Burmese morphs...

[MattParnell]

I've heard arguments from both sides, and seen examples from both sides. I've known quite a few people with labrynths and albino labrynths that have had no problems, and I've also seen quite a few greens and albino greens with chronic problems. Are BDs more common in certain morphs than others? I am hoping to purchase an albino labrynth in the next month or so, so I am really wanting some more opinions. Thanks.

	Bearded Dragon Bearded Dragon is the common name for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona.

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[louise]

boy did you open up a big can of worms!

[toker]

boy did you open up a big can of worms

LOL

I am hoping to purchase an albino labrynth in the next month or so

Why not just adopt one of the I am sure many rescues?

[MattParnell]

I've never seen an albino labrynth in a rescue.

[louise]

write on the thread 'brett do not enter!'

[JuliusSqueezer]

Too late David LOL

The problem with BD (probably actually Ophidian Paramyxovirus) is that in the case of Burmese pythons, it usually takes at least 30 months to break down and destroy the snake's immuno system to the point that it can no longer be resistant to RI, Pneumonia and other illnesses and so at that point they become chronic and untreatable. As we all know a burm can get quite huge and can breed well within this time frame. The ones you have seen that aren't having problems may not be out of the woods yet. I had a Lab. burm come in on rescue with chronic RI a couple of years ago before I had ever even heard of BD. I fought the RIs with everything I had and finally had to put him down after a year. Unfortunatly...people are constantly crossing the morphs to make new morphs and are doing way too much inbreeding to propegate them and have effectively spread this disease into every burm line including normals. There is no guarantee that any burm hatchling will live a full life nor is there any that it won't eventually wipe out your entire collection. Personally, I would quarantine any baby burm for a minimum of 5 years well away from any of my collection. Burm breeders will hopefully all die off together someday and then the hobby can resume it's pleasantness Please don't purchase a burm...there are plenty in rescues needing homes and the breeders are just throwing gas on this fire by selling them.

Matt....you haven't seen any in rescue...It doesn't mean that they are all living great lives. Most people that would pay that for a burm consider themselves to be capable keepers and would do what they can to keep them alive themselves. Don't look for them in rescues to gauge success...Look for people who still have adults after 5-6 years.

	Bearded Dragon Bearded Dragon is the common name for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona.

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[morti]

To put it more simplistically:

If you adopt a healthy, normal burm that lives a long happy life with you, you will be enriched by it and it will have a better life because of you.

If you buy a morph burm, there is a pretty good chance that the burm will have health problems, a poor quality of life and cost you a lot of money in vet bills and a lot of stress.

Which of those scenerios sounds better to you?

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).