Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Jeff

Jeff,
I have no beef with anyone who does this ~ I am just sick of all of the "hyping" of these morphs, I swear sometimes the adds read like a used-car deal, "I don't know why I am selling these beautiful albino snakes... you can have them for $750 / pr"
"Buy these snakes before I come to my senses"

blah blah blah.

The normal colors of the snakes are the prettiest. The only good reason for the albino's, etc is so that more people keep snakes and get interested in them (actually this is just a smoke screen for more $$sales$$ by snake breeders), but if some kid wants a corn snake because it is a freak and is pink with polka dots, well how much does the kid really want the snake and how long will he give it adequate care?

Peter

"The normal colors of the snakes are the prettiest. The only good reason for the albino's, etc is so that more people keep snakes and get interested in them (actually this is just a smoke screen for more $$sales$$ by snake breeders), but if some kid wants a corn snake because it is a freak and is pink with polka dots, well how much does the kid really want the snake and how long will he give it adequate care?"

Peter,
I would have to disagree with your statements........especially on the smoke screen comment. The reason us "breeders" keep and breed morphs is because we are genuinely interested and captivated by them. There are plenty of beautiful morphs out there.....maybe you just haven't given them a chance.

I've been keeping axanthic brooksi for nearly 10 years and they are still my one of my favorite kings. It's not about the money, unless you are trying to recoupe an investment that has already set you in a deep hole.....which I'm sure has happened to a lot of us.

There's nothing wrong with taking the side of the original color, but remember, mother nature made all color morphs in the wild at least once.......maybe not the double recessives. The thing to do is keep what you have a true passion about and things will work out to your benefit either way.

Peace my friend.
Brandon Osborne
Killer "NORMAL" and Killer "MORPH" breeder.

Brandon. I like locality animals as well as morphs. I probably like the normal locality animals more. When I see people mention making money off of snakes I instantly think that person is not in tune with the snake biz as it where. Personaly I strive to break even and it hasn't happened yet LOL.

Keith

I too agree with Brandon and Keith. We breed morphs for the fun of it. It's like Christmas at hatching time. I, personally am not in it for the money. If no one wants to purchase my snakes I would gladly keep everyone of them. I do it for fun and enjoyment, as do most that breed and keep reptiles.
John Lassiter

I agree but I'm not sure why making money on these things is becoming so demonized. Considerable effort goes into a breeding program from careful selection and care of breeders to putting enough effort into marketing so that you place animals into responsible hands. I pay a premium for the animals I buy because I appreciate the effort some breeders go to produced virile and vigorous stock. I don't "pound" my stock to get them producing earlier than they should and I practice selective breeding not unrestrained line breeding. Given the effort I don't think a fair price is a bad thing to ask for the few animals I bring to market. I know that some breeders are highly driven by the profit motive but keep in mind that appreciation for the animals has to come into play for all but a small minority of breeders or else we'd all be doing something else.

As for the root issue here I too have become a bit disillusioned with morph production but not necessarily because I like natural phases better but because value is arbitrarily given to ANY new morph that comes down the pike. Some of these things are not even attractive! This is just my humble opinion but albino eastern kings don't do it for me! Then again neither do many of the "locality" types. Show me a big bold patterned animal with jet black and white white however and I see a beauty. I think we all like the classics but as "collectors" we are also drawn to the unique. I just don't see the value of unique if it's also unattractive. The problem with this of course is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I see as attractive may not blow your skirt up and visa versa. In this regard Brandon's advice is very sage. Work with what you like and you can't go wrong. To this I would add however that nothing is gained by throwing stones at what others do.

Tony, just to use the albino chains as a example, pics can never do them justice. We all know its almost impossible to take a good pic of an albino ANYTHING,lol, but most times you have to see it in person to "get" it. Written descriptions are "overblown" most times because the pics simply dont do the snakes justice. Problem is most times there just arent enough of them around to let everyone SEE the snake(THIS is why you bring your good stuff to Daytona!)to be "moved" by it.It always helps to see the parents...and honestly at least 50% of morphs look worse as adults as their patterns fade and the color becomes monotone. Some dont but most do. Jeff

Peter
I tend to agree with you to a certain point. I too enjoy the normal colors of snakes, most specific, the rats and kings.

But, not everyone likes mother natures natural colors, and that is the beauty of freedom of choice. If someone wants to spend high dollars on a certain color or morph, then more power to them. That is their money and their decision. I wouldnt spend that kind of money on one, however, if my wife were to want a candy cane corn, or a reverse okeetee, or a lavender california king or something else, she could spend however much she wanted.
I just wouldnt. As far as albino, that is natural occuring and I have an albino black rat snake. But if I had the choice between an albino and a normal, the normal would win out everytime.
I personally enjoy the beauty and nuances of each individual naturally occuring colors that mother nature has bestowed on these snakes.
Not a rant or jumping on anyone, just my perspective is all.
Happy herping
Brian Baker

I agree with you in that most of the time I like normals most. However, I do own a couple amels and a few hets. I like having a recessive-het pair because then I have not only the ability to appreciate the beauty of both types but also the ability to produce both.

Van

I am just sick of, as it appears to me, the "pushing" of these morphs. It drives a man crazy.

To each his own, and I guess we all have tons in common anyway since we passionately participate in this forum - I am just splitting hairs. LOL.

If I think Kingsnake Morphs are bad maybe I should take a gander at the Corn Snake forum, eh?

Peter Jolles

Spider Ghost? If anyone can look at that animal and think that it's not as good looking as a normal, well, I just don't know, LOL. Actually I own three normal balls and no morphs and love them all. But many of the 'true' morphs are just beautiful. The same goes for corns. Would balls or corns be as popular as they are if it wasn't for the morphs. Doubtful! Don't get me wrong. I too love normal colored animals. But I also love the morphs (just not when normals are sold as the next new morph.) Just my $.02. Take care, Scott.
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws.
But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
—Martin Luther King Jr