Quote Originally Posted by Brandon Osborne View Post
I didn't take it as a slam on pieds at all. I was just trying to understand where you were coming from on the idea. Just want to clarify though, pieds were not proven genetic until 1997.

....and to add, snakes are non-migratory, thus inbreeding is a very natural occurance. I've had people argue with me on this subject, but it's exactly how we get locale phenotypes. Ask any diehard grayband keeper. Btw, I did not include this part out of spite. Just wanted to also share my opinion on the negative notion of inbreeding being a problem....which I do not believe in.

Thanks, I think I got 1993 because I believe that's the first year I ever saw an albino ball python ... For some reason it stuck in my head

I don't have a problem with inbreeding, either, as long as it's done intelligently ... For example, if you were to inbreed your "powerhouse" line of piebalds to try and fix those good traits of good appetite and growth rate in your bloodline, I think that would make total sense!

If, on the other hand, a breeder finds herself with a smallish, slow-growing, poor feeding but genetically valuable piebald (say, a super pastel super Enchi clown pied), I would recommend to her that she outcross it to a stronger bloodline rather than keeping back and using his het daughters (even if they are pastel Enchi double het pied clowns ... Which would make it mighty tempting!)