Breeding a redtail to a rainbow???

[Evenstar]

Kali, the intention was not to be rude, but to point out that comparative ethics are a slippery slope.

I understand, but it did come across that way. We can all keep things friendly here. This post is much better, thanks!

We have epicrates to eunectes crosses, lampropeltis to elaphe crosses and python to aspidites crosses. It's nothing new and the ethical dilemma is a big jump for someone like me who believes in attempting to preserve locality animals.

However considering that this discussion is taking place on a ball python forum, I am amused that some people don't see that ethical jump between breeding regius for morphs to produce unique and aesthetically pleasing color or pattern combinations is spitting distance from doing the same thing with species outcrosses.

I do not consider myself a member of the ball python community to be honest. I only have 2 balls - both of which will never be bred as they were rescues. A member of THIS community, BP.net, absolutely - because it is the best, most informative, helpful, and KINDEST community for herp-lovers on the internet. I do not agree with the over-breeding of balls to produce these "unique and aesthetically pleasing" color morphs that have all these issues. It sickens me. Am I a locality purest who feels hybrids should NEVER be bred? No. I do not agree with hybrids, but I'm not a purest who preaches it on the hilltops. I just simply expressed my opinion here.

Claiming that it's acceptable to line breed within a species for the sole benefit of aesthetics is not morally superior to doing the same thing outside of a species.

I have never made that claim - although I'm sure there are some folks who have, unfortunately.

Somewhere, a long time ago on a forum far far away, some video game playing, porno addicted, self appointed know it all decided to decree that "if it can't happen in the wild, then it shouldn't happen in the rack." You have quoted the basis of the anti-hybrid argument for the last decade. Problem is, is that most of captive herpetoculture doesn't adhere to that rule. We have people breeding ball python morphs that do not occur in the wild, we have boa outcrosses that do not occur in the wild and now we have people doing the same with countless other "pure" species.

I am not a fan of hybrids. I just get a laugh at the morph crowd in their crystal mansion tossing rocks at the hybrid mob in the waterford palace.

I will certainly agree with you on this point. And if this is what you meant by your last post, then I appologize for misunderstanding. One cannot convey the intonations of voice in text, which is why it's important to be careful. Thank you for the explanation!