>1 - How acceptable/looked down upon is it to cross regional boas?



Some like it; some don't.



>2 - Are certain regions more acceptable to cross (central/south america, etc.)?



As ball pythons do not have subspecies, there is no question of crossing them. Boa constrictors have nearly a dozen subspecies.



I am with Rainshadow as to the benefits of some responsibility in breeding. The following is strictly my opinion.



I am very strongly opposed to crossing subspecies. These include Colombian x Argentine and Colombian x Guyana.



I am stongly opposed to crossing snakes that come from opposite ends of a subspecies range. This would include Sonoran x Colombian.



I am opposed to crossing snake that have a natural barrier that significantly impedes gene flow in the wild. This would include dwarf island forms x mainland individuals.



I am not bothered by Guyana x Suriname, Colombian x Panamanian, or Nicaraguan x Costa Rican. Both members of each cross are in the same subspecies, and the countries of origin are close. Guyana and Suriname are separated by a river for example.



YMMV.



>3 - W/ crossing, do localities get watered down?



Yes! Of course there is almost always some question of locality when animals pass through the international animal pipelines.



Paul Hollander

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