A quality diamond x jungle carpet is a tough act for any carpet to
follow. I started by getting a few snakes, thinking I would only want to
keep a few...two years later, I have around a dozen and have no plans to stop
there. These snakes are generally very similar to jungle carpets, although
a higher percentage of diamond python blood seems to make them a tad bit longer
and much more slender in build.
History
These snakes have been snubbed by
so-called purists in the past, but they've started to make a comeback.
Some purists don't like them because they're afraid they'll be passed off as
pure diamonds. However, I feel that this is no more of a threat to our
captive gene pool than some of the questionable animals that are sold as pure
jungles or coastals. Others feel that the diamond x jungle crosses are
inferior to pure diamonds simply because they're not pure. However, I feel
that the crosses are a superior snake, as far as being kept in captivity goes. I
say this because quality, high percentage diamond crosses can look nearly
identical to a pure diamonds (and in some cases, nicer - in my opinion, of
course), yet they're easier to keep and breed in captivity. Diamond
crosses seem to breed just as easily as any other carpet python, whereas
diamonds can be extremely tricky to breed and often times their health suffers
from improper cooling methods. Diamond crosses also seem to be immune to
the so-called "Diamond Python Syndrome" that kills so many captive diamond
pythons. Don't get me wrong, pure diamond pythons are an extraordinary
python and I appreciate the characteristics that make them unique from other
carpets. I just believe that crosses are a better choice for hobbyists
like myself, who want a snake that can be kept and bred in captivity without
having to worry about health issues and increased breeding difficulty.
Percentages of
Diamond & Jungle Influence
Some hobbyists seem to get caught up with
the percentages of diamond crosses, thinking that the higher the percentage of
diamond influence, the better the snake.
First, I would like to point out that crosses of any percentage ratio can make
for an interesting snake, even if the snake doesn't resemble a pure diamond.
I personally like them all, but I think it's quite interesting when an animal
exhibits equal diamond python and jungle carpet python qualities...for example,
an animal with lots of tipping in the black pattern with large yellow rosettes,
such as the one pictured at right.
Also, I've found that higher
percentage diamond blood doesn't always mean the snake will have a more
diamond-like appearance. For example, the Python Pete line of 75% diamonds
are what I consider to be the "Holy Grail" of diamond crosses. Animals
from that particular bloodline are consistently the most attractive crosses
you'll find, even compared to most 88% diamond crosses. There are
certainly some exceptional 88% diamonds out there...but if you do a little
digging, you'll find that they were almost always produced breeding a pure
diamond to a Python Pete line 75% diamond cross.
I am working with a nice group of
Diamond x Jungles, including some unique 25% Diamonds that hatched red, as well
as some 50% Diamonds and a nice group of Python Pete line 75% Diamonds.
