Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone keep them? I've wanted a pair for ages, but I've heard mixed things in terms of husbandry...is low temps/fairly high humidity correct?

Captive bred mandarins are reasonably easy. Wild caughts range from difficult to impossible to keep alive. If you buy cb the breeder should give you detailed info. If he doesn't come back here and any one of several mandarin keepers can help you.
Regards
John

Hi
It is actually natural, that you have heard different things, because it depends on the origin of the animals. You can split them (roughly) into 2 different types. The northern type and the southern type.
What you see in the hobby today are the southern types. They are not so intollerant against higher temperatures, but still prefers lower than most ratsnakes. The nothern type, that I call the Chinese mountain dwarf, hates temperatures above 25*C and usually stop feeding if not kept cooler. These snakes were the first ones to be bred in the hobby bye Gillingham, Münzenmaier and myself, but there are not so many of them left.
I had the southern animals also, and kept both types dry with a small hiding place with moist live sphagnum peat. That workes perfect for me.
Best wishes
Søe
Reptilia-Denmark

Thanks for the replies, and thanks so much for the link, it was helpful. I'm sure I'll contact you again with questions when I can find one (possibly a pair)...are they difficult to breed?