Deleterious Genes Policy

The BC Reptile Club believes that knowingly producing animals with harmful genetic traits is not consistent with responsible or ethical reptile keeping. Self-regulation is essential if the sector is to maintain public trust and avoid external legislative restrictions, therefore we are prohibiting the sale, adoption, or rehoming of specific morphs at any and all of our events, and advise our members and community not to breed, sell, or purchase any morphs or combinations known to cause significant welfare issues. As always, we encourage breeders to utilize a quality-over-quantity mindset: to pair only the most robust, well mannered and healthiest animals, and to focus on producing animals that can enjoy long, unimpeded lives.

There is an increasing responsibility for reptile keepers and breeders to apply well-established principles of genetic stewardship and animal welfare. In other species, such as dogs, the intentional breeding of offspring known to suffer from predictable and severe health outcomes including sensory loss, neurological disease, organ defects, structural malformations, and markedly shortened lifespans is widely recognized as unacceptable. These standards exist because the consequences of certain genetic combinations are both well documented and avoidable.

Responsible reptile breeding and keeping face comparable ethical considerations, therefore requiring the same commitment long expected in other animal-breeding disciplines: to avoid intentionally propagating traits known to cause suffering, deformity, or premature death, and to focus instead on producing companion animals capable of living full, healthy, and unimpeded lives. Rescuing or providing lifelong care for animals affected by deleterious genetic traits is acceptable and supported when done with the animal’s welfare as the sole priority, adopting from legitimate organizations. Such rescues should be undertaken with full awareness of the potential health and quality-of-life issues these animals may face, and strictly under no-breeding agreements to ensure harmful traits are not perpetuated. The intent of rescue is compassionate care, not reproduction, and responsible ownership is essential.

This policy was adopted and derived from REPTA, receiving numerous endorsements from The Association of Zoo & Exotic Veterinary Nurses, British Veterinary Zoological Society, Companion Animal Sector Council, Responsible Reptile Keeping, International Herpetological Society, and more. We encourage other Societies across Canada to consider and implement similar policies.

Policy Introduction

One part of modern herpetoculture is propagating animals with unique looks, called morphs. These can change their colour, pattern, or body shape, and many people find them attractive. Most morphs are healthy and don’t require any special care. However, some specific morphs are associated with serious health issues and compromised welfare.

Some genetically inherited traits, referred to as deleterious genes, are associated with abnormalities affecting structural, neurological, metabolic, or physiological functions.

These issues can include:

• Poor coordination or inability to right themselves
• Neurological symptoms such as head wobble, including inner ear issues and vertigo.
• Metabolic issues where digestion and consumption of muscle mass is evidenced, seriously curtailing longevity
• Dermatological issues, such as diurnal scaleless species that are unable to filter UV-B radiation and thermoregulate correctly.
• Cancerous issues, where a gene is known to promote both benign and malignant tumour clusters on the animal, inevitably curtailing lifespan.
• Lifespan curtailment issues, wherein the presence of a specific gene virtually ensures the animal will fail to reach the species’ established average lifespan.

Fatal embryonic conditions are a significant consideration in discussions of deleterious genes, referring to animals that die during development or immediately after hatching or birth due to inherited traits. These conditions reduce the animal’s quality of life and in some cases cause chronic suffering or premature death. Given the wide availability of morphs that are both attractive and robust, there is no ethical justification for deliberately producing animals with known, avoidable health problems.

The sale, adoption, or rehoming of the following morphs is prohibited at all BC Reptile Club events, under any and all circumstances.

Spider Ball Python
(Python regius)
Genetically inherited inner ear anomaly that serious affects orientation and focus. Presents as moderate to severe wobble.

Super Champagne Ball Python
(Python regius)
Lethal combination. Fatal embryonic issues. Others die within hours of birth.

Super Black Pastel Ball Python
(Python regius)
High likelihood of underdeveloped lower jaw and kinking to spine and tail.

Super Cinnamon Ball Python
(Python regius)
High likelihood of underdeveloped lower jaw and kinking to spine and tail.

Super Hidden Gene Woma Ball Python
(Python regius)
Lethal combination. Fatal embryonic issues. Others die within hours of birth.

Super Motley Boa
(Boa imperator)
Metabolic issues, presents as normal at birth but quickly loses muscle tone and ability to pass faecal matter. Heavily curtailed lifespan.

Super Jungle Boa
(Boa imperator)
Metabolic issues, poor digestion, poor muscle tone. Fertility issues, very few examples of reaching adult weight. Heavily curtailed lifespan.

Jaguar Carpet Python
(Morelia spilota ssp)
Neurological issues, including wobble and self-righting issues. Often compounded by a history of Jaguar-to-Jaguar breeding.

Skull Face Western Hognose
(Heterodon nacius)
High likelihood of cranial abnormalities, scalation issues, improper jaw alignment and ocular and nasal malformation.

Super Cappuccino Crested Gecko
(Correlophus ciliatus)
High likelihood of cranial abnormalities, spinal deformities, incomplete limb development, nasal malformation and dermatological issues.

Super Lily White Crested Gecko
(Correlophus ciliatus)
High likelihood of cranial abnormalities, spinal deformities, incomplete limb development, nasal malformation and dermatological issues.

Enigma Leopard Gecko
(Eublepharis macularius)
Neurological issues, affecting balance, coordination and general cognitive function.

Lemon Frost Leopard Geckos
(Eublepharis macularius)
Cancer issues, associated with a high likelihood of developing skin tumours known as iridophoromas.

Super White Out African Fat Tail Gecko
(Hemitheconyx caudicinctus)
Lethal combination. Fatal embryonic issues. Others die within hours of birth.

Silk Back Bearded Dragon
(Pogona vitticeps)
Dermatological issues. Highly delicate skin prone to flaking. Inability to filter UV-B radiation. Prone to cuts, scrapes and infection. Prone to burns and dehydration.

Some morphs are stable on their own but can result in harmful traits when paired with other allelic (related by a common allele) variants. The following combinations should be avoided:
Spider × Champagne Royal Python (neurological issues)
Spider × Hidden Gene Woma Royal Python (neurological issues)
Champagne x Hidden Gene Woma Royal Python (Often severe neurological issues, likely future inclusion)
Super Spot Nose Royal Python (Often severe neurological issues, likely future inclusion)

This policy will be reviewed periodically and amended as needed. You can report other deleterious genes for us to investigate at info@bcreptileclub.ca 
Effective December 18th, 2025.