Good Trade???

OK I got an email today on my ASF's. I replied to the email telling the gentleman what I have and left him my phone number. I did not think that I would ever hear from him due to the fact that he lives 8 hours from myself.

He called me this afternoon and we got to talking about the ASF's care for them... blah blah blah general stuff that people ask.

Any who I told him I was interested in getting some more BP's he stated he had a few large female normals that may be gravid that he might be willing to trade...

I am not sure of what he has introduced to the females but he did state that he had seen locks. He did breed them to morphs. He mentioned a mojave and some others but I do not know.

So I will possibly be trading about 60 ASF's for 2 or 3 poss gravid females.

So not to the questions... What do I need to look for when looking at these girls? How can I tell if they are gravid? I am just unsure because I am still fairly new to the hobby and I do not want to get into this with out knowing what to look for.

Mike

Are you %100 positive you can care for gravid females, eggs and hatchlings?

I don't want to discourage you too much but I don't think I would take a gravid female at this point myself, being pretty new to the hobby as well.

Though it does sound like a great trade to me!

Mike,
I would make that trade in a minute. 3 breeding size girls for 60 ASF! You can make 60 more ASF by next week!
Gravid or not, I'd do the deal...Just QT the hell out of the new snakes.... and if they are gravid, sell the babies and make enough to cover your ASF food bill....

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Originally Posted by dizzy

Are you %100 positive you can care for gravid females, eggs and hatchlings?

I don't want to discourage you too much but I don't think I would take a gravid female at this point myself, being pretty new to the hobby as well.

Though it does sound like a great trade to me!

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I am going to be speaking with a few good breeding friends of mine and see what they think about that. I do know that the care can difficult but nothing that I don't think I can candle.

This might sound arrogant and I do not mean it that way but, a little money and a little education can go along way.

Mike

Charlie nailed it. As long as you get healthy females, 60 ASFs is a small price to pay if you're breeding them. If you get lucky and they are gravid with any kind of morphs, that would just be jackpot gravy.

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Originally Posted by hoax

I am going to be speaking with a few good breeding friends of mine and see what they think about that. I do know that the care can difficult but nothing that I don't think I can candle.

This might sound arrogant and I do not mean it that way but, a little money and a little education can go along way.

Mike

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I absolutely agree. I can't believe how much knowledge I gain on a daily basis by reading about my pets. I just haven't read all that much yet on breeding, as I have a couple years before most of mine reach that age.

If you're commited I'm sure you can gain the knowledge and materials needed.

Good luck!

Bit odd though that anyone would trade of 3 gravid females, that have been bred to morphs, for a bunch of ASF's. I'm always a bit leary of any deal that seems to good to be true. Check this breeder out on Fauna BOI or ask around here. Insist on taking your ASF's to him so you can check out the conditions these females were kept in. I'd hate to see you do a trade for what you think are nice captive, gravid females and end up with 3 hard to care for gravid imports. If he did indeed breed these females, he should have exact records for you to review as well as the male snakes on site.

I'm not saying to not do the deal, just be cautious about it.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Bit odd though that anyone would trade of 3 gravid females, that have been bred to morphs, for a bunch of ASF's. I'm always a bit leary of any deal that seems to good to be true. Check this breeder out on Fauna BOI or ask around here. Insist on taking your ASF's to him so you can check out the conditions these females were kept in. I'd hate to see you do a trade for what you think are nice captive, gravid females and end up with 3 hard to care for gravid imports. If he did indeed breed these females, he should have exact records for you to review as well as the male snakes on site.

I'm not saying to not do the deal, just be cautious about it.

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I am going to go to him. He is need of feeders he said he has around 30 snakes. This is his first year of breeding so there is no BOI on him. I am quite leery but I am going to give it a go. He said that there is a possibility that they may be gravid. Even if they are not a couple of snakes for 60 or so ASF's is a good deal IMO

Mike

Sorry but i just a quick question, what does ASF's mean and also what is a gravid ball python

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Originally Posted by tjones

Sorry but i just a quick question, what does ASF's mean and also what is a gravid ball python

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African Soft Fur rats....Gravid = eggs inside....

thanks

Mike, I know we talked on the celly, but one thing I forgot to remind you of is to check them really closely for ticks and mites. Any of the above could indicate that these are bush babies and not CBB girls. Pay close attention to the area under their craniums in that fold of skin that stretches out when their jaws un-hinge. A number of healed up scars can be a give away too.

Also, pay real close attention to how they act in general. If they are overly shy and want to get away when you examine them, could be a sign that they're wild caught.

