Reptile & Amphibian Forums

and if anyone can translate this page and get me an email address i would be appreciative

i love the reticulated pattern.....

keith

http://unireptile.com/reptile/Snake/China_Snake_web.htm
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

Needless to say, I can't translate any of those pages, but I can say that those are killer snakes. The red phase red chain snake Dinodon Rofozonatum was pretty great as well. I wish some of those would start getting around over here, along with the mandarins. All those phases look great. Thanks for posting that link.

I found an English version of the site. For your viewing pleasure: http://unireptile.com/reptile/Snake/Snake_Main_E.htm

thanks anyway

keith

lol
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

Why do the have better looking American snakes than we do?LOL.

If you look around the net you'll find a few Chinese snake sites. They're mostly Hong Kong dealers that sell chinese snakes (here's another one for instance http://www.probreeder.com/images/collection/ema-350.jpg ). The have some very pretty pictures and they may even be able to send snakes out that look like what they advertize. I think you'll find that the wild caught snakes they sell are pretty uniformly very unlikely to survive. In addition you'll have to get an import license to bring them in. And finally comes the leap of faith of sending money to China and hoping the dealers honor their side of the bargain.

Another possibility is to work with some American importers who work with some of these very same exporters. They'll be taking the majority of the risk so you'll pay much more than if you buy direct. And once again the snakes are pretty poor survival bets.

A third way to get wild-caught mandarins is to buy them from a retailer who takes the trouble to cherry pick the best of the imports and nurses them back from the edge of the grave. These will be still more expensive but much more likely to survive.

You can also go for captive hatched eggs from wild caught females. This is even better but of course even more expensive.

And finally you can buy captive bred snakes which are practically fool-proof from the point of view of survival but of course most expensive.

So what's the advantage of wild-caughts? I guess the only advantage is the possibility of getting new morphs (like the anerythristics and striped and other pattern and color differences). But you'd better be prepared for blood sweat and tears. Because until Chinese breeders appear on the scene, the exports you'll find are going to be problematic at best.

Not trying to be a downer
John

i just thought they were marvelous animals.....and would love a chance to get to work with some someday (maybe even a new phase in the us).....i know the risks....and if i wanted to gamble i do have the resources (food, caging, and a vet etc.).....

actually i would rather jus look at the pics (for now).....i feel mandarins are the most gorgeous species.....and the variances i was unaware of, are outstanding.....

i may be new to this forum.....but i have been workin with snakes for over 25 years....just recently gettin into breeding....

thanks for the advise,

keith
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

"actually i would rather jus look at the pics (for now).....i feel mandarins are the most gorgeous species.....and the variances i was unaware of, are outstanding..... "

I agree - they're my favs, too, which is why I was glad to see those pics, although I'd never gamble on wild caughts. Now, if I could just afford a c/b. . .lol