First off, I believe strongly that they should NOT be bred!!

IMO there are two leading causes for birth defects:

1) Gestational problems. Typically from what I've heard temps to hot or cold can lead to babies with problems.

2) Genetic problems. Face it, on one hand we are directly breeding FOR genetic defects. All of the morphs are random genetic mutations. Those that do not hinder the snakes ability to survive in the wild are found more often like anerythristic and all the pattern morphs. Albinism severly cripples the individual animals ability to hide and therefore in the wild almost all are eaten. With the Kahl strain, all Kahl albino's are descended from the original animal Pete bought. Depending on how inbred (or outcrossed) the two paired animals are, the litter can be more or less inbred. The use of Hets, does imply at least some unrelated blood. Inbreeding, while giving us the genetic defect we want, also can give us defects we don't want. There are MANY, MANY cases of albino to albino breedings where there are no problems. Where the problems do come from are 1) breeding pairs that are too closely related. and 2) Gestational problems. I have read here on the forum where some breeders are having sucesses by keeping albino females a couple of degrees warmer to compensate for thermoregulating issues related to albinism. Simply put, albino's have a harder time absorbing heat.

Two years back I had two Rainbow Boas with tail kinks (one severely, folded in half). Both were post vent (barely), I let those two animals eat and grow. Both grew out of the kinks and were eventually sold as pets only that had been born with a tail kink. Neither were sexed while in my possession, I felt it was unnecessary and could have been dangerous to the animals spine.



>>Just wondering if anyone know what causes birth defects such as kinks, missing eyes, etc. Also, can those animals live healthy lives? Can they potentially be bred? Thanks for the info
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
10.22 BRB
10.15 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

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