I personally have no interest in hybrid-bred anything; but I would suggest that herpoculture, as it has attracted a "mass audience," is (or will) go through the same stage the aquarium fish hobby entered. For some time, we have been promoting mutations (albino anything) that would have a low survival rate in the wild. We do this because we find the animals produced attractive, just like the varieties of guppies, angel fish, or whatever. Some of the hybrids create animals that some customers find attractive; isn't this analagous to swordtail/platy fish crosses, among others, in the aquarium trade?
I am assuming that few of us seriously believe that the animals we produce will ever be returned to restock depopulated areas in the wild. I think anytime I've seen anyone write about attempts to restock from captive gene pools, the attempts were failures (sea turtles may possibly be the exception). Then there is the whole issue of in-bred animals in captivity (but then, I have wondered how in-bred wild populations may be, given the tendency of many species of reptiles to form colonies).
Of course, most domestic animals are already far cries from their wild ancestors, and many of the strains are unsuited for feral life (I recognize there are also some big exceptions here). I guess I view this hybridizing thing as an expression of man's "artistic" nature--the animals are for decorative purposes only (?!). Again, in most cases my personal preference runs to the "wild" forms (red amel corns the exception), but there is a place, I think, for hybrids that are represented as such.
Ugh! This is WAY too serious for this time of year. I just wish all of you (and your geckos) the best as you celebrate whatever holiday is important to you.
