The idea of producing hybrids in captivity is of course not new and in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Orchid growers have been producing complex hybrids for over a hundred years. But orchid growers (for the most part) have also kept very detailed records about the lineage of each cross. In addition, orchid species and identifiable regional variants have been closely and carefully preserved so that they are not lost in the bewildering universe of crosses.
This has not been the case with reptile keepers who have produced so many crosses and mutations in snakes in the past thirty years that now the Big Fear of ecologists have come true--these mutts are being released into the wild to screw up native snake genes. Whether intentional or not, corn snakes and kingsnakes that possess multiple mutation gene mixes common to the 'designer morph' craze have now been found in Florida in numerous locations.
It is an undeniable fact that many garage breeders of boas, pythons and colubrid snakes have proved that they are not the most responsible people in the world. Just take a look at the pythons in the Everglades if you need further proof.
EricIvins makes a good point when he says that hybrid tortoises are not likely to be overrunning the reptile trade any time soon. But his idea that since most people don't really know exactly where their tortoises came from, trying to maintain identifiable locality types is nothing more than 'chest thumping' is overly simplistic and demeaning. He is an animal dealer and no doubt has seen thousands of imported tortoises from more or less identifiable places. I'm pretty sure EricIvins could see a group of imported red-footed tortoises and tell you with great accuracy what country they were exported from. Does that mean there are no interlopers from somewhere else mixed in, or no unusual animals in that group that don't fit the general phenotype of that region? Of course not. But in general an experienced person has a good idea.
I've been involved with imported tortoises since the 1960s when my uncle worked for Bill Chase in Miami. I spent countless hours at Pet Farm, Chase's, Chapman's and the many other smaller importers. I was at Pet Farm when the first major shipment of the so called cherry-head (about 3500 animals) red-footed tortoises came in. Believe me, although there are exceptions, I can pretty much tell you what the most commonly imported red-footed tortoises look like. I don't need to know exactly what plot of land each animal came from to be a responsible breeder-- and that isn't chest thumping. I guess I could play dumb as some folks on this and other forums have done in the past and say, "Aw shucks, I didn't check their passports and a redfoot is just a redfoot, so I'll just breed my cherryhead to this Colombian. Duh, they look exactly the same to me anyway."
OK, I know that this isn't what most of you are saying. But some have.
Having said all of this (and gotten it off my thumped chest), I do agree with EricIvins about the idea that a leopard X sulcata cross might be the best pet tortoise going in the future. That might just be true and I'm not against people producing them. I sure hope these animals are clearly identified and not sold as 'dark' leopard tortoises or sulcatas 'with some spots' though. But seeing what has happened with designer snakes doesn't make me feel that hopeful.
This has not been the case with reptile keepers who have produced so many crosses and mutations in snakes in the past thirty years that now the Big Fear of ecologists have come true--these mutts are being released into the wild to screw up native snake genes. Whether intentional or not, corn snakes and kingsnakes that possess multiple mutation gene mixes common to the 'designer morph' craze have now been found in Florida in numerous locations.
It is an undeniable fact that many garage breeders of boas, pythons and colubrid snakes have proved that they are not the most responsible people in the world. Just take a look at the pythons in the Everglades if you need further proof.
EricIvins makes a good point when he says that hybrid tortoises are not likely to be overrunning the reptile trade any time soon. But his idea that since most people don't really know exactly where their tortoises came from, trying to maintain identifiable locality types is nothing more than 'chest thumping' is overly simplistic and demeaning. He is an animal dealer and no doubt has seen thousands of imported tortoises from more or less identifiable places. I'm pretty sure EricIvins could see a group of imported red-footed tortoises and tell you with great accuracy what country they were exported from. Does that mean there are no interlopers from somewhere else mixed in, or no unusual animals in that group that don't fit the general phenotype of that region? Of course not. But in general an experienced person has a good idea.
I've been involved with imported tortoises since the 1960s when my uncle worked for Bill Chase in Miami. I spent countless hours at Pet Farm, Chase's, Chapman's and the many other smaller importers. I was at Pet Farm when the first major shipment of the so called cherry-head (about 3500 animals) red-footed tortoises came in. Believe me, although there are exceptions, I can pretty much tell you what the most commonly imported red-footed tortoises look like. I don't need to know exactly what plot of land each animal came from to be a responsible breeder-- and that isn't chest thumping. I guess I could play dumb as some folks on this and other forums have done in the past and say, "Aw shucks, I didn't check their passports and a redfoot is just a redfoot, so I'll just breed my cherryhead to this Colombian. Duh, they look exactly the same to me anyway."
OK, I know that this isn't what most of you are saying. But some have.
Having said all of this (and gotten it off my thumped chest), I do agree with EricIvins about the idea that a leopard X sulcata cross might be the best pet tortoise going in the future. That might just be true and I'm not against people producing them. I sure hope these animals are clearly identified and not sold as 'dark' leopard tortoises or sulcatas 'with some spots' though. But seeing what has happened with designer snakes doesn't make me feel that hopeful.
