Ralph Davis Clutch Gone Wrong

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Originally Posted by TripleMoonsExotic

Why is anyone surprised that Mother x Son has the potential to produce deformities?
He's inbreeding.

They should all be culled to prevent the deformities from being spread into the BP gene pool, no question...However...I know Ralph sells these animals locally which disgusts me.

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Please point out how many cases of deformities occur when breeding mother to son, daughter to father, or even brother to sister. 'Inbreeding' as you call it happens very often with NO deformities. This stuff happens on its own from time to time. Even from two snakes with no relations. Reptiles 'inbreeding' and mammals 'inbreeding' are two pretty different things. As with mammals there are very many cases of deformities. Reptiles do NOT have the same genes as mammals.

Many morphs have been produced from inbreeding. Recessives and co-doms for example.

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Originally Posted by TripleMoonsExotic

Money. Plain and simple. MONEY. :(

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Money? Really? You mean it can't be a hobby? Something he enjoys very much. I suppose he doesn't have enough money despite owning his own construction company.

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Originally Posted by N4S

lol

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LMFAO!!!!
:weirdface


Seriously, what's so funny about him asking a question?

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Ralph is a GREAT guy who LOVES his snakes more then anyone I have ever met before. Yeah you take a chance at getting any kind of problem with ANY KIND of breeding if it be inbreeding or not. Every breeder of any species will have something like this happen to them down the road at some point. I'm glad Ralph showed this because it does need to be out there for people to see that breeding any kind of animal for a hobby isn't all butterflies, rainbows, candy, and smiles. I've bought him him before and I will buy from him again. His animals are top notch. Sometimes things happen and we can't do anything about it.

I don't know Ralph personally and don't always agree with everything he writes but have seen enough over the years to have no doubt that he cares for animals. Among people concerned for animal welfare legitimate differences of opinions can be had concerning if it's best for the morph or even the individual animal to put down defects.

Many things are genetic but I wouldn't automatically assume a genetic cause for every defect. If it's not genetic and separate from the desired mutation then culling for the sake of the morph goes out the window and the next most important question is regarding the animal's quality of life.

From the pure money standpoint the best thing to do would have been to put the deformities down and never mention them to help keep the public ignorant of any potential issue. By posting info about the issue he opens up questions about whichever morph in general and his animals in particular. In the long run I think discussing deformities in public will help us find the solution to reduce the numbers of defects. I believe sharing this information is even more evidence of concern for the animals over concern for money.