GTP's at the PC show???

[gargoyle]

Just wondering if anyone know if there will be any chondros available at the upcoming PC show and approx what they will priced around. I know I've seen them around $1100 there before! Is this a good price for the show? Thanks!

[Holy Mackerel]

$1100 seems pretty steep. Usually there are a few available at the show (going early helps). The prices are usually more in the area of $750 - $800....but I have also seen them as low as $650 and as high as $1000.

Also pay attention to who are you buying it from.


Steve

[gargoyle]

any recomendations on who to buy from?

[honduranfreekk]

Not sure if he has any yet or will be at the show but Mike Perry has some REALLY nice GTPs.

Kelvin@Brigitte

[Skinnychondro]

I got one at the last show for $700. Very nice yellow baby. Got it from Large exotics. They may have more this time.
Cheers
Jamie

[greenman1867]

Why is it that Chondros are so pricey? Compared to Balls and Boas for example? Are they that much harder to breed? So availability is low? Just curious.

Thanks, Shawn

[Holy Mackerel]

Greenman,

For on thing, chondros mature much later than balls. The other thing is that chondros are gorgeous snakes, and as such they are prized (and therefore expensive). Look at some of the nicer looking balls, they start going anywhere from $1000 - $25000 USD.

[Jeff_Favelle]

1) WC die and generally don't do well, as oppsed to Balls and Boas, which in the case of Ball Pythons, are imported by the 1/2 MILLION every year.

2) Green Trees are not easy to breed.

3) Green Tree eggs are even harder to hatch!

4) If you do manage to hatch a Green Tree, they aren't really saleable until like 4-6 months of age, and not even sexable until after a year of age. So that makes it hard to buy in pairs, unless you buy yearlings, which are more money because of the time and effort.

5) Green Trees are really HARD to do in a rack system, therefore almost impossible to mass produce. Not the case with Balls and Boas.

[BornboreD]

Why are Chondros hard to do in a rack?? Just curious??

Colin

[peterm15]

my guess would be there aboreal so a good rack swstem for an aboreal snake would be hard

[gargoyle]

there are lots of arboreal racks out there, I think they just don't take a lot of the specifics for GTP's into consideration! But I'm no expert there, just getting into GTP's myself. But the cages that I'm looking at are slightly more than the regular ones, and if I went wild on the setup, someone could easily spend twice as much on the cage after you figure in misters, thermostats, timers for mister and lighting, hemostats for feeding (if you don't already have them) and the cost of vet checks for these guys if you have a vet that knows anything about herps as I don't!

[greenman1867]

Well, that answers alot, thanks very much all. I appreciate your knowledge and patience :)

[Holy Mackerel]

Gargoyle,

which lifestage are you looking to purchase? If you're looking to get a hatchling, what kinda of cage is it that you are talking about buying (most people don't put money into expensive chages until the snakes get bigger)?

[BornboreD]

I don't really see how them being arboreal has anything to do with a rack not working well for them. What's so hard about building a rack using tall rubbermaids?? If your heating method is heatape down the back of the rack, then it shouldn't be a problem. I have read, in Greg Maxwell's book, that he houses all of his hatchlings and juvies in racks..........which is all anybody would want to do. Obviously big display cages are a must once the animal has matured.

Colin

[gargoyle]

Holy Mackeral:

I am looking at getting a hatchling, and I usually put about the same amount of time and expense into hatchling (any species) caging as I do for adults just as a rule! This is just my preferance and I know that most people believe in using only rubbermaids but in my research and experience with other species I find that using an appropriately sized/coloured and of course heated cage that has a smaller clear window for checking and viewing your animal it actually creates less stress then haveing to remove the lid or slide the rubbermaid our of a rack! This way the animal can relax and settle in a little bit quicker without worries. Of course this only works if you don't act like beagle sniffing a rabbit hole, shuving your face up to the window every ten minutes! In other words I have them in a room that is dedicated to my animals that sees very low traffic! I hope this answers your questions and clarifies my remarks! sorry for rambling!

[Holy Mackerel]

Gargoyle,

That sounds extremely impressive. Good job on the dedication you're putting into it.


I had to laugh when i read the beagle sniffing around the rabbit hole. That is me by far. Even years after having animals, i can't help but to constantly run and check what they're doing or just sit and watch them (i suppose i like to get to know the individuals the best i can). I've use rubbermaids with great success with all my snakes. However, I couldn't agree with you more that the type of cage you're describing would probably be much more suitable. Especially if you end up with one of the young chondros that is nervous, not quick to acclimate to new surroundings, or a problem feeder.

best of luck,
Steve

[gargoyle]

thanks for the words of encouragement, and don't feel bad, I've gotta make an effort not to be like the beagle and the rabbit hole almost every day! I think anyone that really loves there reptiles are, and should be!

[peterm15]

well i applaud your efort, and after reading a link that was posted on another thread i see how a rack could work..

id really like to see your cage and stuff when you get it setup..