Bloods and Burms

You could say that breeding any snakes (especially morphs) is 'playing god'

snake species have to be closely related in order for hybridization to work in the first place. No boa can produce viable offspring with any python, colubrid, elapid etc. Only boaXboa, pythonXpython, colubridXcolubrid.. you get the point. Pythons aren't going to just sprout a rattle or a venom gland.. and even if those hybrids would work.. so what? The babies get some of the attributes of each parent, if they get some adaptations from two different kinds of snake, hey it gets a good deal in my book.

I can't go into my reasoning on hear nor do I have the energy to right now. Worked a long day today

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Originally Posted by Shelby

You could say that breeding any snakes (especially morphs) is 'playing god'

snake species have to be closely related in order for hybridization to work in the first place. No boa can produce viable offspring with any python, colubrid, elapid etc. Only boaXboa, pythonXpython, colubridXcolubrid.. you get the point. Pythons aren't going to just sprout a rattle or a venom gland.. and even if those hybrids would work.. so what? The babies get some of the attributes of each parent, if they get some adaptations from two different kinds of snake, hey it gets a good deal in my book.

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

I am against Hybrids 110%. Anyone that deals in Hybrids is no friend of mine. Just my oppinion

Sorry if this offends anyone

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Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking. I'm not big for cross breeding either, morphs I can understand but cross breeding!? That isn't how nature assigned them, and therefore I don't agree.

But then again they could be the most adoreable thing on the PLANET! In that case I accept a snake by it's personality regardless of what it is so if I ever come across a ball blood mix or something i'd buy it in a heartbeat if it liked me and I liked it.

Just to preface, I'm totally not flaming here... just want to point out another point of view.

What about cats and dogs? And just about any other animal bred in the pet trade? A huge percentage of them would technically count as hybrids somewhere along the line. Every dog breed you can name isn't how they appeared in nature. Fish, rabbits, you name it. All bred down eventually for preferred traits. Even the herp morphs are generally inbred as they wouldn't be in nature for colorations and patterns that you wouldn't find in nature or that simply wouldn't last long because they'd be easily spotted. Animals also copulate in nature that cannot produce offspring. Mules, for example.

Just saying... breeding animals in and of itself is "unnatural" because it's always selective breeding, and animals... well, a lot of em just aren't that selective, especially herps! Long as there's somebody to breed with, they go for it. So our selecting mates for them of any species is technically unnatural. So is providing ideal conditions. Etc and so on.

So... I dunno, just a thought. I mean, one could argue that having electricity is playing god (climate/light control). But then I've had a lot of discussions regarding humans about what's "natural" and what isn't that's used the same arguement, and I believe the truth is that nature is a lot more diverse and complicated than we give her credit for. Just my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

I have a feeling I will get flamed for this post

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We don't flame here, we discuss. :)

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

Just to preface, I'm totally not flaming here... just want to point out another point of view.

What about cats and dogs? And just about any other animal bred in the pet trade? A huge percentage of them would technically count as hybrids somewhere along the line. Every dog breed you can name isn't how they appeared in nature. Fish, rabbits, you name it. All bred down eventually for preferred traits. Even the herp morphs are generally inbred as they wouldn't be in nature for colorations and patterns that you wouldn't find in nature or that simply wouldn't last long because they'd be easily spotted. Animals also copulate in nature that cannot produce offspring. Mules, for example.

Just saying... breeding animals in and of itself is "unnatural" because it's always selective breeding, and animals... well, a lot of em just aren't that selective, especially herps! Long as there's somebody to breed with, they go for it. So our selecting mates for them of any species is technically unnatural. So is providing ideal conditions. Etc and so on.

So... I dunno, just a thought. I mean, one could argue that having electricity is playing god (climate/light control). But then I've had a lot of discussions regarding humans about what's "natural" and what isn't that's used the same arguement, and I believe the truth is that nature is a lot more diverse and complicated than we give her credit for. Just my 2 cents.

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I just wanted to say that this is one of the best statements I have read in a long time concerning this issue.
As for me I am personally against hybrids. I wouldn't purchase one or breed one myself. To his, his own. I think that people are going to breed animals anyway they want to as long as mankind is around. It's just in man's nature. Same with domesticating them.
But I wouldn't, but then again I wouldn't breed 99% of the animals I see on a daily basis, but that's because we are a rescue, and when you truly rescue the last thing you'd want to do is make more.
I hope no one takes offense to that, as I feel the next 5 Burmese Pythons (for instance) that are bred, well that's just 3 more I have to turn away. Where are they going to go? OK now I am ranting but you get my point.
Don't get me wrong there are some breeders that I have respect for, some I would even call friends, (you know who you are) but I also know they have pride in the animals they breed, wether hybrids or not, they know who is purchasing them and I know they have a pretty good idea the animal won't end up on my doorstep in the long run.
Thanks
Rusty

So I take it nobody has crossed a blood and a burm? LOL
Thanks guys!

Apparently not, bait4snake, lol!

And thank you, Rusty. I really wish more people educated themselves before buying snakes, or any animal really. I'd guess the majority of rescues are from people who didn't know what they were getting into in the first place. But then, I'm a huge education booster and believe that better education could solve most of the world's ills, or at least ease them.

If you are against hybrids I hope you are a vegitarian. Most domestic stock has been produced by developing better and better hybrids. Also purebred dogs ,cats,and many others basicly hybrids. Nothing wrong with hybrids if it doesn't in someway cause harm to the animals. Such as defects that interfere with eating, health, etc.