Scaleless BP

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Originally Posted by pfan151

Exactly what I believe as well. It would be interesting to try to feed it an unheated room temp FT rat and see if there is a difference in feeding response with a heated up rat. I would think that would put the heat pit issue to rest one way or the other.

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Doubt that would work well, I get a huge reaction from heating up a rat from my colubrids too. The heat releases good scents. It's like offering a warm cookie fresh from the oven instead of one thats been sitting on the counter for a week. It wouldn't be an accurate way of testing a BPs thermoreception.
Accuracy or strikes in a dark room of a heated vs. unheated rat might give a better indication.

it looks axanthic

My goodness, this post sure did bring out a lot of different opinions.

Me personally, I've seen this picture before and I just love this snake. I'd own one in a heartbeat.

I don't see any reason not to breed it IF and only IF it doesn't have any serious health problems that should not be perpetuated. But if it is simply a case of, I don't like the way it lookd so I think it should not be bred, that is a personal opinion and you are entitled to yours as I am mine.

If this animal proves to have health problems due to it's unique condition, then I strongly agree it should not be bred knowing it is only going to pass on these problems to it's offspring. If it lives a normal healthy life, then I hope they do produce more, maybe then I can have one someday.

And as far as people spending huge amount of money on the offspring of this snake should it ever have any, why is that any different than people paying $10, $15, $20,000 or more to have the first of a new color morph? I've seen that happen regularly in the few months I've been here. If they like the snake and have the money to spend, what is it to you?

Personally I do not like the Champagnes at all. I've seen them and the different combo morphs made with it and I personally wouldn't own any of them if you gave it to me, even if there are plenty of people willing to pay $6-10,000 for one. It's the same thing really. There will always be people willing to spend ridiculous amounts of money to be the first to own a new anything, snake or otherwise.

Gale

She died in 2009 at around the 1100g range. Eugene still has the parents that produced her and is still breeding them.

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Originally Posted by Sprinkles_Mum

of course we are scaleless lol..weve never had them...
moles , which are almost hairless are like that in the wild,
its an evolution thing.

im just not too into changing and playing around with genetics to the point where you are changing the basics of an animal. snakes have scales. cats have fur. humans have hair. thats just the hippy in me talking I guess.

it has nothing to do with being scared or not understanding etc to me. it just is not a snake to me. its just a silly project to change something thats already fine.

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Your statement doesn't make a lot of sense in that you don't believe a scaleless should be bred and more produced if it is even possible, because you have a problem with people messing with the genetics and so on...how do you explain all of the different morphs already in existence by doing this EXACT same thing??

This is what we do when we breed snakes. we take their specific genes, mix and match and come up with something we hope is totally new. there are TONS and tons of morphs that could almost certainly have no chance of ever being produced in nature. This is just another one of those morphs.

Personally, I think it's beautiful. I would love to breed these and produce scaleless morphs. If the female lived to adulthood and was healthy, then hopefully no bad genetic disorders comes with being scaleless.

The scaleless Texas Rat Snake don't seem to posses major problems with its loss of scales. Mutations are natural, though not always survivable in the wild. Fortunately there's captivity.

Can't wait to see another one pop up!

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Originally Posted by FIREball

She died in 2009 at around the 1100g range. Eugene still has the parents that produced her and is still breeding them.

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Like I said Before, I think reptiles are born with scales for a reason. Though I do not know if not having scales had a single thing to do with her death, I think that it did. I guess time will tell if more are produced. Who knows, the snake may have been in pain its whole life.

Also, someone mentioned dogs and having a defect with only one eye? First off, dogs are mammals, not reptiles, and Two, I do not know many people who would pay thousands of dollars and try to breed for one eyed dogs.

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Originally Posted by DeadLegs

Your statement doesn't make a lot of sense in that you don't believe a scaleless should be bred and more produced if it is even possible, because you have a problem with people messing with the genetics and so on...how do you explain all of the different morphs already in existence by doing this EXACT same thing??

This is what we do when we breed snakes. we take their specific genes, mix and match and come up with something we hope is totally new. there are TONS and tons of morphs that could almost certainly have no chance of ever being produced in nature. This is just another one of those morphs.

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Are you comparing the change of patterns/colors to the change of having scales or not? The difference doesnt make since to you? You are confusing Mutations with Genetic defects.

Someone compared it before to how albino boas are likely to be born without eyes, and you do not see people wanted to breed for those.

That can't be real... Maybe a mutation that gives it EXTRA small scales?

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Are you comparing the change of patterns/colors to the change of having scales or not? The difference doesnt make since to you? You are confusing Mutations with Genetic defects.

Someone compared it before to how albino boas are likely to be born without eyes, and you do not see people wanted to breed for those.

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To call it a genetic "defect" is to assume that there is something wrong with it like, as you said, missing an eye or in the case of some super caramel's, a kinked spine. simply being born scaleless, I do not see as a genetic defect. this particular specimen having died young does not mean that it was due to the fact that it was born without scales. no one can know that until it is reproduced and proven to be the cause of a health issue.

if that were the case, scaleless rat snakes would have the same mortality issue which i've yet to hear of. same goes for "leatherback" bearded dragons. they're technically scaleless and there is no evidence that this is a genetic "defect" that causes them harm or early mortality.