Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It seems that there are quite a few people crossing Hypos and other RTBs with Hog Islands lately (at least more are advertising) And I was just wanting to see what the general opinion of this practice was like.
Personally I don't really agree with crossing an animal that has no wild population left but this is just my opinion.
What do you all think.
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2.13 Leos
0.4 Hog Island Boas
0.1 Okeetee corns
2.0 Northern Blue tongues
0.1 Ball python
0.1 Colombian Redtail Boa
1.2 Wonderful Mutts
1.0 Rat

I personally have no problem with the crosses. As long as they are advertised as such then they are great for making more colorful animals..
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
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Although I respect your thoughts on not crossing snakes that have such few in the wild, but my response would be this.
The ones in the wild are just that.......in the wild. It is not like the ones here that are being bred could be returned to the wild anyway.
As far as specifically talking of Hoggs, I see no problem with it when bred to COlumbians. They are both BCI's anyway. Not like we are talking a sub species of BCI bred by BCC's or something. Yes, I know this is being done as well, but just sticking to the point you brought up.
I have kept Colubrids as well although it has been a while and I do not spend any time on those forums, but with that said I ask you this.
How do you feel about some of the Corn morphs out there? Some are created by breeding an Emory and a Corn. No different than what we see in the boa world. Emorys and Corns are darn near the same snake.
I used to disagree with doing such breedings as we see in the boas (Argentine X Columbian, Columbian X Suri, etc.), but then I thought about it and I go back to my first point in this post. They could not be returned to the wild anyway. As long as the animals are cared for the way they deserve to be, I see no problem with it.
The problem with your arguement about lower numbers in the wild has nothing to do with captive breeding. That is more of a point to be made with continously importing so many snakes (or any animal) when there are PLEANTY here in captivity already to work with.
Lastly, the arguement then could be that it is done to diversify the bloodlines and to make these genes stronger and I understand that as well. Just think the number of snakes coming into the captive market could be lowered a bit. This way we could still get the diverse blood we look for as well as give the wild population a chance to grow the way it should.
Just a thought or two.
Be good!
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@cox.net

[give the wild population a chance to grow the way it should.]

To the best of my knowledge and the extent of my research on the net there are no wild populations of Hogs.
To me this is why this animal should be kept to a pure bloodline and not crossed.
But this is just my opinion.
It's truly a shame Hogs are classified as BCI when they are so different.
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2.18 Leos
0.4 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Okeetee corns
2.0 Northern Blue tongues
0.1 Ball python
0.1 Colombian Redtail Boa
1.2 Wonderful Mutts
2.2 Rats

a responsible thing to do with a population of boas that is so small. I also do not see the point of it. There are pure colombian hypos with more color than any of the hog crosses. You just have to have good stock and work a little.

Just my humble opinion, Chris Canada-Smith

I have a beautiful pair of hoggs and have absolutely no intention of crossing them. I have a couple of problems with crosses. Creating a cross, unknown look, and possibly ending up with something that is completely undesirable. Then what?, put them down? Wholesale them out? Also, out of respect for a very reputable breeder, a purist that helped me out when I first got into this hobby, I won't produce a mutt. At least, not knowingly. Someone elses project will get ruined and more crosses will be the result. Just imagine working on a project for 2-3 or more years only to find out that your beautiful hogg is not pure. Look at all the bad stories out there with hets that are not, dbl hets that are not, look at the ball python ads, etc. One of your crosses is likely to ruin someones project.
However, just like I received help from the purist breeder, learned from him, and understood the possible damage from a cross, I RESPECT another breeders choice.

Just my opinion.

No new genetic material being imported = the eventuallity of animals that have been inbred and integrated with other species. Most breeders are honest...but what about the ones who will not be?

Chris