What does LTC stand for?

[aubrey]

Hi, perhaps a silly question, but this term is too short to search for. Can anyone tell me what LTC stands for? It is in relation to an advert for an 05 Royal female for sale. Mentions that the snake has not eaten for a few months so needs some help to get going again.

Thanks very much for your help.

Aubrey

[qiksilver]

long term captive

[J.Vandegrift]

Hi, perhaps a silly question, but this term is too short to search for. Can anyone tell me what LTC stands for? It is in relation to an advert for an 05 Royal female for sale. Mentions that the snake has not eaten for a few months so needs some help to get going again.

Thanks very much for your help.

Aubrey

It stands for long term captive, but be very careful. Many dealers think a few months in captivity means it is LTC. Be sure to ask how long it has been in the country and how it eats. MANY people import WC gravid females; wait for them to lay, and then sell them as LTC.

[LadyOhh]

Long term Captive, Long Time Caught...

[aubrey]

Oh ok, sounds a little dubious. There are six snakes in the advert, all seem very CHEAP! It mentions that they havn't eaten for several months so will need an experienced keeper to get them going again. Any thoughts? Best avoided?

Thanks very much all.

[LadyOhh]

Well,

Do you feel like you can take the challenge?
Can you honestly be that expert keeper that can get them all feeding?
Have you ever done something like that before???
Will you be upset if one of them goes belly up due to lack of food?

All things to consider. There is a reason why they are so cheap!!

I personally wouldn't do it... I've done it before, and it is more of a headache than it is worth.

[Rapture]

If you don't already have the experience getting a wild caught female to eat, I'd pass and get a captive bred snake instead. There are tons out there for good prices. I agree with Heather that it's more of a headache than anything trying to keep a wild caught female compared to captive bred animals.

[plummer]

no LTC stands for LOVING tender care.

[frankykeno]

Aubrey, I'm not saying to go or not go for one of these snakes but do be aware of the committment and possible poor outcome. If you aren't experienced enough or have experienced people to guide you, it can be a very long, very frustrating and very costly experience (it is anyways but at least Mike and I had good folks to help us). Very long and frustrating in trying to de-stress them enough to get them eating again. Very costly in that vet care may be required if they are carrying internal parasites which is quite likely with wild caught snakes.

We have two adult females in our collection which were wild caught adults, but would now be referred to as LTC's I guess (one has been in captivity 3 years, the other between 1 and 2 years). One eats fairly well though that's after 2 solid years of very careful husbandry and adjusting ourselves to her special needs. The other has only been with us since early this summer, is still well underweight for her length and is just barely on a decent feeding schedule. Neither will breed this year. One may go next year or very late this year, the other is probably two years out from a safe breeding weight. One can be handled, the other only when necessary.

Both came to us as non-eating adult rescues. It's been worth the work, they are lovely snakes that needed a chance but it's not something to take on lightly. It is definitely not the "cheap" way to an adult female.

[aubrey]

I think I'll probably give it a miss, I'm confident I could do it, but don't want the headache and potential heartache that comes with it! Thanks for your help all.