A couple of mis-conceptions here.
VPI has not and would not make ball/blood hybrids. Rouisis has done it and Nerd has made many hybrids,but not VPI
Another point, the mutations would absolutely show up in the hybrid offspring, and even though I find the idea revolting, it will and does work.
I can give you many examples of the EXACT SAME mutation occuring in multiple species independantly. These aniamsll have all the exact same genes, what makes them different is the expression of those genes.
Ever wonder why we have ivory balls, ivory retics and ivory bloods, all look pretty much the same and all are co doms with similar visual hets?
The Jaguar carpet is merely acarpet python version of the spider morph. Both are co-com, reduced pattern morphs with clear bellies and nuero problems, both are also lethal genes. Thats a whole lot of cooncidences isnt it?
Just look at the motley boas and the cinnamon balls. Both are dark co-doms with solid black/brown supers , and both the super cinnamon balls as well as the super motley boas have a deformed face!because its the same mutation.
The new Batik blood python morph is the same exact thing as the zebra jungle carpet morph.
Just look at the lucy retics, and compare to the black eyed luecistic balls, the visuall hets look the same and the lucies in both species have random yellow blothes, because its exactly the same mutation. If you could breed them together I would be anything that they are compatable, even across species lines.
Nick