Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I was just wondering if any of you guys, know a good place or two on the internet, to find some info on the Dhaman ratsnake Ptyas mucosus?
And do you know if it is the males or the females that get larger. Is it right that it`s usually the males that get larger when you talk colubrids?
Thanks a lot
Jonas

A quick scan through my library indicated that the size record for the species (at that time as it was an older book)was held by a male.

In colubrids males are larger in many species, Then there are others (like garters) where the females are the giants.

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

Thanks for the info.
Do you know if it`s available in the trade?
Jonas

Hello,

I too have been looking for Ptyas here in the states, and have yet to see a breeder selling them. A post from Dr. Bryan Frye [www.venomdoc.com], over on the General Snake forum seemed to indicate Ptyas doesn't make it into the pet trade very often. Apparently they are highly aggressive and at the sizes they can attain [well over 10 feet in length], that's a lot of mean snake to deal with. Also, their drab appearance may also be a reason for not being in the trade either - after all who wants an incredibly nasty 12' long drab brown snake? Well, I for one do, but clearly you and I are in the vast minority. Here's to hoping someone will import them some day.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

Guys:
I haven't seen mucosus for sale, but here's a link to a Hong Kong dealer who sells Ptyas korros. Of course importing from China is not without risks and problems.
Regards
John Firneno
breeder