Culling

I know this is a sensitive topic, which is why I put it advanced husbandry.


DO YOU CULL YOUR BABIES if there is a defect?

I've never had to deal with it (yet) but I would probably have to decide how serious of a defect it was. You'd probably have to use your judgement, but it's probably a necessary practice.

I recall a picture of a ball python with a severly deformed head that someone was marketing as a "new morph", just terrible.

JonV

What do you consider a defect?

What is considered humane culling in the world of ball pythons?

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

What do you consider a defect?

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Depends on the person, I suppose.

What do you consider it to be?

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

What is considered humane culling in the world of ball pythons?

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That is a whole other can of worms...

My only reason for culling in any creature usually is health related. Does the defect cause suffering or health issues that affect it's chances of a normal life? That's how I decide.

Spinal kinks, like the ones seen in some of the caramels, as well as those where the skin is fused at a kink, get a quick trip to the freezer.

Culling is the only way to keep the genepool strong.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Culling is the only way to keep the genepool strong.

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well that's not true...you can also keep things alive and just not breed them
I'm not judging, but there are alternatives to culling

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Originally Posted by Blu Mongoose

My only reason for culling in any creature usually is health related. Does the defect cause suffering or health issues that affect it's chances of a normal life? That's how I decide.

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Ditto that.

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Originally Posted by soy.lor.n

well that's not true...you can also keep things alive and just not breed them
I'm not judging, but there are alternatives to culling

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You are correct, however, the temptation to breed a morph or pattern is tremendous when you have limited individuals expressing the desired traits.

Look at the caramels with the kinks. I don't recall the guys name who had the video of them, I am terrible with names, but if you listen to him he never says he won't ever breed them.

The temptation is too much for whatever reason. Had he culled them, there would be NO possibility of their further contributing to an already weak genepool.

Same thing for the one eyed boas. kahl sold many many siblings without disclosing that little fact. Now lots of breeders have that defective gene. The good ones cull the one eyes and breed different adults next go round.

Sterilization would work as well, but I don't know of it being done with snakes.