Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All the recent posts about lineage, traits, strains, etc make me wonder if a breeder's association (similar to the AKC for dogs) would benefit the trade.

If things are this confusing now, how will it be in 10 years?

Then again, I'm fairly new here. Maybe this is an old topic that has long been shot down for reasons I've never imagined.

Please explain to me how this would be a benefit and to whom and why?

I don't think a breeders association would help at all because most of these morphs are chopped up from hybrization anyway. I beleive milksnakes and kingsnakes in general are to screwed up to nail anything down. People want to beleive what they want. Just look at some of the S. GA eastern kings that have been a hot topic of heated debate here on this forum. Then there are the hondurans morphs originally from germany which I have inside sources to be hybridized as well. Nelsons milks ect ect...ect , I could go on..

Bottom line a breeders association would just be another way for breeders to make more profit by "using" them. Best thing is do your homework or accept that most of these snakes are hybridized and be happy.

"Please explain to me how this would be a benefit and to whom and why?"

Perhaps no benefit to anyone. My post was intended more as a question for the experts (you and the other high-end breeders), than a suggestion from a rank novice (me).

You are certainly correct that the whole genus is confusing. Perhaps some sort of breeder's association would help, perhaps not. As a non-breeder, I would really have no say ... but I might be more inclined to part with $$$ for an animal with a recognized registration (although personally, I care more about appearance and health than a catchy trade name).

I don't think we need a breeders association.. i just think some people need to relax a bit.

Also, i may not always agree with Zee's opinions.. But, i would seriously doubt that he was trying trick someone in to paying $30 bux for a cal king..

~ mike

I agree, Zee is a good guy and we all call stuff what we want, since there is no standards but what we set.I would hope a p.m. would be sent to a good guy than a rake over the coals by the "big boys". Please be tactful, even if you know everything! (LOL)
Todd Hughes

I agree. I don't think there was any ill intent - the terms can be confusing, and the prices weren't out of line.

A registry might help reduce inbreeding, but so does one breeder asking another where they got their stock before they buy from them. The inbreeding problems, if real, are probably from breeders knowingly inbreeding several generations - not accidentally aquiring snakes that are related.
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3.0 WC; 0.3 CB L. getula californiae
1.0 CB L. getula nigrita
0.1.1 WC; 0.0.3 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

AKC papers in dogs is a joke.

So who would "validate" any papered snake? LOL

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Agreed --- and what would we do? Put leashes on them and run them though courses; jumping fences, etc.?

lol
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

Point to remember, all registered breeds of dogs are man made creations from many generations of selective breedings. If we were to have an association, there will be acceptable “breeds” of snakes with a description of the standard for that breed, or morph or whatever we would call it. It would be helpful in many ways, and it is probably the future. I think what we have now is this forum. We are lucky to have it. Some people remember the days before the internet when all the good juicy morph news was learned by attending a lot of shows and networking in person and in each others snake rooms. When we ask for the story on some morph, we are asking those guys who are now hanging out on here to catch us up on the stuff we were not privy to because we didn’t do the time, shows and years in the hobby. I love to pick those brains so we can catch up a bit to what these old timers (hey no offence, it’s just an expression!) take as common knowledge among themselves. Those stories would have to be accounted for to sort out the origins and the basis for how those future accepted breeds will be classified and categorized.

n/p
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

I have gone old school. I catch most of my own snakes and only buy from what I agree to be the best stuff From you guys here, but all of "MY" lines will have been caught by myself and bred myself to what I choose so I can try to represent my animals to the best of my ability. The rest will be sold as is with info provided about who I got the animals from, in other words, w.c. bred to w.c., c.b. bred to c.b.
Todd Hughes