a breeder told me today......

[mainbutter]

I plain don't like how axanthics brown out, but I've never heard of survivability issues. I tend to prefer XANTHIC type animals anyways, so they're the opposite spectrum of my interests

Plenty of people love axanthics, and even more love the combos that they make. Creating an animal that would normally exhibit large amounts of yellow, but then exhibiting the axanthic trait, makes for some killer black-and-white animals with very clean looks to them.

Mojaves saw a big drop in demand a few years ago as lessers/butters became more available, making pure white BEL projects accessible to more people. However it was pretty temporary, and they've made quite a niche for themselves with combos. The coloration they contribute to a phenotype is desirable, and the way that they tend to make WONKY patterns (way more than any other BEL-complex trait) is a bonus to anyone working with them.

Similarly, for a short while the super mojaves, with their grey heads, were seen a bit inferior to pure white BELs. However I think that pleny of people these days just look at a super mojave and think it's every bit as cool as, if just a little different from, pure white BELs such as super lessers.

In addition, the "greying" effect that mojaves have on BEL-complex traits is exactly what makes mystic potions and similar mojave crosses have that wonderful purple coloration and light pattern.

There is certainly interest in mojaves, though I'd say these days that it leans more and more towards combo animals with the mojave trait rather than just your typical mojave phenotype.. but then again the entire ball python hobby is focused on combo animals these days.

There may be some truth in that perhaps the breeder you talked to has a low opinion of mojaves, as everyone has their own interests. I have no interest in them, particularly because of their coloration. I much prefer the tans, yellows, and golds of lessers/butters and will leave it to others to work with the purples and greys that mojaves can contribute. Therefore I have no desire to have a mojave, or indeed any animal that has the mojave allele, in my collection for breeding purposes.

Hope that helps