Hillbilly Snakes? or inbred babies?

[Serpent_Nirvana]

Blackcrystal22's post pretty much sums it up, but I feel like lecturing anyway ... Here's my inbreeding rant:

Inbreeding concentrates genes.

It can concentrate good genes.

It can concentrate bad genes.

It does not just mean breeding brother to sister or parent to offspring. It can also mean that there is a lot of "background inbreeding," meaning that, if you go back in the pedigree, certain names are repeated over and over again.

A LOT of animal breeds (livestock, horse, dog, etc.) have a lot of background inbreeding. This can be so great that a lot of these breeds are more "inbred" than a snake that was produced from breeding parent to offspring, even if the dog, cat, etc., has no "inbreeding" for five generations back. (If you go back further than five, you start to see a LOT of repeat names ...)

Some bad things that can happen with inbreeding include inbreeding depression (generalized "poor doer" offspring, poor fertility, etc.) or the uncovering of a hidden detrimental recessive trait, such as having no eyes. In a way, though, the "uncovering" of really bad recessive genes isn't such a terrible thing, because then you know it's in that bloodline and can work towards eliminating it, or else cull the line entirely. (If you always outcross, you may end up spreading the gene all over the place before you realize it.)

The opposite of inbreeding depression is heterosis, AKA "hybrid vigor."

The advantages of inbreeding include "fixing" good traits in a bloodline, and more consistent results when breeding.

Inbreeding is going to concentrate good genes and bad, so if you're inbreeding make sure it's a very good quality line. It is a tool, to be used judiciously.

Aaaaaand that's my rant.