Desert Females : To Breed or Not To Breed

I myself ran across this dilemma a few months ago, and ultimately decided against it completely, deciding to avoid the gene completely (even though when I saw the Tiger Spider and Pin I fell in love with a few examples of the morphs) I came to the same conclusion as several others. It simply isn't worth the risk to the snakes for personal desires.

Not to breed.

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Originally Posted by kgronsbell

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to get everyone's opinions about the desert gene, and what they think about proving females to lay viable clutches in the future? Really interested in the project, and in love with desert combos. I am planning on picking up a few females probably next season, just to raise up in isolated conditions and see what goes on. I am very aware of health issues for females, and how most slug out, or become egg bound and pass away, but I truly believe that they will be proven to reproduce in the not so distant future. What is everyone else's thoughts? Thanks.

-Keith Gronsbell
Balls of Steel Exotics

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The fact that you say you are aware of the issues, and know that it causes them serious harm and most times death, and you STILL plan on picking up not only one but a few females next season to try and " crack the code " makes me seriously sick to my stomach.

There are tons of information on the desert females available that strongly suggest not to breed them.

If your going to kill these females on purpose, then you shouldnt be alloud to keep them.

Seriously just grinds my gears big time that this is even still up for discussion.

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Originally Posted by RoseyReps

Not worth risking the lives of the girls IMO. When I start caring about the color of a snake more than its life, I'll get out of the hobby.

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This. I'm shocked that people are still considering breeding desert girls. I want a desert male myself someday, but that's because there's no chance breeding will kill them

The morph isnt even *that* cool imo. So no i really dont have any interest in them and dont think they should be bred.

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Originally Posted by kgronsbell

I truly believe that they will be proven to reproduce in the not so distant future. What is everyone else's thoughts? Thanks.

-Keith Gronsbell
Balls of Steel Exotics

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You believe that a fix to the oviducts is going to happen in the not so distant future?
Please explain how your going to fix this issue :confusd:

How many viable clutches have been dropped in the 10 or so years that they've been around??


ZERO

Hmm we can send in super small worker robots to fix the problem! There just gots to make the tiny bots then ill make the first super form!

Well, if you had done a little bit more research upon the genetic issue and true problems with desert females, I am certain you would have read the problem is not a constriction within the oviduct which causes them to become egg bound. First, as stated by Chad from Pro Exotics himself, many females are not able to breed due to the stress they interpret from changing locations, from breeders to breeders and changing feeding habits. As well, I have talked to multiple breeders, including Brian of BHB who believe with a little bit of tweaking environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity during breeding season, that females have a much better chance of producing not only eggs, but a viable clutch. The year of the fire at Pro Exotics, Chad was planning on proving out his second generation of female deserts to produce a viable clutch, and change the reptile world's view of desert ball pythons. Due to all of the research I have done in the past, I am inquisitive about attempting to prove out the Desert female problem, and will not contain my curiosity until there is scientific evidence that female Deserts will never be able to produce a viable clutch. And no, I do not want to kill innocent females, I am trying to just attempt in the near future to purchase a female or two, and see their activity physically, and sexually(breeding) to find a solution to one of the many wonders to the ball python world. Thank you all very much for your responses.

-Keith Gronsbell

Actually, I think you need to do a little more research. Stress, smaller body size, environmental tweaking were all theories BEFORE people started doing necropsies on dead females. They discovered that there are oviduct abnormalities with female deserts. The worst cases involve extra tissue forming a spiderweb like structure in the oviduct that prevent eggs from passing. This will not be fixed by anything environmental.

Google is your friend.

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Originally Posted by kgronsbell

Well, if you had done a little bit more research upon the genetic issue and true problems with desert females, I am certain you would have read the problem is not a constriction within the oviduct which causes them to become egg bound. First, as stated by Chad from Pro Exotics himself, many females are not able to breed due to the stress they interpret from changing locations, from breeders to breeders and changing feeding habits. As well,I have talked to multiple breeders, including Brian of BHB who believe with a little bit of tweaking environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity during breeding season, that females have a much better chance of producing not only eggs, but a viable clutch. The year of the fire at Pro Exotics, Chad was planning on proving out his second generation of female deserts to produce a viable clutch, and change the reptile world's view of desert ball pythons. Due to all of the research I have done in the past, I am inquisitive about attempting to prove out the Desert female problem, and will not contain my curiosity until there is scientific evidence that female Deserts will never be able to produce a viable clutch. And no, I do not want to kill innocent females, I am trying to just attempt in the near future to purchase a female or two, and see their activity physically, and sexually(breeding) to find a solution to one of the many wonders to the ball python world. Thank you all very much for your responses.

-Keith Gronsbell

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Temps and humidity aren't going to change a thing! LOL

None of those excuses fly for a Morph that has been around close to 10 years and not one female has laid a viable clutch!!!

Have you seen this thread?...
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1990729,1990729