Just a question on the thoughts of in-breeding.
I have read several discussions on breeding between species, and realise that this just creates muddy snakes that no-one wants watering down the gene pool. OK, got that, have always agreed with this, they don't have the exciting mixing options like corn or king snakes.

But what about in breeding between the same species?
With so few garter keepers in the UK, many (if not all) the snakes we buy are likely to be from the same original gene pool, what if siblings end up as the same parents? is this as bad?

With mice, in-breeding is encouraged to some degree to strengthen traits and lines??
Big no no with garters, or just not the strongest option?

(do not worry, I am not planning on in-breeding, I have a year or so before I need to split up) but just wondered if it was as big a 'no-no' as mixing species/subspecies? I can carefully split my San franciscos up, try and get different partners for them etc, but in reality they are likely to be first cousins at least? the gene pool for these in the UK must be tiny?