Again, in the wild this would be a problem. But at 5 years old, I don't see any problem with promoting a new dynamic in the species. If it weren't supposed to happen, it wouldn't. but you seem to think that the snake is withering away and dying. And, oddly enough, I have seen every other snake I own stike into the air or at the glass, but have yet to see this one do it. He eats fine and is easily handled by myself.
So by insinuating that the snake is being mishandled in anyway or being mistreated in anyway or made to have a miserable existence, is an extremely crude assumption. It is assanine to think that this animal should not exist or be researched and studied, because IT DOES EXIST. Like it or not. The "defect" as you refer to, my opinion (and quite a few other extremely experienced herpers).
As to the albino comment, most albinos do not survive in the wild because as juveniles they become easily seen and eaten by natural enemies and predators? So if they have little to no chance to survive in the wild, why breed them? I want to study the animal and see the affects of an eyeless existence. Moral or not, as I said, the animal does exist and in captivity has thrived.
People have continously bred albinos in order to gain clutches with new patterns that have never existed simply to procur more strains and morph patterns to sell.
If what I am doing is to put in a poor context "Playing God"., then so is every other breeder who has bred any animal in order to fascinate "their morbid fascination" at what strain they can then create.
Everyone seems to see this as a bad thing, I see it as the next step in a natural evolution that has come from the natural genetics of the animal. these animals did not come from a labaratory where some evil scientists was splicing genes to produce it. Mother nature created it. So why not study it? You call it a deformity, I call it one of the most beautiful snakes I've seen. Anaturally occuring rarity, created by nature not by me.
I do understand everyones opinion, but believe, I am not money driven. If I were I would have stuck to breeding bloods with my buddy Pete.
If you don't think the animal deserves to live and that it shouldn't be allowed to breed. Go find someone who has blind child and tell them that they shouldn't be allowed to breed because they're eyes are of no use and they carry the gene. The child will learn to live in their surronddings (as has my snake), the child will live a long healthy life (as has my snake) and be seen as a truelly beautiful child (as I do my snake).
I'm sorry if what everyone thinks that this snake is a deformity and should not be bred, but it is opinion. And that is mine.
Thank you all for your responses.
Happy herping.
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