I would say that any handling of a mandarin, other than for maintanance reasons, would be too much. Mine are great eaters as long as I don't look at them. When I first got them I had them in clear cages and they freaked out everytime there was movement by the cage. Now they are in opaque cages with damp sphagnum moss hide boxes in the rear of the cage that they spend most of their lives in or under. As a matter of fact I have a male that I have never seen eat. I put his f/t fuzzies behind his hide box and leave the room, they are always gone in the morning. I keep my rack heated and the room on the cool side, so with them on a top shelf without heat they do just fine with a temp in the mid 70's. They are beautiful animals that make horrible display animals and very bad pets. They are a great animal to take care of in captivity however, for the right person with the right expectations. As far a price dropping--I hope not, mine should breed for the first time this season.

Kayvon

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