Mongrel Ball

[icygirl]

Ya I don't care.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Not saying you are coming at me. But I know what you mean.

O well.

I find them interesting.

I doubt anyone would jump on you for posting a link. It's not like you came in saying "I love hybrid balls, we should all make hybrids all the time."

I wouldn't buy a hybrid simply cause I like my animals to be pure, species- and subspecies-wise.

[qiksilver]

The only problem I'll ever have in hybridization is if it's painful or causes deformities (proven to).
Which then, I think it is just wrong to breed them at all if you know it's inhumane.

Anyway, I personally don't care for this ball.. some of them are unique, and others are normal looking. The unusual ones look like they could be weird normals too.. meh.

Actually... If anything it would probably lessen the risk of deformity due to outcrossing a line as well as hybrid vigor. That being said, I don't really condone it, and if you don't know why, try to find a pure argus monitor, or a pure darwin albino carpet in the states.

[blackcrystal22]

Actually... If anything it would probably lessen the risk of deformity due to outcrossing a line as well as hybrid vigor. That being said, I don't really condone it, and if you don't know why, try to find a pure argus monitor, or a pure darwin albino carpet in the states.

Aha, like I said.
I have no problem with it if it's a positive outcome!
But horses and zebras have only had one surviving baby for a reason.. the rest were severely deformed or stillborns.

I prefer pure-breeds of animals, (excluding dogs, cause the work pure-breed doesn't even make sense considering DOG is a breed..)
but maybe in the future I would look into getting a neat hybrid, or getting one that is healthier and a stronger new species.

[papaK]

i hate the fact that it's got a morph name and then "ball" after it.... i know it has a description that says it's 2/3 this and 1/3 that but i'd hate for someone to not know and muddy things up.

[RandyRemington]

The part I don't like is that as soon as the initial cross was made the decision was already made for future herpers that they can't be sure they have a ball python. Only the 2nd generation the records are getting muddied (aren't these 3/4 ball and 1/4 blood?) and some of them could pass for pure balls. I'm sure in another generation if not this some of them will be lost completely into the captive ball population. A few years down the road one of their more odd decedents could be picked out as a possible new ball morph and years might be wasted trying to bring it to market.

[RockingRoyals]

The part I don't like is that as soon as the initial cross was made the decision was already made for future herpers that they can't be sure they have a ball python. Only the 2nd generation the records are getting muddied (aren't these 3/4 ball and 1/4 blood?) and some of them could pass for pure balls. I'm sure in another generation if not this some of them will be lost completely into the captive ball population. A few years down the road one of their more odd decedents could be picked out as a possible new ball morph and years might be wasted trying to bring it to market.

That´s exactly what i was thinking. Back in the days it was the same story with Cornsnakes. Beginners easily buy a hybrid snake without knowing it and a couple of years later they breed their hybrid male to a pure Ball Python and as long as the hybrid male is involved, the line isnt pure.

[MarkS]

The part I don't like is that as soon as the initial cross was made the decision was already made for future herpers that they can't be sure they have a ball python. Only the 2nd generation the records are getting muddied (aren't these 3/4 ball and 1/4 blood?) and some of them could pass for pure balls. I'm sure in another generation if not this some of them will be lost completely into the captive ball population. A few years down the road one of their more odd decedents could be picked out as a possible new ball morph and years might be wasted trying to bring it to market.

This is EXACTLY the reason I don't like hybrids. Many of those on that page could pass for normal ball pythons but will still carry many genes from their blood python side and eventually throw a monkey wrench into somebodies breeding project who thinks they are working with pure ball pythons.

Also, there is no such thing as a 3/4 ball or 2/3 ball python. The hybrid parent will have exactly 50% of it's genes from the ball python side, and exactly 50% of it's genes from the blood python side. But when the hybrid parent produces sex cells through the process of meiosis, it's a 50/50 shot to determine what side each gene gets it's genetic background from. Each sperm or egg cell produced can get anywhere between 0%-100% of it's genes from one side or the other. It is possible though extremely unlikely for one sperm to have 100% of it's genetic material from the ball python side, and it's equally possible for the next sperm to have 100% of it's genetic material from the blood python side. When you're talking about the millions of sperms being produced, each one carrying half the genetic material for millions of different genes you can have any percentage from either half of the hybrid that you can imagine. That's why 2nd generation hybrids are so extremely variable and unpredictable. And if you do get something interesting, it's very likely that it will NOT breed true.

[Sputnik]

This is EXACTLY the reason I don't like hybrids. Many of those on that page could pass for normal ball pythons but will still carry many genes from their blood python side and eventually throw a monkey wrench into somebodies breeding project who thinks they are working with pure ball pythons.

That's the scary part as I see it.... these have the potential to be wolves in sheep's clothing.

[ShawnT]

Just like what is happening to Morelia.....all the crosses out there you don't know if you have a 100% jungle / diamond / Jag etc.

[fattielumpkin]

I don't like the idea of this at all, though that is just for me. to all you out there who like hybrids , do it up. But I agree it is scary how easily this could be mistaken for a ball and sent into the market.