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Posted by Terry Cox on November 14, 2002 at 07:06:31:
The mandarin post below was getting a little old, so I decided to start a new strand.
While I agree that they are somewhat nervous and very secretive, as well as mainly nocturnal, mandarins can be tamed down. I have a pair of s.e. China stock that I've raised from CB babies. They were very secretive and nervous the first couple years. That is not the case so much any more.
They are now three yr. olds and each has their own ten gallon tank, provided with 2 to 3 inches of aspen bedding, a water jug, a large food container, and a large plastic hide box partially buried in aspen. It is not too uncommon for them to lie in or under their food jug at night and early morning when they are hungry. When feeding them I usually put a live fuzzy, hopper, or two in the food jug overnight. They will eat F/T also.
I've found that the Mandarins are settling down and are much less nervous in their new surroundings (since last June). They eat about a mouse a week, are content, and are occasionally handled by me. They don't seem unduely stressed by handling, which I do briefly to look them over, then put them back in their cage. They look to be in great shape and I'll try to breed them next spring for the first time.
I think that the Mandarins are a great exotic snake and are not difficult for an experienced keeper. They are quite hardy (mine are at 68* to 78*F, in the fall, btw). At first, my biggest worry was the humidity, but I've found, over time, they have adapted to my conditions. The humidity is only 30 to 40% in fall and winter in my Herp Room, and they seem to do fine with no shed problems. I highly recommend this snake, but agree that you need to start with CB.
Here's a pic of one of mine when it was a subadult....>
TC.
