2019 Snek Acquisition Plan

[WhompingWillow]

We have no real plans to breed, so take this with a grain of salt, but I believe it's generally advised to have more females than males and that it's better to get powerhouse males if possible. ie, if you're going for Pieds, you could get by with regular Pied females but would want something awesome for the males - such as a multigene Pied male or a multigene het Pied male if you're confident about the breeder. This is because females take longer to get to proper breeding age/size and because females are generally more expensive. I'm sure breeders can offer much more concrete advice on this, though.

[tttaylorrr]

We have no real plans to breed, so take this with a grain of salt, but I believe it's generally advised to have more females than males and that it's better to get powerhouse males if possible. ie, if you're going for Pieds, you could get by with regular Pied females but would want something awesome for the males - such as a multigene Pied male or a multigene het Pied male if you're confident about the breeder. This is because females take longer to get to proper breeding age/size and because females are generally more expensive. I'm sure breeders can offer much more concrete advice on this, though.

you are correct here: more females than males is the preferred ratio; powerhouse males and single-gene females is a strategy a lot of breeders use (and i have not LOL). but as long as you have a plan and stick with it, you should be alright.

[RickyNY]

Like others said, you won't see the eggs even if you do a close inspection. So just treat for mites anyways while in quarantine using some Permectrin II
This is how Garret does it:

[MR Snakes]

Great responses folks. Keep em’ coming. Learning so much here.


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[RXLReptiles]

As an example to what everyone is saying here about mites.

A friend of mine that breeds was at the Lone Star expo this past weekend, she's doesn't produce a large number of animals and every breeder she owns was a pet first. She's never had issues with mites within her collection and has some of the better looking animals (healthwise and morphwise) at the show.

So this past weekend at the show, all her available snakes came to the show healthy and mite-free. By the end of day one she noticed a single mite on her banana pied and she immediately separated him and removed all the other snakes from that show case so she could clean and treat the display. On day 2 she noticed 2 more snakes had a mite or 2 on them, these 2 were her black pastel pieds. So same deal, remove all snakes and clean/treat display/snakes. So she decides to investigate nearby booths, one breeder 3 booths down (admittedly a good guy, but new to breeding and shows in general) admits he found mites on one of his snakes on setup day and didn't QT it immediately, instead he treated it the next morning after running home that night for treatment.

So because of one animal that had mites and one breeder that didn't QT immediately, all the animals at that show are at risk for having mites, and all her snakes went home into QT.

Mites are almost always going to be at a show, it's just what happens when you get that many keepers and animals in one place. But quarantining new animals at home on PAM treated paper towel separate from your other animals will prevent the possibility of mites being an issue.

[bcr229]

You also need to realize that most show promoters do not vet their vendors to ensure they are only selling healthy animals; anyone who wants a table gets one. So, you could have one vendor who breeds and sells his own critters set up next to a vendor whose wild-caught, stressed, parasite-riddled critters came off of a plane from overseas the week prior to the show.

Since you have decided which shows you are attending I would strongly suggest going to the show's Facebook page or web site and doing some research on the vendors well before the day of the show. That way you will know who to avoid.

I wrote this up a while ago about buying from online vendors, but the how-to-research aspect applies just as much to vendors at expos.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...g-Herps-Online

[RickyNY]

Unfortunately that's why I don't go to reptile shows. I wish I could, I bet they are fun.
And don't feel attacked if you do! Is just me...my choice.

[Tila]

I would say in terms of enclosures White Plains would have better selection for you. It is a larger show where bigger companies bring a selection of racks and tubs. I have seen the odd small vendor at Manchester shows but I chose to buy racks from a larger, more established vendor that also has a display at the White Plains show. Also, if I were ever considering purchasing what appears to be used equipment, cleanliness would be a huge factor for me.

The White Plains show is larger, but not as accessible in some ways. The crowds can be a lot at both, but the parking situation is better in Manchester. And for how small comparatively Manchester is to White Plains, there is still great variety whereas NY seems to have a lot of different vendors with the same types of things.

There is an annual (I believe) show in Portland, ME, but it is very limited and needs support to grow and diversify. Better than not attending a show though.

Good luck in your journey, it's just such great fun, especially if you like hobbies where you can choose areas to tinker with!

[MR Snakes]

You also need to realize that most show promoters do not vet their vendors to ensure they are only selling healthy animals; anyone who wants a table gets one. So, you could have one vendor who breeds and sells his own critters set up next to a vendor whose wild-caught, stressed, parasite-riddled critters came off of a plane from overseas the week prior to the show.

Since you have decided which shows you are attending I would strongly suggest going to the show's Facebook page or web site and doing some research on the vendors well before the day of the show. That way you will know who to avoid.

I wrote this up a while ago about buying from online vendors, but the how-to-research aspect applies just as much to vendors at expos.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...g-Herps-Online

It almost sounds like to avoid a possible mite situation I should pick out sneks, have them brought back to their own shop and have them shipped? Dunno.

[zina10]

There are a few breeders with impeccable reputation.

Deborah, one of our Moderators, has BEAUTIES for sale, and her husbandry is perfect. Dynasty Reptiles has all their buyers happy from what I can see. Justin K., Ozzy and a few more are also trustworthy with amazing animals.

You could simply get 3 BP from the same breeder/facility and at the same time. Why not, since you are planning so far ahead. Then you can set them up in your rack right away, since you don't need to quarantine them from one another.

I would buy supplies, enclosures and whatnot at shows. Never an animal. But that's just me.

I know many of the good breeders DO go to shows, so there is the chance of them bringing something home to their own collection. But I think they have procedures in place to prevent that. They have to much to loose, to allow a stray mite to get back into their collection or to let people handle their snakes without some precautions.

Just an idea..