[Dogboa]

We've gotten out of breeding, but I never tried inbreeding for traits. I now have only one CBB female northern. Our most success was with basin ETBs. 2008 and 2009 pretty much shut us down.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by clutchcargo777

I've never been interested in purposely bred morphs of any species. You see so many people bragging about their carrot tail sunglow tremper raptor whatever gecko it's ridiculous. Oddly enough, some of the highest dollar leopard geckos available right now are wild type with a verifiable bloodline back to wild caught. In other words a plain vanilla lizard that's pretty rare. I tend to appreciate what nature has perfected more then what people have cooked up in a few generations.

Agree. I do understand that zealots can get sucked into coveting some artificially-created morph for bragging rights (I have one, you don't, I can afford to throw money away on one, you can't) but don't find myself doing so. Part of what is so fascinating about natural diversity is the underlying genetic advantage different traits happened to provide. Take veiled chameleons for example. One recent genetic fad is "translucency". Why on earth would you deliberately select away from one of the most unique characteristics chameleons possess? The ability to display and to alter their color? Those poor things look like burn victims. Have to bite my tongue when someone shows off their overpriced sad-looking acquisition.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by Parnassia

Agree. I do understand that zealots can get sucked into coveting some artificially-created morph for bragging rights (I have one, you don't, I can afford to throw money away on one, you can't) but don't find myself doing so. Part of what is so fascinating about natural diversity is the underlying genetic advantage different traits happen to provide. Take veiled chameleons for example. One recent genetic fad is "translucency". Why on earth would you deliberately select away from one of the most unique characteristics chameleons possess? The ability to display and to alter their color? Those poor things look like burn victims. Have to bite my tongue when someone shows off their overpriced sad-looking acquisition.

Couldn't agree more. It's human nature to meddle with everything I guess. On the same subject as the translucent veiled chameleons are the scaleless morphs in snakes and bearded dragons. Burn victims is a perfect description. These poor things can't stand light and tear their skin easily. Unreal.