return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research  
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: How a python change the course of Attenbourgh's life . . . . . . . . . .  Make good choices . . . . . . . . . .  Burmese found on roadside in Wisconsin raises issues . . . . . . . . . .  Short interview with Bryan Suson of Sundown Reptiles . . . . . . . . . .  Happy Earth Day . . . . . . . . . .  Kingsnake Merch Store . . . . . . . . . .  Kingsnake returns to Tinley . . . . . . . . . .  kingsnake.com joins Monitor Brains! . . . . . . . . . .  Sneak Peek . . . . . . . . . .  Amphibian gut bacteria showing promise in cancer research . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day . . . . . . . . . .  Meet The Baroness - The world's longest snake . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day . . . . . . . . . .  Updates? . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day . . . . . . . . . .  The mechanics behind the viper strike . . . . . . . . . .  Snakes on a Train? . . . . . . . . . .  Tracking the animals in the Florida Everglades - Meet the Croc Docs . . . . . . . . . .  Reintroduction attempts give San Francisco Garter a second chance . . . . . . . . . .  Promoting Reptiles is Our Jam Man . . . . . . . . . .  Origins of Chytrid discovered . . . . . . . . . .  Wisdom Wednesday - The Forums - The water is warm... Come on in! . . . . . . . . . .  Kingsnake.com Past, Present and Future . . . . . . . . . .  IHS Celebrates 50 years . . . . . . . . . .  End of January 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Fun Fact Friday - Green Tree Monitor . . . . . . . . . .  The Evolution of the Osteoderm discovered . . . . . . . . . .  PACNWRS Expo Jan 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Diamondback discovered in new Texas county for first time . . . . . . . . . .  CRE - May 16-17, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - May 16, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - May 17, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - May 22, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - May 23, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - May 25, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - June 03, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  CRE - Jun. 20-21, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - June 20, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - June 21, 2026 . . . . . . . . . . 

RE: The truth on female Deserts

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Ball Pythons ]

Posted by: dwherp at Tue Mar 8 12:58:49 2011   [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by dwherp ]  
   

T,

You sound like a passionate and reasonably intelligent person. Suppose that we ignore the fact that we don't even know who you are, and entertain the notion that you are speaking honestly. Allow me to provide you with a set of alternate conclusions based upon your alleged observations.



You said that these skinny females you observed were all from one of the two known Desert lines. It also seems obvious that you are not talking about the Pro Exotics/Chiras line. From the many responses you received from those of us having fat and healthy Desert females, it is also clear that the scenario you describe is an isolated event, one that if we are to believe you, is happening in one population of one line if Desert.



There are many things that could cause skinny snakes, some genetic, some not. From the non genetic side: Firstly, they must be provided with sufficient food to maintain good health. Secondly, conditions within the snakes environment must be kept within certain general parameters or the snakes will not thrive. Then, there is always the possibility of contagious disease. Failure to adequately address any of these issues would eventually lead to unhealthy/skinny animals. And yes, skinny females rarely reproduce. When they do, the result is a very small clutch with a high probability of duds.



On the genetic side, and I'm certainly not a specialist in the field, there are also some viable alternate scenarios that that could account for said alleged observations. The first thing that comes to mind, is the fact that there are millions, if not billions, of bits of genetic code that are responsible for creating a ball python. You are focusing all of your attention on the one mutant bit of code responsible for the Desert trait, while ignoring all of the rest! When you realize that the two lines of Deserts each separately originated from single founding animals, you can see how one line could easily suffer from a genetic anomaly that the other does not. You make BIG assumptions, and yes, by jumping way ahead, and not merely presenting an observation, but quickly arriving at your own, probably very bias conclusion, you threaten to unnecessarily hurt a wonderful project... and lots of people.



I, for one, am disgusted by your cowardice. Such an attack, made without the courage to stand up and be accountable is pathetic at best. I'm wondering, if we knew who you are, might we also know the reason why you are so passionate about this cause? Do I sense a grudge?



Dan Wolfe


   

[ Hide Replies ]


>> Next topic:  Hatchrite and my First Ball Eggs - Paige69, Mon Mar 7 14:47:49 2011
<< Previous topic:  hovabator question - ballfreak, Sun Mar 6 12:14:04 2011

https://www.crepnw.com/ Click here to visit Classifieds Click here to visit Classifieds
KINGSNAKE.COM

Enjoy all our content free of charge with a user account that gives you full access to every feature. For added visibility, paid options are available - post in our Classifieds, showcase your business with Banner Ads or a Directory listing, promote reptile events, and more.

Quick Links
Community
Legal & Safety
Support

Register for free ✓ Sign up!

Kingsnake.com ® is a registered trademark © 1997-