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Not sure where to post this, but...

landonsjohnson Jan 08, 2011 05:56 PM

I have been away from herping for quite some time, keeping just a corn snake. I can't keep the Drymarchon bug at bay forever and decided to peruse the forums and classifieds to 'see what is happening' and to look at swho might have what available.

And I am not here to 'call anyone out' or point fingers, but it is rather disparaging to visit breeder websites in January of 2011 and click on the 'available' button, see something intriguing, only to find further down that other animals are expected 'early in 2006'.

Would it be too much to ask that these sites be updated? Some are even sponsors of this site's pages...

Anyway, hoping to decide which Dry species to get back into. I've had Easterns before, in another life.

Thanks

LJ

Replies (7)

Bigtattoo Jan 09, 2011 04:40 AM

I know exactly where you're coming from. Sadly most breeders are not also web designers and the costs of maintaining a website by a web designer can put a serious hurt on the profits. I don't think asking them to update would do much to help your situation. But since most provide other means of contacting, email, phone etc. these would be better means of finding what's available as well as getting a feel for their customer service. Ask questions, ask for pics of available babies, sires and dams, prices. If your considering couperi and need to get the permit, ask if they will assist in the process, most will.

Some of the best breeders for Drys don't even have a website and are doing well just in being able to answer emails and post on forums. Their focus is on keeping and breeding not on being computer literate. LOL

Even the Indigos Forever website is in bad need of updating.

Most depend more on the classfieds here and elsewhere more than their websites. Some will also post on forums, see thread below on yellow paraguays.

There are some great breeders of Drys there are also "flippers" of animals that the quality or origins may be questionable.

The way I found all of mine was by watching the classifieds and contacting the breeders/ through them. Doing the research into which Drys most interested me and just what I was looking for in those species. As in my blacktails. I wanted black tails not blackish tails, not brown tails. So I asked for pics and made my choice. I love hi contrast yellow tails w/ dark forebodies and bright yellow tails. I also think those yellow paraguays are just screamers too but it will be a while before there are many available and in the range of my wallet.

The long and short of it is that it may not be as simple as just looking at a web page and making a decision based on that. As costly as Drys are I feel it's worth the extra effort for direct contact with the breeders. I stay away from flippers. BTW the breeder you alluded to in your post is well worth the effort to contact by other means.

If you're interested in referrals to others please feel free to email me.

Here are some pics of my BTs first two are my babies, the last is the sire.

-----
BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

briansharp Jan 09, 2011 10:03 PM

LJ,

I'm not sure if you're referring to me in your post, but if you are I'm guilty as charged! LOL

My website is circa 2005, and badly out of date. Only a small portion of the information contained therein is accurate or current. A good guy is helping me create a new website, and is waiting for me to get it in gear and provide him with photos and text so he can finalize the site. We old herpers tend to move slowly, and often resist change and the benefits of technology.

I was a collector in the early days, long before I (or anyone else for that matter) began breeding for fun and profit, and marketing remains secondary for me. However, I do understand the frustration of encountering a woefully outdated website. But you will have to get in line to yell at me about it, as there are a lot of people ahead of you! LOL

Feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail, if I can help you in any way. At least that info on the website is still current.

Brian
Image

Bigtattoo Jan 10, 2011 03:54 AM

LOL I have a feeling it was you he was referring to Brian.

Is that one of the yellow Paraguays? Freight mentioned you had gotten some of those. I hope they're doing well for you.
-----
BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

briansharp Jan 10, 2011 07:47 AM

The photo from my first post and the one below are of a female I produced in 2007 and held back. They were taken in the summer of 2009, when she was about 5 feet. Two more carefully staged photos taken by me with the snake in one hand, and the camera in the other! LOL I believe her mom is shown on my badly outdated website!

Yes, I've got a group of the Paraguayans. They are interesting animals, with a somewhat different look. Maybe its just my imagination, but they appear to have a slightly different head shape with more prominent ridges over the eyes.

Brian

Image

Bigtattoo Jan 10, 2011 04:04 AM

LJ,

You'd do well following up with Brian he has a great rep and top quality animals.

Another you should seriously consider contacting right now is John Michaels of Black Pearl Reptiles. He has a great rep also and I can attest personally to the quality of his stock. He is another that will be there for you before and after the sale.

Link for Black Pearl.

Link

-----
BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Lovin2act Jan 12, 2011 09:45 AM

Here here for John! Whenever the day comes that I can get my first Indigo, he will be where I go.
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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

landonsjohnson Aug 13, 2011 10:17 PM

I did finally 'Dry Out' and followed the advice given. I now have a Unicolor male that I got from John at Black Pearl. It's everything he said it would be...

He is about 6' long, very nice coloring and is the busiest snake I've ever had! I am trying to get up the nerve to take him out of the cage completely; when I go near he gets real interested in me, more curious than 'I'm hungry' or 'Get Out!' When I open the lid, he starts to do that jerky thing the Drys seem to do a lot, and his neck flattens, after a minute or so he mellows out and comes up towards the rtop of the cage (and me) to see what is going on. That's usually when the lid goes on.

I can't say he is defensive, or aggressive; more like curious. He coils up but loosely. Hisses and huffs but doesn't follow me around with his coils like an angry machine gun LOL

Thanks for the advice; very happy with my purchase. Brian if it makes you feel any better I've had the snake over a week and I am just getting around to posting about it --- I'm as guilty as the next guy!

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