Reptile & Amphibian Forums

While reading Dave's "OT Pics" I had an epiphany...well not really just a question....

How can i find breeders here in my area?? My herp shop will put me in with thier dealer but with a middle man (the owner of the shop) and frankly I dont want a middle man!

Now we dont really get alot of reptile shows here, I think there was a small one on this Saturday that passed but I didnt have the time to make it. Most of the BIG shows are like in Orlando and Jacksonville I believe.

Is there like a "breeder yellow pages" of sorts?

going to my first reptile show this past sunday I wasn't expecting much at all so I wasn't disappointed. They had some columbians (bci) for 60 and others nothing special for 155. They had male balls for 15 and females for 20 and a few rainbow boas that were crap crap crap but they were a few weeks old and asking like 65-85 for those so it had me thinking about selling some snakes for a split second but then I remembered that most of those people were there for their kids and their pets will certainly not thrive in their care and I would not want any part of that circle besides I would have trouble sleeping at night knowing my babies weren't well cared for. Selling snakes on ks seems better cuz people who are enthusiasts (mostly) are cruising around and not your basic please your kid for a week kind of person. Sorry for rambling I do that quite often but where are you from? Why you want a dealer around plan on buying some nice ones soon?
Bob

Well I live down in Miami, Florida.

The only reason I was looking for a good breeder down here is becuase I'm thinking of buying a GTP. Some of the reading I've done on Greg Maxwells site highly recomends buying from a good breeder not from a store.

Mike Lockwood "flavor" can point you in the right direction. He's the guy that runs Too Scaley Reptiles up top that sponsors the forum. I caught that post down low about gtp's and to add to their attitude my friend has two wild caught ones for about 2 years and he doesn't really play with them at all and they are puppy dog tame too so go figure but by far one of the best looking snakes ever created. Their skin feels awesome too, twice as nice as a BRB- it is so velvety so to speak but if Mike doesn't read this shoot him an e-mail and I'm sure he can name a few reputable breeders that he would use. Nice chatting btw
Bob

Yea I sent him an e-mail asking about some care sheets or any material to read, and he wrote me back and gave me some good sites and such.

I wouldnt mind working with him, seems like a good guy. I told him I would definetely contact him when Im ready to go for it

Always nice to chat Bob!!

a post I copied from the GTP forum and I tried to put websites with names for you

Marcial Mendez www.chondrolicious.com/
Rico Walder www.signalherp.com/
John Holland ???
Terry Philips ???
Brandon Osborne www.brandonosbornereptiles.com/
Mike Bair www.chondrodreams.com/
Andrew Kelly andrewkelleyreptiles.com/about.php

hope this helps even though they are not local but you could window shop though
Bob

Thanks alot Bob.

I went ahead and posted a message on the FL Herp Society see if maybe any breeders are on the forum or if any local people can point me in the right direction!

But then again, who can say NO to window shopping!

DAYTONA

THE biggest reptile event on the planet!!!!

Never been myself But then again I live 2800 plus miles away vs 266 miles between Miami and Daytona
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Hhhhmmmm.....266 you say???? Gotta check that out ASAP!

Anthony,
..My friend Karen Clark lives down there in the Miami area and breeds GTPs. It seems like there are usually CB GTPs on at least 15 different breeder's tables at Daytona. I think five or six of them are Florida based. You could take a field trip to visit The Bessette's Ophiological Services in Archer (be sure to call first) which is just west of Gainesville. Many of my friends have been there and have great things to say about their breeding facility. Some of them bought GTPs when they visited. Quite a long drive from Miami but you could combine it with a trip to see the University of Florida, THE HOME OF THE GATORS!!!!! Also be sure to visit Paines Prairie which is a historical snake hunting location.
Jeff

>>Well I live down in Miami, Florida.
>>
>>The only reason I was looking for a good breeder down here is becuase I'm thinking of buying a GTP. Some of the reading I've done on Greg Maxwells site highly recomends buying from a good breeder not from a store.

I have had decent luck at shows in the Chicago area. I have made some very good contacts. Most of the people do not have BRB's, but they know people who do.

Thus, networking is a big key. Mike Lockwood has GTP, but will not have baies this year.

Miami is probable the best reptile town in the country - at least for number of species in one area. Too bad there is not a better listing of who breeds what by area.
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Mike

2.4 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

There needs to be like a breeder yellow pages damnit!

There used to be exactly what you are talking about. It was a book put out every year or two by Reptile and Amphibians magazine. It had breeders listed by state. When Reptiles Magazine bought out all the other mags they really screwed the pooch. The other mags had much better advanced articles and also did more for the community. Reptile magazine is like a lollipop for the beginner herp enthusiast.
Jeff

>>There needs to be like a breeder yellow pages damnit!

Hey Anthony,

Of all of the people Bob listed, I've only purchased from Andrew Kelly. He's very professional and has magnificent animals. In fact, all of the individuals on that list have excellent reputations. You'll find, after hanging out on the morelia viridis forum, that the chondro community is very tight. The good breeders pride themselves on having a solid reputation. What's nice about that forum is that it tells you how many posts each person has. You can tell how long someone has been around. Shady dealers or people who are just there to make a quick buck are usually weeded out pretty quickly.

Honestly, doing the research, building the cages and talking with other chondro freaks is one of the best parts of owning these snakes.

Sorry to go so far off topic. Back to rainbows

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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com