09/05/2026
Picking holdbacks is one of my favorite parts of the breeding season.
Every hatchling is exciting, but deciding which ones stay comes down to more than just picking the prettiest babies. For me, it starts with structure before color.
I’m looking for a well-proportioned animal with a strong head and jaw, solid body structure, good topline, strong hindquarters, properly formed limbs and toes, and a proportional original tail. From there, I look at the traits specific to the project I’m working toward.
For our RedHot and Diamond Contrast Projects, carrot tailing is one of those traits, so I’m watching for babies that show, or have the potential to develop, the characteristics I want to carry into future generations.
And that’s the important part about a holdback, keeping one doesn’t automatically mean it will become a breeder. It means I see enough potential to grow it out, watch how it develops, and evaluate whether it deserves a place in the project.
Ultimately, good holdback selection is about knowing your goals and looking at the whole animals structure, genetics, color, pattern, and development, not choosing based on one impressive trait.
Be intentional, keep learning, and most importantly, work with genetics you genuinely enjoy. Watching a project evolve generation after generation is half the fun.
