Include

[ravensgait]

Quote""IMO there is trying to be close to wildtype or trying to be fake...""

Cris, why do you keep the reptiles you have? Is it because you like the way they look? I like snakes but the ones I keep are the ones I like the looks of.. Here The Ball python Morphs have been all the rage the last number of years. They are where the money has been, big money in some cases as much a 100 thousand dollars if you can believe some of those guys. I kept a few way back when and still have one now and then that I take in on a trade but don't keep them around long as I don't really care for their looks. They come in some killer colors and patterns but their build and duck looking heads just don't do anything for me.. I know of a number of people who keep and breed a number of Balls to finance what they truly love, not something I want to do.

I have some of the rarer animals like Boeleni, some would say they are a status symbol but I have them because they are without doubt about as good looking a snake as I've ever seen and are unusual in temperament as well. I also have a few crosses that I have for the same reason I like the way they look and have bred a few crosses as well such as my Super Nova Jags hey you'd have to have no heart beat to think they were not at the very least interesting looking critters.

I also have a number of what we call types as well as some locality animals and again because I like how they look. I like Coastals but can't say I like the looks of all that I have seen, not much for jungles but have seen a few I like and have a few of them. I noticed a few people in this thread say they only like the wild type looking animals, hey all well and good you like what you like.

Your analogy about dogs well I can't agree that they are morphs as many breeds that have been around awhile were bred for a reason I guess tools fits . The herding breeds, hunting dogs ETC were well, designed and built to do a specific job. People haven't built Morph snakes they have taken what nature made and I guess in some ways designed colors and patterns in them using what was already there. But if you really look at it like that anyone breeding for color and or pattern in any snakes is doing that same thing IE taking something natural and breeding it towards what that person prefers. Same could be said of those breeding Crosses and Hybrids they are trying to make something they like. Anyone breeding snakes is doing the same thing hoping to create something they like.

Some like to throw out the money thing as the reason people breed Crosses and hybrids, Hey in the food industry there is big money in Hybrids and crosses we eat the results everyday. But in snakes there isn't much money to be made with anything much less hybrids and crosses. Sure some few people have made a lot of money of Balls but most just make a little . I am also sure that like in breeding any animal some do it just to see if it can be done and what comes from the breeding.
Yet people accuse those breeding Crosses and Hybrids of doing it all for the money yet these same folks sell the animals they breed so go figure. It all comes down to what you want to have and I feel you should be able to have what you want.. I just don't like seeing people and their animals attacked and insulted because someone else disagrees with what that person likes and has. Randy