Doug, we are usually on the same side here so I will go slow to keep you there. First I saw Shannon B. get a real nice hypo pueb in Orlando at the expo back around 95 I think. It would take 2 generations to get any results, lets say thats 4 years befors ANY modifications could be made(99?). Now add to that the fact that pueblans werent even DISCOVERED til the 1980s, and the founder stock has been minimal. Producing hypo pueblans now would be 25 years of inbreeding. Obviously doable. Differetiating patterns? Again, considering the founding stock, the true range of band counts is not likely that accurate. Because these snakes were so related all it would take would be 1 anomalous outlier to produce a "different" look. You, 15 years later, suggest hybridization(that wasnt common in 95)rather than variation?? Doug, inbreeding 10 generations I can tell you I can make a corn look like a milk,king,python or whatever.....just using corn genes.
Without casting the same aspurgones, I posted a thread asking about head pattern on St Marys co. coastals. I questioned it because having seen over 100 from that locale most (about 80%)lacked head pattern. Now I didnt accuse anyone of hybridization, I was openly curious about the prodominence of head pattern (%)lately in the hobby....if it had to do with natural occurance(WC), success in the hobby(genetic manipulation)or what. I got lambasted and I know what St Marys are supposed to look like. I would suggest YOU offer proof rather than asking anyone to prove the negative.
First find those that cross pueb x hondo. Then ask them how far back they have bred them. Usually they do this because they dont have the money to afford "pure" mates. If they dont have the cheese, they certainly couldnt afford a milksnake MORPH back in 95 when they were all huge $$. So if they dont have the genes where did they come from? Recent hybrids? Then you would have to aknowledge the pure ones came first. Otherwise, you are accusing breeders of milksnake morphs in the mid 90s of hybridizing. There werent that many of them, you can count em on both hands. Most are still around, and still have decent reputations. Tread softly.

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