And lastly, during the middle of your exam, casually ask the guy to see their feeding and breeding records, and watch his reaction...you know what to look for. I'd hate to see you drive 8 hours just to have to walk away from a deal, but better that than bring home some contageous crap to your collection....besides, if you need someone to cuss at if you have to drive home empty handed, give me a call!

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Originally Posted by hoax

I am going to go to him. He is need of feeders he said he has around 30 snakes. This is his first year of breeding so there is no BOI on him. I am quite leery but I am going to give it a go. He said that there is a possibility that they may be gravid. Even if they are not a couple of snakes for 60 or so ASF's is a good deal IMO

Mike

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First year of breeding and he's willing to part with some of his gravid females??? Just be really cautious, Mike.

okie dokie guys I have decided not to go through with the deal...

Not because I dont want to but simply because I have no room and I was not supposed to be getting more then 2 snakes this year... well now I have 5 and we are only a little past 2 months into it...

But on a good note I am buying some land (hopefully) and with it comes a shop... a snake shop... with LOTS OF ROOM!!!! and with lots of room comes the need to fill it... hmmmm what should I put in this room??? I think I may start collecting unicorn figurines or more BPs not sure which yet...

Thanks for all the advice and PMs I really appreciate it and have learned alot just form this one thread.... Thanks again BPnet

Mike

Ohhhhh how about Disney collectibles!!!! I can just see you puttering around all day, dusting the little ceramic fairies and oh so cute Mickey Mouse clocks and....well it's just too dang precious Mike! Who needs those stinky snakes when you could have a matched set of Goofy dinnerware for your very own!

:P

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Ohhhhh how about Disney collectibles!!!! I can just see you puttering around all day, dusting the little ceramic fairies and oh so cute Mickey Mouse clocks and....well it's just too dang precious Mike! Who needs those stinky snakes when you could have a matched set of Goofy dinnerware for your very own!

:P

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:rofl:

I jumped onthat deal .. as for th eeggs makes suryou got access to an incubator case they won't take long to go bad.. as for th asf I know the younger ones will be and breeding befoer the eggs even hatch . I also would say make sure you have a number of new tubs/cages ready.I know that when al five of mine hatch ( first attempt) I was shocked I cut the eggs awhen I was suggestedtoo and was more than shocked i had 5 health snakes since most people were sayingthe eggs looked a little dried .I figures i have 1-2 alive runts and the rest died mid way though the proccess.
I hopnig for at least one egg fro my female het peid cause I be so happy and it porved out lol. IF any eggs are laid I am gettign that number of tubs once I get the money so they be set and ready when the snake comes.. I plan on building my other rack by june so I shoulde be all set befoer they will( if she drops any hatch)

as for what you will need for the eggs ..

hatching medium ( igot 2 bags and was thinknig it was not enough) incubator
a light disfuser ( home depot has them it more less a sheet of plactice that looks like hardware cloth but thicker and about 10 bcks ( when I got mine)
and I suggest a some paper towels to lay on top the erggs ot caught any moisture that drips down off the top.. I did use a heating pad on medium under the incubator to help keep the temps warm and the humidy up since the moisture will be at the lowest point . You can be shocked how much you can learn in one season with just 5 eggs. I also be prepare for acouple nn eaters too.

My only reduce pattern had to be force fed the first 2 times after hatching. and she a walking rodent vac now ..

I didn't force feed until she lost a little more than 1/2 her birth weight.. which was like 20 grams

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Originally Posted by hoax

OK I got an email today on my ASF's. I replied to the email telling the gentleman what I have and left him my phone number. I did not think that I would ever hear from him due to the fact that he lives 8 hours from myself.

He called me this afternoon and we got to talking about the ASF's care for them... blah blah blah general stuff that people ask.

Any who I told him I was interested in getting some more BP's he stated he had a few large female normals that may be gravid that he might be willing to trade...

I am not sure of what he has introduced to the females but he did state that he had seen locks. He did breed them to morphs. He mentioned a mojave and some others but I do not know.

So I will possibly be trading about 60 ASF's for 2 or 3 poss gravid females.

So not to the questions... What do I need to look for when looking at these girls? How can I tell if they are gravid? I am just unsure because I am still fairly new to the hobby and I do not want to get into this with out knowing what to look for.

Mike

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well from what i gather you breed ASF's and im sure you can keep breeding them and it takes alot less time to get those 60 back . . .an adult female gravid of not sells for about $300(for a normal) i think one female normal gravid or not is worth more than 60 ASF's