Return from Daytona..pics

[Phillip]

Just got back from Day-freakin-tona also known as paradise to any herp lover. Dropped some heavy coin while there but man was it ever worth it.

The sun rises on a soon to be fantastic day.

The view out of my hotel room of the expo auditorium. This place is large enough that they hold pro football games in it.

The best reptile show in the country in it's full glory. Decisions decisions.

And finally the goods starting with the ones bought partially due to me always liking them and partially just to finish off the spending cash. lol Sinaloan milk pair

Phil

 

[Phillip]

Next up got a pair of albino hondos

I have drooled over these awesome snakes since I saw my 1st one and finally had to give in and get a pair. Mandarin rats

I truly lucked up on these and snagged the only adult proven breeders at the show. Very few folks working with these guys so when I spotted them they were a must have. Tri color hognose

And last but far from least a pair of Womas from the rare earth bloodline which is the best in the country. Pics truly dont do the justice.

And to top it all off I get home and my hondos have hatched. Best weekend I've had in a long long time.

Phil

 

[Henry Kane]

Awesome as hell Phil! They're all very cool but the Mandarin Rat, holy $hiT!!! I've never seen anything like it. I wonder if you could pm me what that one costs? Are they pretty hard to find? Are they a morph or is that the natural color?

Atrax

 

[Valael]

I have to second Atrax on this one. They all look great, but that Mandarin rat is unfreaking believable. I've got $20, you up for it?

 

[scorpio]

My god. I cant wait til I move to Florida in two years. I finally might have a herp room, and not have junk all over.

I cant believe I forgot it was August! Must be a bit tired of the ads in Reptiles. Either that, or ive been reading too many back issues to believe its actually August.

Anyway

Excellent job on those finds. Amazing colors and damn healthy snakes. The albino hondos look really nice. Any chance we could see a few more pics of the little mandarin? Any chance we could see him in a cool looking habitat. Kinda boring in that traveling deli cup. And I have to put another negative comment in on the small part of him that is out of focus in the front of the pic.

aannnnyway.........more pics of Mr. mandarin. Im curious what he will look like when hes all grown up. ah, ou got a pair. So I assume you might be breeding someday?

 

[Phillip]

Well as to the deli cup pic ya hafta cut me some slack as I just got home but rest assured more pics will be coming. Also they are a tad hard to shoot as they are the squirmiest rats I have seen. Open the lid and they are goneski.

As to adult looks same thing only bigger. Elaphe mandarina is hands down one of if not the best looking rat snake around and they dont get crappy with age. Also it is no morph it is simply the way they are. There is some variation in them but compared to most snakes they look prety much like carbon copies of each other.

Price is no big secret on average a pair goes for around the $850 mark sometimes higher depending on availablity. I did get a deal but believe me they were far from cheap. lol As to how hard to find I bought the only hatchling pair I saw at the expo. There were some larger ones as well as some extra males but I saw only the one young female. They can be had but not many folks work with them clutches are kind of small and they sell out quick so you have to be hunting them as they dont sit around long.

The key to keeping them from what I have researched over the years is to keep them on the cooler side as in the high 70s very low 80s and to leave them alone as much as possible as they are very flighty and easily disturbed. Also CB babies do well where WC tend to die with alarming frequency. They are not a snake for the beginner as if they are kept wrong they will perish and you will be out mucho coin. Treated well however and they are supposed to do very well in captivity.

Actually if you like the mandarins check pro exotics site as they have adult pics. While you're there check out the red mountain racers another potential choice but not one that could be found at the time.
Phil

 

[manville]

cool pics of the snakes..i dont have any snakes at all though..not planning to get any until i get older..

 

[Bry]

Beautiful snakes, Phil. You didn't try too hard to hold onto your cash, did you? =D Those Mandarins are gorgeous. I've always liked them, but, they're way too sensitive (especially the wild caughts) for me to feel confident about putting down that much cash for them. Best of luck with them, man. Keep us updated on them.

I missed Daytona yet again this year...maybe next year.

Bry

 

[Gillian]

Phill,
OoOoO! Gods, lucky man! I've wanted to go to the Daytona show since I first got bit by the snake bug. I've always wanted a Blizzard Leo Gecko, as well.
I'm SO in envy of you..
Peace,
Gillian
)0(
p.s., Congrats on the cool scores.

 

[Crotalus]

Congrats on your new snakes!
Those mandarina and woma are awesome.
But where are all the ven picts??

/Lelle

 

[scorpio]

850 bucks eh?

You will probably profit immensely once the little ones are added into your shop........maybe when they are more widespread I'll try and get a few. Not quite the first ones on my wish list....:?

 

[Phillip]

Got a better pic of the hondo today shows its color better than the aspen by far.

And as to why no venemous pics blame it on the very poorly lit room the hots were in. Overall I was really let down by the hot show. They had some nice rhinos and eyelashes as well as the incredible albino EDBs but the whole place was lit like a cave. Couldn't see for crap.

Phil

 

[Weapon-X]

re

awesome snakes phil, damn that woma for some reason just looks mean maybe its the black on its face, awesome awesome snakes

 

[Lasiodora]

Mandarina!!!!!!!!
One of my favorites. You made some great purchases.
Mike

 

[petitegreeneyes]

Wow! I too loved the Mandarin. Very sharp colors and congrats on the eggs hatching. Can't wait to see more pics.

 

[Phillip]

Actually Weapon the Womas are amongst the most gentle laid back snake species there are. LKooks can often be misleading.

Phil

 

[Weapon-X]

re

wow phil, thats even more awesome! it looks killer and is gentle , ver very cool, damn no wonder they cost a fortune lol--Jeff

 

[Phillip]

Other reasons they cost a lot are

Rarity... While they are well established in captivity not too many folks have them.

Fast growth... Can reach 5 to 6 feet in one year and can be bred at 18 months.

Ease of breeding... Folks that breed them commonly refer to them as the easiest snakes they have as far as keeping and breeding go.

Easy to raise babies... They eat well as opposed to some hatchlings of other species and hatch rates are high. They come out of the eggs big and ready to go.

Phil