What exactly are you hoping to achieve by breeding snakes with genetic defects?
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I have no breeders with one/no eye, and I am not breeding for this trait. If I did, it would be to prove my hypothesis that this defect is not Genetic at all. So no, Iām not breeding for defects, genetic or otherwise.
So what kind of experiments are you conducting? Iām having a hard time trying to see exactly what point you are trying to make. I simply stated I donāt breed snakes with defects.
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My point is that this defect seems to be environmental, or unavoidable and not genetic, hence it having nothing to do with either of the parents or any pair at all that you might choose to breed. Iām not conducting any experiments because I do not wish to produce animals with defects. If I wanted to design an experiment to test what truly causes this defect - one might pair snakes known to show the defect, then pair those offspring, along with DNA assays taken of all subjects for comparison - or what I suspect would yield positive results - subjecting eggs to subpar incubation temperatures or conditions (hot, cold, moving the eggs, etc) Brandon has demonstrated some of these type of experiments he has conducted above. Personally I care too much for every potential baby to attempt skewing with my process for the sake of experiment. So I guess these are more mental, what if, experiments for me.
So your not doing experiments then?
Mental experiments arenāt very scientific
Everything we do is an experiment in that sense. This year I lowered my incubation temp half a degree. Thatās an experiment. I believe it will yield positive results in contrast to say āraising temps 5 degrees to determine effects on eye formationā. We should always be performing little āexperimentsā with our collections, that is how changes and advancements are made. I conduct plenty of āexperimentsā this particular one is a mental exercise because I am not carrying it out, besides maybe the converse situation. I was replying because you said āWhy even take the chanceā - and I think it would be valid to take such chances in the name of learning and saving future offspring from such conditions. What if you avoid breeding those pairs forever and continue to hatch no eyed snakes, because it isnāt genetic, then there would be no good done, and no discovery of the mechanism for deformity.
You gave the impression you were personally conducting scientific research.
I believe that I am, I believe that you should be too, I believe ethical experimentation serves our community well and we shouldnāt shy away from every possibility. Thatās all! Not looking to cause any extended trouble hereā¦
Scientific or mental research?
Research, trials, observation, discussion of anything pertaining to the species etc.
Ok I donāt personally believe it is ethical to breed snakes with visible defects this is my personal opinion therefore since Iām not a scientist Iām not going to conduct research. I will leave that to actual scientist.
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I would agree if it were proven that these defects are genetic and inheritable, and was proposing scientific methods by which we might come to this conclusion. I prefer to do all I can to obtain the highest level of understanding about these animals I have dedicated my life to rather than wait for the answers from others. Iād rather be part of the journey that speeds up the solution. Hopefully we can end it here and agree weāre both on the side of ethics and defect free thriving healthy animals for the future?
And I prefer to leave that to actual scientist. I will stick with breeding the healthiest specimens I produce and not pass on defects into my collection or others.
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And if one of those healthy specimens produces 1 no eyed snake out of 10 perfect clutches, what will you assume? I would assume it had nothing to do with genetics, hence why Iām here searching for and advocating for what I believe to be the true issue at hand - hopefully sparing you or anyone from no eyed snakes in the future. As in my personal experience they can arise in any group of animals regardless of a genetic component.
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I would not repeat that pairing. Same reason I stopped pairing super cinny.
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We all can agree that the conditions of artificial incubation should be much more stable than maternal incubation in the wild, thus removing the selective pressure for the babies having a healthy development despite the barely adequate enviroment.
Lots of very broad assumptions being displayed here.
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Thank you, that is a vital point because standards are everything.
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And then if the defect continues to present itself in your other unrelated pairings, would you assume it may be environmental? Thatās been my only point here! But I do think it may be best to let this lieā¦
Super cinny, caramel albino, spiders, etc are all proven Genetic defects, I donāt believe this is genetic and that pairing or not pairing will do nothing to spare you this defect. Thatās all! 
I said I wonāt personally breed snakes with visual defects genetic or otherwise. Or that produce hatchlings with visual defects genetic or otherwise.Period This is my personal choice.