Inbreeding

[infernalis]

Similar rules apply to garter snakes. Many albinos from different bloodlines are not compatible.

[jere000]

Similar rules apply to garter snakes. Many albinos from different bloodlines are not compatible.

Were those bloodlines ever compatible?

[MasSalvaje]

Were those bloodlines ever compatible?

No. The reason they are not compatable is because the "albino" gene/s is/are found on different alleles, it has nothing to do with inbreeding that I am aware of (That goes for the boa strains as well).

Just as inbreeding can bring out the recessive traits some of us are looking for (i.e. color morphs), it can also bring out deleterious or undesired traits that are already in the gene pool as well.

I also haven't noticed deformities at any higher rate in garters than in other species. We see birth deffects more but I believe that is because with "live" birth we see it whether it lives or not, that would apply to the boas as well. I would guess those same defects are there at the same rate in most snake species, we just don't see the evidence because if an egg goes bad we throw it away before actually taking a look at what is inside.

To my knowledge I have never inbred any of my snakes (I attribute that to not having any unique specimens or lines), but I am in no ways against it. I think we too often look at inbreeding in general as a moral issue instead of what is actually taking place at a biological level. We try to lable it good or bad when in all reality it can be good, bad, both, or niether all in the same clutch.

-Thomas

[infernalis]

I think we too often look at inbreeding in general as a moral issue instead of what is actually taking place at a biological level. We try to lable it good or bad when in all reality it can be good, bad, both, or niether all in the same clutch.

-Thomas

Very well said Thomas. Excellent post / point.

[gary27]

Personal opinion here: All inbreeding should not be lumped together. Some are much "tighter" than others. Descending order, again only my opinion:
1. Full siblings 2. Mother to son 3. Father to daughter 4. Half brother to Half sister 5. Grandfather to grandaughter....etc.
4 and 5 on down (cousin to cousin) are the only ones I would make. Also, at the risk of sounding obvious here, the only purpose of inbreeding is to tighten up a trait, and then outcross it to an unrelated individual in hopes of increasing the production of the desired trait. In other words, the purpose of inbreeding is the production of brood stock, and the resulting mental and physical deformities are a trade off. This is why people inbreed, and is as far as i am concerned, the only valid reason to inbreed.....Gary