Re: URRe: Mandarin rats

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Posted by Terry Cox on January 15, 2000 at 09:07:43:

In Reply to: URRe: Mandarin rats posted by DAVE POWELL on January 14, 2000 at 20:07:52:

Right-on Dave! I was lucky enough to have known Lloyd before his untimely departure. What a neat guy and overflowing with valuable information. He got me started on Eurasians of the species, dione. He and the others also gave some great advice on the M & M'ers, moellendorffi and mandarina. Gillingham wrote the article on the first breeding of mandarins in N. A. I still have the article in my files and I got my first pair of mandarins from him (gorgeous). Larry K. has been working with the M & M'ers for years and has been breeding moellendorffi for a number of years now. I got my first c.b. from him and they are marvels. The male reached about four feet in his second year.

Captive born snakes are worth the price to people who really want to work with these fascinating reptiles. As a specializer in Asian ratsnakes, I'm always trying to improve my stock. The M & M'ers are two of my favorites, and both are pretty exotic. I started working with imported moellendorffi in 1988, with 13 individuals a partner and I purchased quite reasonably. Within a few weeks 12 were dead, even though we took every precaution. For years, we were unable to establish this species, and noone could find reliable ecological data. I have learned more in two years raising C.B. specimens, than in the whole rest of my life.

Mandarins are fairly easy to keep. Most breeders can keep and breed them. Moellendorffi are more difficult, but it's because of the lack of experience and accurate data, too. When more info gets out, the number of people keeping moellendorffi will increase dramatically also.

Right now the craze is with the mandarin ratsnakes. These are gorgeous animals and fairly easy to keep. The prices are steadily dropping and there are many more people getting them each year. I think they'll always have a good price, like a couple hundred, or so, but it shouldn't be outrageous for much longer.

Another thing about the mandarins is that they have a very large range in Southern China and n. Burma, North Vietnam, etc. There is much variation in color and pattern, and herpetoculturalists who specialize in this species will want multiple pairs to develop various strains. There will be much more on the mandarins in the future, you can count on it.

Thanks for asking the question, Tom, and thanks again, Dave, for the timely and accurate response. Later. T. Cox

: : Why are they so expensive? I have seen cb babies for $500 and also wc for $80, whats up with that?
: : Thanks,
: : Tom

: WHATS UP!CAPTIVE BREEDING IS UP!!SUPPLY & DEMAND! All the years of hard work,WORKING WITH WHAT WAS 1ST AVAILABLE,wild caught animals imported with no idea on how to raise & breed these beautiful animals,losing the majority of the imports due to diseases noone knew how to treat,until people like Lloyd Lempke,Larry Keller,& Bill Gillingham slaved over these marvels to find out all the answers for us,WE SALUTE THEM & MANY OTHERS!!also due to the fact they only produce small clutches of eggs 2-8 per clutch,this& the amount of breeding size adults in captivity today make them in high demand & pricing,the 1st cb in the early 90's went for approximately 1,500.00 ea,now cb'99 females go for 400.00-750.00 ea.& cb'99 males go for 300.00-500.00 ea.,cb adults can go as much as 1000.00-1,500.00 ea.Some imports have faired well as ltc's& are valuable for new bloodlines making them more valuable than the asking import price of 80.00 & up.So...WHATS UP!! DAVE POWELL

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: Right-on Dave! I was lucky enough to have known Lloyd before his untimely departure. What a neat guy and overflowing with valuable information. He got me started on Eurasians of the species, dione. He and the others also gave some great advice on the M & M'ers, moellendorffi and mandarina. Gillingham wrote the article on the first breeding of mandarins in N. A. I still have the article in my files and I got my first pair of mandarins from him (gorgeous). Larry K. has been working with the M & M'ers for years and has been breeding moellendorffi for a number of years now. I got my first c.b. from him and they are marvels. The male reached about four feet in his second year. : Captive born snakes are worth the price to people who really want to work with these fascinating reptiles. As a specializer in Asian ratsnakes, I'm always trying to improve my stock. The M & M'ers are two of my favorites, and both are pretty exotic. I started working with imported moellendorffi in 1988, with 13 individuals a partner and I purchased quite reasonably. Within a few weeks 12 were dead, even though we took every precaution. For years, we were unable to establish this species, and noone could find reliable ecological data. I have learned more in two years raising C.B. specimens, than in the whole rest of my life. : Mandarins are fairly easy to keep. Most breeders can keep and breed them. Moellendorffi are more difficult, but it's because of the lack of experience and accurate data, too. When more info gets out, the number of people keeping moellendorffi will increase dramatically also. : Right now the craze is with the mandarin ratsnakes. These are gorgeous animals and fairly easy to keep. The prices are steadily dropping and there are many more people getting them each year. I think they'll always have a good price, like a couple hundred, or so, but it shouldn't be outrageous for much longer. : Another thing about the mandarins is that they have a very large range in Southern China and n. Burma, North Vietnam, etc. There is much variation in color and pattern, and herpetoculturalists who specialize in this species will want multiple pairs to develop various strains. There will be much more on the mandarins in the future, you can count on it. : Thanks for asking the question, Tom, and thanks again, Dave, for the timely and accurate response. Later. T. Cox : : : Why are they so expensive? I have seen cb babies for $500 and also wc for $80, whats up with that? : : : Thanks, : : : Tom : : WHATS UP!CAPTIVE BREEDING IS UP!!SUPPLY & DEMAND! All the years of hard work,WORKING WITH WHAT WAS 1ST AVAILABLE,wild caught animals imported with no idea on how to raise & breed these beautiful animals,losing the majority of the imports due to diseases noone knew how to treat,until people like Lloyd Lempke,Larry Keller,& Bill Gillingham slaved over these marvels to find out all the answers for us,WE SALUTE THEM & MANY OTHERS!!also due to the fact they only produce small clutches of eggs 2-8 per clutch,this& the amount of breeding size adults in captivity today make them in high demand & pricing,the 1st cb in the early 90's went for approximately 1,500.00 ea,now cb'99 females go for 400.00-750.00 ea.& cb'99 males go for 300.00-500.00 ea.,cb adults can go as much as 1000.00-1,500.00 ea.Some imports have faired well as ltc's& are valuable for new bloodlines making them more valuable than the asking import price of 80.00 & up.So...WHATS UP!! DAVE POWELL

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