Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There has been much debate and hostility on this subject among boa keepers.

My thoughts are as such:

Very few locality specific and insular forms are ever collected and these form the basis for captive breeding programs. Genetically, is there any difference between line breeding 2 or 3 insular boas over many generations or selective breeding to produce a ghost boa? Both examples produce genetically weaker animals.

Will captive produced insular or local specific boas be ever used for reintroduction into the wild? very doubtful...but the hope is they will be preserved by responsible breeders for educating future generations. Documented local specific boas are a good way of representing Central & South Americas biodiversity and I as well as many are very grateful that some breeders have strived to keep these localities intact.

How about color and pattern morphs? we keep boas because in some way shape or form they enrich our lives, so if producing a snow boa does that for you, all the power to you my friend. And if producing Corn Island boas is your thing, ditto.

All boas that exist in captivity are for all intense and purposes "biologically dead", and we must not forget this. There are 3 types of breeders:
1. locality
2. color and pattern morphs
3. irresponsible breeder

1 & 2 share a common bond and should respect each others accomplishments even if they don't share the same interests, 3 is the boa keepers enemy, these are the people that should be treated with hostility.

For the record I enjoy locality specific boas, and have a fair size collection, but I have nothing against "the other guys"

Chris

that is "intents and purposes"

I hate making spelling errors!!!

but one thing

"Very few locality specific and insular forms are ever collected and these form the basis for captive breeding programs. Genetically, is there any difference between line breeding 2 or 3 insular boas over many generations or selective breeding to produce a ghost boa?"

all albinos are related, and trace back to the sharp or kahl original animals, all 2 of them. same with anerys and hypos etc.
there are hundreds of surinams and guyanas, and columbian, and peruvian, and central americans, etc imported each year (if not more).eventually, all those in captivity will essentially become related, but they trace back to a diverse wild population.
while no more hoggs or argentines and maybe a few other subspecies and localities will be imported.. alot of other localities are imported on a regular basis, and will continue to do so for at least a few more years (you never know, we dont have long before theyre all gone in the wild.)

i deffinatley agree with your post, and i do respect breeders of all rights, to each is own... if you wanna cross a girrafe with a great white shark, go ahead, i would never, and if you asked id say dont, but i dont jump on anyones back if they do. i do however think that the captive populations of locality animals is much more geneticlly diverse, as its pulling from a much larger pool.

anyone out there feel free to correct me where im wrong, these are just my opinions as they stand.

sean

"all albinos are related, and trace back to the sharp or kahl original animals, all 2 of them. same with anerys and hypos etc."

I totally agree but many breeders are working to strengthen the genetics of these animals by bredding to normals and hets. In time these animals will be stronger and stronger not weaker than the originals.

What I liked most in your posting was the subdivision in the three kind of breeders. I agree with you. *smile*

Regarding the loss of genetic variety (and weakening) in insular boas: Isolated insular forms of Boa constrictor never had a chance to refresh the gene-pool. And this thousands of years. And they still exist and they are not weak even some of these islands are pretty small. So I don't like to follow your reasoning in this point.

Next thing: Why should a weakening take place in boas from the mainland? Because they are from the mainland and not from an island? In my opinion problems will only occur if genetic defects are immanent and fostered by inbreeding like it occured in albinos etc.

You are right: Captive born boas will never be released in the wild. So the whole thing just depends on the point of view:

First point of view:
I try and do my best to keep the boas pure like they occur in the wild in order to preserve such animals for future generations, so that the children of our childrens children can have such an animal in the flesh.

Second point of view:
In the history of our planet thousands of species had been extinct. Who cares about another species?

OK. I am just a firm supporter of opinion #1.

The already extisting morphs and crosses are OK and they have a fan community. So the skilful guys who breed those animals should carry on but refrain from using pure boas for their projects.

If this would be realizable a lot of more peace and understanding would enter our hobby, I think.
Boa constrictor

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