Guo et al. (1996) reported several hundred snake farms in China producing 427,000 specimens of three commonly traded species (Agkistrodon acutus, Bungarus multicinctus, and Zaocys dhumnades). Zhao (1998) reported that approximately 100 Chinese farms produced their first A. acutus hatchlings in the late 1970s

The above paragraph provides a degree of documentation for some of the actual facts that have been wrongly disputed. My initial post was regarding all of China including the mainland and not just Hong Kong, this should have been clear and I think it was for most. I was only interested in telling it like it really is, giving an accurate overview, possibly sparking some legitimate discussion, as opposed to just telling ........boastful.... Sigh..........."story's."

Most if not all of the large scale animal breeding operations are on the mainland, None of these places really gives a crap about supplying the pet trade with live reptiles never did and probably never will for the reasons previously stated. Most of what takes place at the giant places isn't real captive breeding (typical farm stuff, like I mentioned) they do raise hatchlings and small snakes up to size, this takes time and the snakes have to grow at a good pace and have plenty of weight....so the Chinese can take good care of them, in very large numbers. In order for these operations to be considered successful they need to produce tons of snakes (literally)and they need them consistently, so pure captive breeding at the farms isn't the best option for now...but at some point it might be the only one and they will do it and do it big. They are already working in that direction.

Mainland China is very different from Hong Kong, but its changing and its going to change more. Its going to get more open. I still don't think any of the big snake farms are going to waste their time getting into the live reptile trade for pets, its way better and smarter to keep doing what they have been doing as far as the live trade goes, like always they will sell a comparatively little of this and that to the wholesale / breeder/whatever guys that run over from Hong Kong.

The collector/breeder deal in Hong Kong is a way different story then what goes on in the mainland, Reptiles are as popular as pets in Hong Kong as they are here. Its a well off modern place.To think they are light years behind anyone in their husbandry at this point is ridiculous. The breeders in Hong Kong are breeding all kinds of ball python morphs, albino boas, the colubrid stuff, some guys are breeding the Chinese stuff, rat snakes, all the different cave geckos, even the salamanders and newts and shipping to the US and Europe and to the SE Asian country's that are also getting into it more and more, there is even an international reptile expo in Hong Kong with breeders and vendors from all over the world.

For the most part the live reptile trade in Hong Kong is like it is here, its still pretty new compared to here and the prices are higher but you can go into a pet shop and buy a ball python, kingsnakes all the usual stuff. Get all the same equipment. There are a couple of reptile specialty stores, I wouldn't be surprised to see somebody in Hong Kong get a Bell (Reptile Industry's) style dealership going in the not to distant future.


ERNIE EISON
WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM INC.

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