Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, apparently intergrades are more natural than hybrids, so do the same ethics apply to them? I mean, crossing natural intergrades would be fun, but idk about the "rules".

IMO, too the purists they have no purpose. Its a man-made animal that has no relevance or existence outside of captivity. Plus the issue of the unwanted animals being sold off as specific subspecies exists (both for hybrid and integrade animals). There are locality buffs that keep and propogate colonies of naturally occurring populations of integrades from specific areas, but do not practice integrading subspecies in captivitiy for the sake of producing a non-natural animal. Its just more or less a no-no. For the folks who practice hybridization/integration, the only rule appears to be the creation of a unique, desirable and marketable animal.

The main argument against it the ethics issue of selling "tainted" babies as pure subspecies.

KevinM

Thanks for the info, yes, that would pose a problem, it could be another version of S373 if it got out of hand. I guess it wouldn't be good, from what I know it's slightly harder to find pure Everglades rats now, thanks to the yellow rats. However,do you agree with an experienced keeper creating and keeping a hybrid, never to breed it? I don't agree with breeding hybrids/intergrades, you can always produce more.

Everglades ratsnakes, Louisiana Pines, etc., etc. There are many examples of tainted bloodlines in captivity due to integradation. Hybridization is a business and I am not personally against it. I have seen some very remarkable and unique snakes. However, I can never justify getting such an animal for fear I may contribute to a growing problem if I bred it. However, I may get one in the future just to keep a really different animal.

You are right, I don't really love seeing everglades/yellow rat intergrades, but they happen in the wild too, so I was just wondering. You're still breeding it in captivity, and it only takes one person to not label it as a mix and ruin a bloodline.