Why breeders tell their secret?

First of all, I gotta tell you that I'm new to the Ball Python market's situation in the States, I'm from Bangkok btw. So please do not flame me(badly, just a little is fine) if this question sounds...dumb to you all.

What I'm trying to ask is, for example when NERD made a new designer morph such as Bumblebee or Axantic Pastel(I don't know they made these morphs or not, I just like the word nerd) ;), why they tell people how to make this morph by using the name of morphs that produce the new one? I mean they can give their new morph new name that has got nothing to let people know how to make that morph. Especially the double or triple recessive morph that noone can guess unless they do the trial by themselves.

My guessing for the reason they do not keep a secret of how to make a new morph is because:
1) Other breeder got the same morph so they can make the same new morph anyway. So there's no point to keep a secret?
2) Some new morphs are so difficult and time cunsuming anyway, so they think other people won't spend 2-3 generations of their BP to make same new morph anyway?
3)They want to show off? ;)

I might answer my own question, so correct me if I'm wrong.

First, welcome to BP.net.


Breeders don't tell ALL their secrets. There are a lot of projects where parts of the "recipe" are still a tightly guarded secret.

Also, in order to grow the excitement and love for ball pythons, some projects are perfect to share, to help keep the interest level up. Spiders and pastels are relatively affordable now for the hobbiest keeper, and it's a great dream to create your own combination one day and move on to try more combinations!

And also, knowing what "ingredients" are in some combos also generates interest in the primary (see KLG! ;) ) morphs needed to make those combos. For example - I've always really liked pinstripes more than spiders. But when I saw NERD's Super Pastel Pinstripe (what did you guys name that, Kara - I'm having a brain cramp) - it has motivated me to get a female pinstripe as my next purchase (I already have a lemon pastel male).

Just my thoughts so early in the morning! :D

Not to mention, without knowing what went into it, some people might not buy it. Telling the combo that made it reassures people that it is not a 'sport' but from established proven morphs.
While some people will chance buying a 'sport' or unproven morph, not everyone will. And as pointed out above, if you have a bumblebee to sell, you will definately have some spiders and pastels to sell as well. Since not everyone will have the money to buy that bumblebee, why not use the fact that pastelXspider=bumblebee to sell your other less expensive snakes as well?
It's a great question, and in some industries I'm sure that no one would dream of revealing the ingrediants to something new. I think sometimes a picture of something new is presented to tease, while the breeder makes sure of the genetic sturdieness of the new combo(in other words pastel + spider really DID = bumblebee, rather than it just being a hiccup)
All examples above used the bumblebee combo NOT for any particular reason other than it is a well-known combo.
Wolfy

rabernet & wolfy-hound

Your explanation does make sense. Especially the bit about them breeders can sell more to people who want to breed by themselves in stead of paying a big bucks for a new morph. I don't say this in a bad meaning though.

Hello all by the way, I forgot to put that in my first post...how rude *bows*

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Originally Posted by rabernet

First, welcome to BP.net.


Breeders don't tell ALL their secrets. There are a lot of projects where parts of the "recipe" are still a tightly guarded secret.

Also, in order to grow the excitement and love for ball pythons, some projects are perfect to share, to help keep the interest level up. Spiders and pastels are relatively affordable now for the hobbiest keeper, and it's a great dream to create your own combination one day and move on to try more combinations!

And also, knowing what "ingredients" are in some combos also generates interest in the primary (see KLG! ;) ) morphs needed to make those combos. For example - I've always really liked pinstripes more than spiders. But when I saw NERD's Super Pastel Pinstripe (what did you guys name that, Kara - I'm having a brain cramp) - it has motivated me to get a female pinstripe as my next purchase (I already have a lemon pastel male).

Just my thoughts so early in the morning! :D

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I'm with you knowing what it takes to create king pins and soul suckers and pewters is what motivates the hobbiest to buy the base morphs to create them.

I think that the big breeders walk a very fine line of business vs. love of what they do ... From a pure hobbyist perspective and as someone that is passionate about animals they want to scream out to the world when they produce something cool or something that no one has ever seen before ... yet, at the same time, these guys/gals have businesses to run ... in some cases, big businesses ... and like all businesses, that sometimes involves marketing and other times it involves trade secrets in order to stay ahead of the competition and get an "edge" in what is becoming a very competitive market.

The other problem we have is that with so many sharks out there ready to pounce and make another breeder look bad in order to promote themselves, a lot of people are becoming more hesitant to speculate or to share things until they have "all the answers" ... Because in this business, if you publically declare something and it turns out later you are wrong ... no one will let you forget it.

For the most part, I think the big guys do an excellent job of finding that balance and keeping us all interested and excited about the possibilities ... that's why their "pros"!!!! :D :sweeet:

-adam

Excellent post Adam! I just wanted to chirp in to actually thank those breeders for sharing as much as they do. They allow the rest of us to dream, to actually know a bit of what is possible and I for one, am very thankful they do that. :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Excellent post Adam! I just wanted to chirp in to actually thank those breeders for sharing as much as they do. They allow the rest of us to dream, to actually know a bit of what is possible and I for one, am very thankful they do that. :)

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I agree with you. There's a lot of secrets that have been revealed that give us hobbiests something to work for and look forward to buying or producing. Expensive? Yes. But I think it's worth the time and effort that gets put into it. some people think we are crazy for dropping thousands of dollars on morphs. I consider it a challenge and a high goal to reach. I don't bash or hate on the big guys for charging what they do for morphs. I actually appreciate the value they hold, and am willing to pay the price. It's a long road, but like i said...worth it...every bit of it.

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

I agree with you. There's a lot of secrets that have been revealed that give us hobbiests something to work for and look forward to buying or producing. Expensive? Yes. But I think it's worth the time and effort that gets put into it. some people think we are crazy for dropping thousands of dollars on morphs. I consider it a challenge and a high goal to reach. I don't bash or hate on the big guys for charging what they do for morphs. I actually appreciate the value they hold, and am willing to pay the price. It's a long road, but like i said...worth it...every bit of it.

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Agreed. In almost every form of business, secrets are well guarded and for good reason. But I find it unique in BPs, how the recipes are shared and how the market reacts positively. But still can`t imagine how an average hobbyst could afford to buy any morph that costs above $10,000 though.

Saving lots of nickels, dimes and collecting soda cans.....? Or how about the kiddles wearing the smaller shoes and hand-me-downs for a while longer?:eek: :rolleyes:



I'm going to be one of the goobers that will have to breed the dreamed-of morphs, or find a very caring two or three (generous!) breeders who are willing to take payments over time in order for me to buy a morph. *sigh* BUT, that is a goal of mine that I am working towards.

I appreciate what Kevin, Ralph and the others are doing...even for the short time that I've been here in the hobby. I just wished the different combos and morphs were easier to remember!!! :oops:


RuLyn:sunny: