Ethics of breeding Genetic Mutations

So if we try to breed smaller ball pythons.. that's not okay? How is that different from breeding albinos? As long as the end product is healthy, I'm not sure I see a real difference.
I think the different breeds of cats are a better example. Dogs originally were bred for specific reasons, for use. Herding, hunting, retrieving, guarding..
Cats were bred as companions, and for pleasing colors and combinations of colors. So a persian is like a albino, there's no reason for a flat faced, full coated cat, other than we find it pleasing. Likewise, the only reason we breed pastels rather than normals is that we find the color combination pleasing.

As long as the snake is healthy(no one-eyed turtles please), I'm all for morphs.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Well, to go off-topic a little bit, IMO morphs are not a problem because you're not creating new (sub)species at all.

However, the very moment the physical shape or morphology of morphs changes, I will not buy BPs from that person. The changing of a species must be prevented in captivity.

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My only thought about people arguing against morphs is there are so few as is in the wild, because it creates weaknesses. Ball Pythons have a designated coloring and pattern to them for defensive purposes and some of the morphs extremely change these traits (ie Albino, spider, etc) so it can be seen as weakening the species.

Another reason few Albinos are seen in the wild is due to the lack of defensive camouflage so they are more prone to predatory attacks.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

So if we try to breed smaller ball pythons.. that's not okay? How is that different from breeding albinos? As long as the end product is healthy, I'm not sure I see a real difference.
I think the different breeds of cats are a better example. Dogs originally were bred for specific reasons, for use. Herding, hunting, retrieving, guarding..
Cats were bred as companions, and for pleasing colors and combinations of colors. So a persian is like a albino, there's no reason for a flat faced, full coated cat, other than we find it pleasing. Likewise, the only reason we breed pastels rather than normals is that we find the color combination pleasing.

As long as the snake is healthy(no one-eyed turtles please), I'm all for morphs.

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Some cats are also being bred with physical leg deformities. They are being done this way for the purpose of the 'cuteness' they possess with this trait. The animals are still healthy.... but just not right.

Honestly, I want a spider ball python, but I don't want a wobbler... why? Well the animal possesses a strong weakness. And I don't want to breed that weakness back into the species.

In a way one could argue that the breeders are doing a good thing. In that if morphs are more popular then less people would want normals. And since you rarely get a morph from the wild, they are taking pressure off of the wild population. Just a thought.

The breeding of animals for specific traits for profit is the oldest form of animal husbandry. From the domesticated dog to the beef we eat. Animals have always been selectively bred to produce a desired out come.

With reptile people this is expressed in the way of an animal that looks a specific way. With Beef farmers its the animals ability to build muscle mass. Even tree farmers and fruit farms will cross breed different traits to produce an out come they can profit from.

The term genetic mutation conjures images reminiscent of the Island of Dr. Moroe. When in truth is is more accurately describe as Predictable Genetic Trait. Granted on some lever they are a genetic mutation but no different than blue eyes or red hair.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

So if we try to breed smaller ball pythons.. that's not okay? How is that different from breeding albinos? As long as the end product is healthy, I'm not sure I see a real difference.
I think the different breeds of cats are a better example. Dogs originally were bred for specific reasons, for use. Herding, hunting, retrieving, guarding..
Cats were bred as companions, and for pleasing colors and combinations of colors. So a persian is like a albino, there's no reason for a flat faced, full coated cat, other than we find it pleasing. Likewise, the only reason we breed pastels rather than normals is that we find the color combination pleasing.

As long as the snake is healthy(no one-eyed turtles please), I'm all for morphs.

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With the today's domesticated animals it's too late, but IMO us humans have no right to domesticate animals! It's absurd to me. There's a major difference between keeping snakes and domesticating them, I hope I don't have to explain that.

Colors morphs have nothing to do with the physical build or shape of an animal; they're just specific genes coding for colors. I heard that some combination of homozygous forms of black pastels or cinnamons create different looking BPs, morphologically? Is this true? That draws the line for me.

Some of the super cinnys might have a slight duckbill appearance to the head, but it's not pronounced, and most non-ball python people would not notice it.
How would humans not have domesticated animals? Would we all be out hunting for meat still? No dogs, no cats, no meat animals, or draft animals?

Yeah I already see where this is going. If the super cinny already has some weird head shape thing, imagine what it'll be like in 50 years. We're gonna have 9ft Ball Pythons with legs... :rolleyes:

Dude!

I would kill for a 9 foot BP with legs - and if you can give it wings as well my life would have seen its crown. :bow: :bow: :bow:

**fades off into a daydream mumbling about dragons**


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Dude!

I would kill for a 9 foot BP with legs - and if you can give it wings as well my life would have seen its crown. :bow: :bow: :bow:

**fades off into a daydream mumbling about dragons**


dr del

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:rofl: