Jamie, I pretty much agree with everything you have to say in that last post. I too much prefer a natural looking python over these shmancy looking morphs, again as you said, just my preference. Thats where I would ultimatley like to go with my breeding (when & if it happens), pythons that closely as possible represent what you would find in the bush. To me they`re perfect as they are. I also see that we need morphs to progress and promote the hobby. I don`t knock anyone who does like or breeds them, good on you for taking herptoculture to new heights.
I am also not trying to degrade any breeders, just pointing out that the line in the sand between whats called a diamond and whats called an intergrade is very blurry. I mean really, exactly what is a "Gosford Intergrade Diamond"? This is what I was banging on about in the early part of this thread, instead of telling a newbie that they`ve bought the wrong thing, why don`t we ask the breeders the tough questions?
I have 4 intergrades and embarrassingly can`t tell you anything about them. This is partly from my niave, indiscriminent purchasing when I first got into the hobby. I love those snakes though and can`t part with them, but if I breed them I am already wrestling with the problem of what to advertise them as because they were sold to me as intergrades but I really wouldn`t have a clue what bloods in there. I think there is an incredible number of "intergrades" out there that are simply diamond cross carpet but because they are undesirable ( though very beautiful a lot of the time) they are sold as intergrades.
I commented on another thread some time back the term intergrade should be replaced with something else, maybe more locality based such as Port Mac, Coffs Coast, Northern Diamond, Port Stephens Diamond etc. I`m no expert so I would love some others who are more qualified to give some input, maybe its a stupid idea that will blur things more!
Can I leave you with some pics to show how hard it can be for newcomers purchasing snakes. This fellow was sold to me as a diamond, I agree that if I was more knowledgable I would have had reservations about his pedigree due to him and his parents displaying a lot of carpet/coastal influence.
Now some shots of his parents that I was told were Port Stephens locality diamonds.
Of course looking at them now I can see they have a strong carpet influence and would by most people be called intergrades but my point is that the guy who bred him, and I mean no ill toward him, very experienced breeder, extremely helpful before, during and after the sale and I still chat with him occasionally, is very strong in his opinion that they are pure diamond and not intergrades.
There are a couple other examples on APS recently where people have posted there young "pure" diamonds that look more like intergrades. But it seems in some of those cases because the OP is a long time member no one questions them.
I know some people are sick of this diamond/intergrade debate but it needs to continue to try to properly define what makes a diamond and what makes an intergrade.
Thats my rant!
