Thoughts on Hybrids

I have no problem with hybrids. Although I would probably never own one. I love the temperment of a ball, mixing that with the moodyness of other pythons just would not fit in my family.
I would also never own a wold hybrid (I do have small food sized children, and their safety comes first)

But the way I feel is if they will breed when put together, without having to have "help" to do what comes natural, than it "could" happen in the wild (other than those on different continents)

after all wolves are breeding with coyotes, and people want to kill all the hybrids, but that would be nature just evolving.
also polar bears and grizzly bears are creating hybrids.

Although part of me wants man to just stay out of mother natures business.

There are a few words in the english language that I disagree with how they are used.

Nature, natural, and all derivatives thereof.

Humans are animals too, how are we no longer part of the grand scheme that people refer to as "nature"?

I submit that we are indeed a part of nature, and any actions we take are natural(occur in nature). If that somehow is a catalyst for the production of hybrid snakes, python hybridization happens in nature.

Another hybridization issue: I personally think that sterile hybrids are more an abomination than non-sterile hybrids. If you can produce viable offspring of differing "species", their genes are compatible enough for me to feel no moral objections to their creation and existence.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Perhaps because labradoodles are not hybrids? That would be closer to a morph than a hybrid. Labs and Poodles are both domestic dogs.

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I'm not sure about this Theresa. I think a labradoor and a poodle are 2 different species of dogs analogous to a blood python and a ball python both being a different species of python. A black poodle and a white poodle would be more of like a morph pairing. So, I think, technically, it's a hybrid. I'm not sure though, because I'm really not that great with genetics and the like. Where's asplundii when you need him...

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Everyone is entitled to dislike something "just because", and if they have a legit reason, then all the more reason they are entitled to their opinion.

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That's my problem. I can't find a legit reason why my gut-feeling tells me no... I've thought about it a bit after seeing the latest snakebytes episode where they showed the blood/bp mix and I went, huh? Dunno. Keep the thoughts coming guys. This would be a great topic for a friendly debate. I'm totally on the fence on this one.

All domesticated dogs are of the species Canis lupus familiaris, they have been line bred for so long that we have so many different breeds. They may look as different to one another as a ball python and a blood python, but the genetic drift between dog breeds is so minimal that they are considered by the scientific community as the same species, while the genetic differences between various python species is enough to designate them as different species.

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Originally Posted by Bruce Whitehead

I think I may be the only person with snakes that is relatively ambivalent about hybrids?

Ouch, what is that? It hurts... oh it is just a fence post.

Bruce

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Nope :). I like them but... I don't know, it get's complicated quick with Hybrids

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

I have no problems with hybrids. I can see why people are opposed to them, but I dont hear too many people complaining about genetically engineered (aka hybrid in most cases) food crops to keep production efficient. Just my 2 cents.

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Gotta hang out with the hippies in my neighbourhood... they LOSE their minds over that issue.

:)

Bruce

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Humans are animals too, how are we no longer part of the grand scheme that people refer to as "nature"?

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Because aside from ants, humans are the only other species to actively domesticate and purposely breed animals for our use.

We are not of nature anymore, not since we were hunter gatherers. We've gone above and beyond destroying it for our own needs, regardless of the fact that we need nature to survive.

Animals are a part of a chain. They succumb to nature's whims, chance etc.

Humans work to never having to succumb to chance. We do things to nature that would never occur without us. We work to get away from the "cruelty" of nature.

All dog breeds are the same species, therefor mutts are not hybrids.
A pekeneise is the same species as a great dane.
When we've been breeding ball pythons in captivity for about 4000 years, we might have different "breeds" of ball python that are structurally different too.

in 4,000 years can I have a BP with bat wings? or an extended frill along its spine...
Oh heck, just make it a little dragon:D

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

in 4,000 years can I have a BP with bat wings? or an extended frill along its spine...
Oh heck, just make it a little dragon:D

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um...only if you name him puff the magic