Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In December I purchased a python from Brandon Lockett advertised as a Borneo Short Tail from the Tim Mead line…a recent exam by Kara Glasgow and Dave Barker has determined that the snake is definitely not 100% Borneo, but more likely a Blood/Borneo cross.
I have sent several e-mails and left a phone message for Brandon in an attempt to arrange to return the snake and be reimbursed the purchase price, but have received no response during the last three days. I’m sure he’ll make things right once I get in touch with him, but the situation has me curious: is there any market for such crosses, or is this snake a total loss? I think the markings are distinctive and it has a lot of color contrast.
I am more familiar with the world of true red tails, and I believe it’s accurate to say that with Boas, crosses are a no-no, although Bcc are sometimes very difficult to identify unless a collection site is known.
I would love to hear your opinions on this—
Thanks-
Jim

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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1

I have heard that if there is a row of small scales between the lip scale and the eye, then it is a borneo, if it has a scale that goes all the way up to it's eye, it's a blood python.

I belong to another forum where I asked just this question about my snake (sold as borneo only to find it's a sumatran aka red blood) and got AWESOME answers, if you want this website email/pm me so I can give it to you. kingsnake.com doesn't like to this website.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose, 1.0 red blood

Well since you already know it is a cross (Kara and Dave) My personal decision would be to keep the beautiful animal and never breed it some will say breed away just don't mislead anyone as to what it is and then their are those who may say to destroy the animal before it contaminates the gene pool(harsh)Really it comes down to your decision(hows that for strataling the fence) but seriously I think the biggest thing is to never mislead what it or the offspring are obviously these things happen some would say even in the wild possibly just my .02
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thanks
Kevin
I am lost w/o spell check

It IS a beautiful snake that you have there. Interesting to see how the different characteristics of the borneo and blood come out.

As far as crosses, let's just say that i'm thankful this isn't on the Boa forum What's nice about curtus crosses is that it seems fairly easy to distinguish if the animal is 100% pure. I think it gets more difficult with borneoXblack blood. That's usually what aggravates me, is an animal being misrepresented. As of right now, the curtus family isn't endangered so i don't think there is too much to worry about as far as losing 'true' bloods or borneos, like the issue with Hog Island Boas. But, I do believe these animals have been known to cross in the wild, correct? If that's the case, then my word on the matter would be down to personal preferance.

I agree with what kevin said about the breeder being responsible and honest. As long as the snake is represented as what it really is then i don't have much of a problem with the whole deal.

Personally, I'd rather have a 100% borneo/blood/black than a cross of something. As of now, i don't really mind that others are crossing the animals, i just don't want one in my collection. I'm sure that one you have will make a wonderful pet for someone though.

Hey,
Don't like them, don't believe in them and don't think they should be produced. Why mess with perfection!

-Angel
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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.

I love them both...cross, hybrids or pure blood. Its all about the beauty(for the most part). I currently have 3 pure blacks(2 females and a male) and also have 4 borneo x black crosses from bob clark. Not to mention many, many other reptiles I breed/sell. I love them all and will have babies of pure blacks and borneo x black crosses for sale next year for sure(maybe late this year for 1.1 of the blacks).

Im also working on my own ball x black blood project. I got a perfect male black back ball python that Im goint to attempt to breed to my blacks next year to see if I can get luck enough to get some nice blood x balls with nearly pure black backs(my two females blacks have nearly pure backs also...from jeff h)

IMO, its worth as much as the next pretty snake as long as its not sold as a pure. Sell it as what it is and people will still grab them up(not everybody cares about breeding).

n/p
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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1