BTS - really hooked now

So I have wanted a lizard again since my iguana passed away a few years ago, but didn't want one quite so complicated and large. I have a bp and have the "need another reptile itch" again. I have been pet sitting a blue tongue for two weeks and I think I'm in love. She's like a little stubby-legged dog (that doesn't come when called or know tricks, haha)

Anyway, been doing a ton of research this week and have been really surprised to find that hardly anyone has them for sale. Does anyone here know of reputable breeders or is there a place like morph market but for lizards? My pet sitting client got his about 10 years ago in Arizona but does not remember the breeder. Thanks in advance.

Also any good care sheets / care guides that I can read over?

Also, after a short look over fauna classifieds - why are they so pricey? Are they difficult to breed in captivity?

Just wondering since if I was going to shell out $300-600 on another reptile, I'd probably get my dream snake (pibald bp)

I don't know your budget but Snakes at Sunset has BTS for 169 if that helps any, good luck you are bond to find the perfect friend..

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

Also, after a short look over fauna classifieds - why are they so pricey? Are they difficult to breed in captivity?

Just wondering since if I was going to shell out $300-600 on another reptile, I'd probably get my dream snake (pibald bp)

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Not that they are difficult to breed they are difficult to sex, you can probe or pop them, you basically by several group and see who does what with one another.

There is the old sexing based on the head size but like most visual things it's not accurate.

I know someone who breeds them has quality specimens and know there lineage

His name is Dave you can contact him through Facebook and I can vouch for him https://www.facebook.com/david.levinson.714



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Thanks, Deborah. Have to admit that some of the reviews of breeders on fauna made me a little wary of buying from lesser known sources

You will find that most of the breeders of Northerns have wait lists, so they sell out as soon as the litter is born. The ones that are "cheaper" are generally one of the Indo species that are still being exported, either as "farm raised" or wild caught. I'd recommend going over to bluetongueskinks.net and reading through the many threads, care sheets, and species info. A lot of the people over there are breeders as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

Also, after a short look over fauna classifieds - why are they so pricey? Are they difficult to breed in captivity?

Just wondering since if I was going to shell out $300-600 on another reptile, I'd probably get my dream snake (pibald bp)

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They are usually so pricey because 1. They are viviparous (live birth) 2. they usually only give birth once a year and 3. I believe they have less babies per pregnancy as compared to, let's say, bearded dragons.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

You will find that most of the breeders of Northerns have wait lists, so they sell out as soon as the litter is born. The ones that are "cheaper" are generally one of the Indo species that are still being exported, either as "farm raised" or wild caught. I'd recommend going over to bluetongueskinks.net and reading through the many threads, care sheets, and species info. A lot of the people over there are breeders as well.

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Thanks, I'll definitely check it out. I don't mind being on a wait list. Rather that and get a healthy animal from a breeder than an unhealthy/stressed/parasite ridden one from the wild. I also don't really agree with wild-caught anything...I know that very few pets would have existed if not for catching them from the wild in the first place, but I can't really support it either - why kidnap a creature that will be stressed / deplete the native population when healthier more interesting / tamer specimens are captive bred