Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone keeping these beauties share any info on their care requirements? Is this a hardy species to work with?
I'm seriously thinking of obtaining some after years of debate.

Thank you all.

Unless you're a superb rehabilitator, it will be an exercise in heartbreak. You'll lose well over 90%.

Okay now the good news. Captive bred hatchlings are reasonable. As hatchlings they can be tricky to get started eating but no worse than several more common snakes and sometimes they start eating without any problem and thrive. They are secretive (so they're not great for display purposes) and dislike handling and motion when they are out of their hides. They need a moist hide (especially when ready to shed). But they are not super delicate once you get them eating regularly. And lastly they don't like heat. Mid seventies is best for them.

So they have quirks but as long as you're working with cb stock it should be reasonably easy to work with them.

Regards
John

Great info and beautiful picture.
I breed Yellow Tail Cribos and frequently rehab recent import snakes with a few being in rough shape, but Cribos are a very hardy snake compared to these Mandarins.
You gave me some great food for thought.
Thank you for your response!

I would encourage you to go ahead and get a Captive Bred specimen or two. I was in the same position as you; admiring them but quite sure if you're ready to take the plung...
Well I stumbled across one locally and had to snag it up. I'm very grateful now that I did. My lil Madarin has quickly become one of my favorites. I really like their secretive, reclusive behavior. I als okeep mine cooler that the rest of my collection. He's a god a long tank, with a gradient of 72-85 degrees. A very humid and tight hide is most often where I can spot my Mandarin. They have a slow metabolism and eat small food. Mine also was only eating pinks scented with Lizard Maker but as of the last feeding took an unscented pink.

Hope this helps. I am extremely happy I stepped up and added Madarinus to my collection. A very beautiful and rewarding species to keep.

Thank you for the info!!!
I am really on the fence regarding getting these, but if I can come across c.b. specimens I might do it.
I like the fact that there is a lizard scent available if needed. I had no idea that these are so difficult to get feeding? I also had no idea of their slow metablolisms!

Thanks again. Very helpful info.

Was the snake you found locally a c.b. via a breeder.
Great pics by the way.

First, I 100% agree with what was said above.

Buy captive born babies from a reputed dealer and they are a reasonable and beautiful species to work with. I keep all four of mine in appropriately sized sterlite containers, well ventilated. As a substrate I use several inches of cypress mulch, as they spend a great deal of time burrowed into the nice moist mixture. A clean water dish and an alternative surface hide are also available. I keep my mandarins in a seperate room from the rest of my reptiles where the temperatures are in the low to mid seventies. I handle them weekly when cleaning out their cages, and after they've gotten through that initial nervous stage they are quite curious.

In my experience they can be tricky to get onto F/T foods, but captive borns are hardy feeders otherwise. Just be sure the snake is feeding before you make the purchase.

I personally think that Mandarins are stunning animals, and they're probably my favorite snake.

Great info. Thank you to all that responded!
I have some thinking to do now!

I'm not sure where you are from but I was at the All Ohio Reptile Show yesterday and Robbie and Shay Hamper had some Mandarins for sale. I checked on their website and they are still available. I have been nothing but satisfied with my purchases from them. Their website is at the bottom.

Hope this helps!

http://www.pythons.com/hamper/avail.html

Once we got past the baby "feeding frustration" they are one of the easiest animals we have. Ours come from Bill Gillingham at Great Valley Serpentarium who I believe would be a wealth of knowledge. Good Luck! They are really beautiful animals.

Constrictors Reptiles Rocklin
www.constrictorsrocklin.com