"A certain level of reduced black defines what is and isnt a pastel. Nothing more."

True.

"Why are reduced black boas beneficial?"
Here is my own opinion about that. Again, my own.
I really think Ronne tended twords Pastel animals, in the beginning, because the looked better as adults and didn't muddy up. Plain and simple. (Personally, I hate speaking for others. So, again........This is just my thinking.) The color by-product begain serfacing........And, he liked it. I do know he loves color. So, I think that is the simplistic evolution of the pastel. Again..........My thoughts.

"There may be some boas that are highly reduced black with very little color. Does that mean they are not pastels? Of course not. The function of pastels is to reduce black to allow color to be seen and selectively breed towards it. Breed that highly reduced black pastel to an rather normal boa (normal amounts of melanin) that looks to have a large amount of underlying color and the pastel trait will "unlock" the underlying color from the normal... The melanin can then be further reduced with each generation as well as etherin/xanthin more effeciently increased... a pastel bloodline is developed."

More intelligently written than I could have done. Sounds like a winner to me. Does that mean that guy owes you 1000.00?

"Pastel Dreams - is a PASTEL BLOODLINE. Obviously color (red) is tied to it because thats what jeff bred for.

>>Pastel Phenotype - certain level of reduced black.

>>The significance of the label pastel is in its function.

>>I think the reason we are seeing so many more pastels on the market is because there is so much more selective breeding happening. Everyone now knows that if you want the best normals, you need to reduce black. There will inevitably be an increasing number of them. You can take the label "pastel" that is placed on so many boas now with a grain of salt. Well developed / special pastel bloodlines are another story."

Again, very well written. My only observation is that just because the "bar" for normals has risen should not discount the animal being a pastel. But, I think we are on the same page. Because, those animals would be in my buyer's beware catagory possibly.

John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

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