Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Mandarin babies don't often sit still and cooperate for pics. i was taking some email pics today and got this pretty female before she got excited and started buzzing around. this is one of my favorite looks, hope you enjoy : )

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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Nice pic.
Have you guys ever thought about getting into hi-end subocs (like albinos or triple hets)? I know that sounds like an oxy-moron, but there are some good projects underway like albino blonde, snow, snow blonde, hi-orange etc. Just curious.
I notice that you have done the higher-end Asian rats pretty consistently.

Dusty R.
Simply Subocs

hi Dusty, i look forward to seeing your site

i am a long time suboc fan, but the problem is that you just can't do everything

in the past we have had so many different groups going, from monitors and lizards, to snakes of all types, to geckos, etc.

i am happier to focus down into a smaller number of species (that's a relative term, we still do a bunch of stuff), and do better with those groups that we really enjoy, than to try and be all things to all species
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

"hi Dusty, i look forward to seeing your site"

Yeah me too! LOL I can't wait to get it up and running. We've had a problem with our hosting service...it should have been up atleast a month ago. But that should be resolved soon.

"i am a long time suboc fan, but the problem is that you just can't do everything"

Yeah, Robyn...I hear you BIG TIME on that. Practically all I keep are subocs from albino to hets, triple hets, blondes, silvers of both patterns, golden-orange, and I've got some hypoxanthic(gray), BRILLIANT orange, peach/pink and even RED phase projects underway.
But...I have a want list that I have had for the LONGEST time that is outside of the "Bogey" world.
For example...GTP's...HUGE fan (I have owned every chondro book as soon as it came off the press)...but I am really trying to contribute something new to herpetoculture, like being a PR guy for a snake that really hasn't had one in the past (aka...subocs).
Take care.
Dusty
Simply Subocs

OH YEAH! Love the purple/maroon. One of these days I have to get some of those... take care bud Tom Stevens

Someone once mentioned to me it is best to wait a lot longer when breeding Mandarins as opposed to other colubrids. He said it was common for females to lay a fertile clutch when they're as young as 2 or 3 years old but they have a tendency to soon die afterwards. He suggested waiting as long as 4 years for the female to be ready to begin breeding. Have you ever encountered this type of thing? Tom Stevens

we don't rush into breeding the females, but typically at 3 and 4 years they are fine. i haven't had a problem with early breeding/death...
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

The mandarins were one of the first snakes I saw in the pet trade (odd huh..) and I knew from the moment I saw them that I had to have one. I am just waiting for a major price drop. Maybe when I can pick up a c.b. for $50? Not in my life time but the price has to drop eventually!
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I think the price has already dropped. You can get nice Mandarins for as low as $400-$450, last I checked, some $300 of lesser quality, and I've even seen lone males for as low as $200. This is not a species for the faint of heart and they only produce 1/2 doz, or so, babies at a time. I don't think the market will overproduce these and they should hold their value for a long time. Also, there'll be new morphs someday, and then watch the prices go up again.

TC

Funny you should mention morphs, I am thinking about getting a pair and was looking though sites for care info and the like and came across one that showed a hypo and an anery. The pic of the hypo was not that great so cant say much about that but the anery was a little drab.

Vinny
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“There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that whilst this planet has gone on cycling according to the fixed laws of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” -C. Darwin, 1859