To view the lineage, please click on the glider's name.
*Scarmouch reportedly has two male offspring that were presumed to be sterile. One of the male offspring, Sysko, had testes that were on the large side. He was placed with multiple females and never reproduced (was observed breeding). Those females were either proven or went on to produce with other males. In October 2015, it was observed that Scarmouch was removed as the mother to some lines in the database. By doing so, it has changed the lineage to several gliders.
- Loli - White Mosaic - TPG
- Tilly - ringtail
- Cammie (ringtail)
- Helena - mosaic
- Julie (champagne)
- Ms. Leu
- Sally - mosaic
- Heidi
- Bianca - deceased
- Sterling (champagne)
- Scarmouch (*see notation below)
If you have any of these gliders names listed in your gliders lineage (you may need to look all the way to the beginning of the lines), then it is from sterile lines. This does not mean your glider is sterile, but if it is a female, the she does have the potential of carrying and passing the sterile gene on to her offspring.
Names are listed as they appear in The Pet Glider Database. Information in parenthesis is provided to further explain which glider is referred to as being from the sterile lines. To view the lineage, please click on the glider's name.
*Scarmouch reportedly has two male offspring that were presumed to be sterile. One of the male offspring, Sysko, had testes that were on the large side. He was placed with multiple females and never reproduced (was observed breeding). Those females were either proven or went on to produce with other males. In October 2015, it was observed that Scarmouch was removed as the mother to some lines in the database. By doing so, it has changed the lineage to several gliders.
Non-Sterile Lines
The founding lines that do not have the sterility gene are:
As long as the descendants from these lines have not been crossed with the sterile lines, then these gliders would not be considered sterile lines. To view the lineage, please click on the glider's name.
As long as the descendants from these lines have not been crossed with the sterile lines, then these gliders would not be considered sterile lines. To view the lineage, please click on the glider's name.
Producing Lines
Producing lines, otherwise known as "Producing Sterile Lines", (I refer to them as "Fertile Lines") are male gliders that, although come from sterile lines, are fertile. If they are fertile, they have not inherited the gene and cannot pass the sterility gene to their offspring. At this point, it is not known for sure that the sterility defect can be bred out of female gliders. Some breeders feel that after 5 generation of "producing males" with no sterile male offspring, the line is considered "Producing". However, we have seen 5 generations of producing sterile line gliders, then the sterility pop back up in the 6th generation.
Part of the reason the stigma exists is incorrect information that has been spread over the years. The generation count (explained above) is one of them. It doesn't matter how many generations out a glider is from the founding sterile line glider. It hasn't proven to be bred out by generational breeding. It has only proven to be bred out when you have a producing (fertile) male.
Once people really understand how it works, the stigma will go away from the fertile (producing) lines. The sterile lines are another story. There will always be people that do not believe in breeding sterile lines because it is a genetic or cross breeding defect. Unfortunately, they don't look at the fact that these gliders have been healthy and good pets, or the fact that the sterility doesn't affect anything other than procreation. And then you will have people that simply don't have any issues what so ever about breeding sterile lines.
Part of the reason the stigma exists is incorrect information that has been spread over the years. The generation count (explained above) is one of them. It doesn't matter how many generations out a glider is from the founding sterile line glider. It hasn't proven to be bred out by generational breeding. It has only proven to be bred out when you have a producing (fertile) male.
Once people really understand how it works, the stigma will go away from the fertile (producing) lines. The sterile lines are another story. There will always be people that do not believe in breeding sterile lines because it is a genetic or cross breeding defect. Unfortunately, they don't look at the fact that these gliders have been healthy and good pets, or the fact that the sterility doesn't affect anything other than procreation. And then you will have people that simply don't have any issues what so ever about breeding sterile lines.
Are your lines considered Sterile?
Females can carry and pass the sterility gene. Males that inherit the sterility gene will be sterile. This is typically evidenced by under or undeveloped testes. A female can also inherit the sterility gene, but females are always fertile. To date, there is no way to know if the females inherited the gene until they produce a sterile male offspring. The gene doesn't affect the females, but they can pass the gene on to both male and female offspring.
After a male is produced that is not sterile, from his point forward, his progeny are no longer a sterile line. Once that male is known to be fertile, and since sterility is passed through females, his line can't be considered sterile any longer. (This is what is/was referred to as "producing sterile lines".) This line, since it is proven to be a fertile line, should not carry any negative stigma relative to sterile lines.
It is impossible, at this point, to definitively say any female is no longer considered "sterile" since there currently is no way to test (unless the female is the progeny of the fertile male). Even if a female produces all fertile males, who's to say the "next one" won't be sterile? It's all a guess from the female's perspective, even with her female offspring.
If you are concerned with sterility when buying a glider, it is your responsibility to research and understand the lines to know of any historical sterility.
Additionally, if a sterile glider is produced, it should be noted in The Pet Glider Database.
last updated: October 27, 2015
After a male is produced that is not sterile, from his point forward, his progeny are no longer a sterile line. Once that male is known to be fertile, and since sterility is passed through females, his line can't be considered sterile any longer. (This is what is/was referred to as "producing sterile lines".) This line, since it is proven to be a fertile line, should not carry any negative stigma relative to sterile lines.
It is impossible, at this point, to definitively say any female is no longer considered "sterile" since there currently is no way to test (unless the female is the progeny of the fertile male). Even if a female produces all fertile males, who's to say the "next one" won't be sterile? It's all a guess from the female's perspective, even with her female offspring.
If you are concerned with sterility when buying a glider, it is your responsibility to research and understand the lines to know of any historical sterility.
Additionally, if a sterile glider is produced, it should be noted in The Pet Glider Database.
last updated: October 27, 2015
Glider Talk - "Sterility with Shelly"
UPDATE:
This is an old video, streamed live on Mar 22, 2014 - new information may have been, or will be learned since this video was created which could change your (and my) opinions. Being from sterile lines, at any point, should not affect the selling price of any sugar glider. Additionally, I do reference my personal opinions at the time of the video. These are/were MY opinions and will vary from others. However, please realize that when I speak about crossing sterile & non-sterile lines, I was NOT referring to the fertile males out of sterile lines. There is NO reason those gliders cannot be bred to any line because they did not inherit and cannot pass the sterile gene.
At approximately the 7 minute mark, I reference Jason & Freddy that produced sterile gliders - Priscilla recanted that information on Jan. 8, 2013 and stated that neither Jason nor Freddy produced sterile males. So please disregard that portion of the video. ALL sterile male gliders have been produced from sterile line females.
This is an old video, streamed live on Mar 22, 2014 - new information may have been, or will be learned since this video was created which could change your (and my) opinions. Being from sterile lines, at any point, should not affect the selling price of any sugar glider. Additionally, I do reference my personal opinions at the time of the video. These are/were MY opinions and will vary from others. However, please realize that when I speak about crossing sterile & non-sterile lines, I was NOT referring to the fertile males out of sterile lines. There is NO reason those gliders cannot be bred to any line because they did not inherit and cannot pass the sterile gene.
At approximately the 7 minute mark, I reference Jason & Freddy that produced sterile gliders - Priscilla recanted that information on Jan. 8, 2013 and stated that neither Jason nor Freddy produced sterile males. So please disregard that portion of the video. ALL sterile male gliders have been produced from sterile line females.
updated January 31, 2016
