"I thought I remembered you authored an article on the chocolate chip black rat snake?"

Not exactly. I once wrote an article featuring Pantherophis obsoletus morphs for a Dutch herpetocultural magazine, in which I merely mentioned it's existence.

"Either way, the original visual animal perished in a heater acident in the late 90's (97-98 I believe)and others have said that "hets" were produced but I have never seen any others produced."

So I've heard. To me, but maybe that's just silly old me, losing a morph this unique in a way this blatantly negligent, seems rather odd, especially when considering it's commercial potential. But then again, happens.

"Still seems like a very long reach to get to the destination you are headed for."

Probably, yes. But then again, destination isn't defined by distance alone. There's also direction.
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I'm Dutch. Somebody shoot me.