Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been searching around for a CB Mangrove and have had no luck but I have found a couple places that are planning on importing some WC in the near future. Several questions: 1) What are the odds of survival for a WC?, 2) Having never bought a WC I'm not sure what questions to ask regarding health... Any thoughts? Is it reasonable to ask the importer to keep the snake for several months in quarantine to see if its feeding, has parasites, and is generally a good gamble? It's alot of money and I'm at least marginally philosophically opposed to WC but what can I say... I really want to work with a Mangrove... Any advice welcome.
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Amor et Lux,
Ron

"The gods tolerate the human race for no other reason than our talent for bullsh1t. It's the only thing about us that doesn't bore them to tears" Tom Robbins "Villa Incognito"

The importer will not keep it in QT for you (unless you want the price to go up considerably). My recommendation is to take it to your local vet to get it deparasitised (ivermectin etc.). For feeding, try a variety of prey items. I've found that difficult to get eating mangroves strangely have a strong fondness for hamsters. Go figure

They are a pretty hardy animal so you shouldn't have too much of a drama. If you can't get it to eat on its own, then force feeding would be necessary but this isn't too arduous of a task (just watch out for the big back teeth and accompanying venom). Using a hook and garden gloves while working with them is more than enough to keep from getting enveomated.

Cheers
B
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne

www.venomdoc.com

I have had better luck with mangroves if the W/C specimens are very small. It has an added advantage that if you have to assist feed you have a very low risk of envenomation. Remember that Daily misting makes a big difference with these.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."