Indonesian imports

[BillyCostume]

Has anyone here ever bought an Indonesian "captive hatched" import? If so, how were they health wise (mites/parasites)?

[Aaron_S]

Like anything else expect deaths.

I've seen many come in and I'm sure there's deaths and issues with each shipment but also good animals come in.

Was there a specific animal you saw come in recently? I've noticed there's been a few indo imports land in the last 2 weeks.

[jjhill001]

Likely a step above regular old wild caught stuff to be sure. Importers are gradually getting the hint that people don't want crap animals and are starting to take better care of their animals.

Nowadays with planes shipping reptiles the WC we see are completely different animals compared to even just 10-15 years ago. You can have a photo of an animal half way across the world and have it at your business in less than a week. That's a far cry from the 3 months spent on a cargo ship that many of the WC animals used to go through. Back in the day you could open up a shipment of imported reptiles and half of them or more would be dead and the living ones weren't doing too great. Perfect example is the WC green tree frogs and anoles you see at pet stores. Some of them look rough but for the most part they are in decent condition, that's because we've been shipping by plane instead of 3 week freight trucks.

What this means is that it's easier to get an animal established which means we have a lot better chance of establishing CB populations of various species.

If someone is just looking for a pet it is always better to circumvent all of that and spend the extra money on the CB animals. If someone wants something that they can't get any other way then set up a quarantine room and get going on making the CBs available for me to buy!

[BillyCostume]

Local shop got a few white lipped pythons last week. A species I've always been on the lookout for, I'm just a little hesitant buying an import.

[jjhill001]

Local shop got a few white lipped pythons last week. A species I've always been on the lookout for, I'm just a little hesitant buying an import.

I'd say go for it if you can meet the following criteria:

-do the snakes look healthy? good weight, no mites etc
-money for basic care
-money for a vet visit to get a bit of that panacur parasite stuff if the animal fails to put on weight. Maybe a preliminary fecal float if you're really worried.
-actual space away from your main collection, different tools and everything etc.

[Aaron_S]

Local shop got a few white lipped pythons last week. A species I've always been on the lookout for, I'm just a little hesitant buying an import.

You'll be stuck buying WC of that species most likely anyway.

If it's decently round/good weight, looking wiry, eating and doesn't have any mites then good to go on it.

Expect them to be highly defensive though.

[Scubadiver59]

I have a CB WLP I just picked up the other day, a Southern specimen, and no defensiveness observed yet.

You'll be stuck buying WC of that species most likely anyway.

If it's decently round/good weight, looking wiry, eating and doesn't have any mites then good to go on it.

Expect them to be highly defensive though.

[Aaron_S]

I have a CB WLP I just picked up the other day, a Southern specimen, and no defensiveness observed yet.

They can be good when CB. However, this is a species well known for being defensive, especially older WC.

I'd prefer to walk in expecting something worse than expecting a ball python like behaviour.

[Scubadiver59]

Oh ye of little faith! :rolleyes:

They can be good when CB. However, this is a species well known for being defensive, especially older WC.

I'd prefer to walk in expecting something worse than expecting a ball python like behaviour.

[BillyCostume]

I got a chance to check him out and he seemed healthy. I handled him and he was active and looked to be in good shape. He's currently being treated for mites as a precaution and will be offered his first meal tonight. They said they'll hold onto him for a month or so to get established and ensure his overall health. Looks like I'll be joining the WLP club in the near future. Thanks for the advice all :)

[BillyCostume]

I have a CB WLP I just picked up the other day, a Southern specimen, and no defensiveness observed yet.

I'm getting a northern, but man are those southerns stunning

[Aaron_S]

Oh ye of little faith! :rolleyes:

You're talking to the guy who uses snake hooks on pretty much everything. It hurts to get bit and I don't like it!

[Scubadiver59]

I got bit by my 7' Taiwanese Beauty the other night, but I deserved it...I poked him, gently, to get him to turn around and feed, and he turned faster than I thought he would and gave me what I deserved.

Thus far I none of my charges have clamped down on any of my body parts...yet! :rolleyes:

BTW, a friend here at work, who has worked with snakes before, gave me a bit of advice to get snakes to let go if them clamp down on the odd body part--he said to use a credit card and slide it between the top jaw and your skin and 99% of the time they will let go. I guess it's something about the plastic, or something else, that makes them release, but at least it would make it easier to get the snake to back off since most of the teeth are in the upper mouth and it would reduce its ability to hold on. So the moral of the story is...keep your credit card handy for your snakes!


You're talking to the guy who uses snake hooks on pretty much everything. It hurts to get bit and I don't like it!

[jjhill001]

I'm getting a northern, but man are those southerns stunning

Keep an eye out for a female now. Its awesome they are gonna keep an eye on it for you the first month or so. I'd still quarantine it yourself though.

[Aaron_S]

I got bit by my 7' Taiwanese Beauty the other night, but I deserved it...I poked him, gently, to get him to turn around and feed, and he turned faster than I thought he would and gave me what I deserved.

Thus far I none of my charges have clamped down on any of my body parts...yet! :rolleyes:

BTW, a friend here at work, who has worked with snakes before, gave me a bit of advice to get snakes to let go if them clamp down on the odd body part--he said to use a credit card and slide it between the top jaw and your skin and 99% of the time they will let go. I guess it's something about the plastic, or something else, that makes them release, but at least it would make it easier to get the snake to back off since most of the teeth are in the upper mouth and it would reduce its ability to hold on. So the moral of the story is...keep your credit card handy for your snakes!

Yeah it HURTS! I've been bit enough to know it hurts. Biggest thing was like 5 feet of teeth. I'm good lol.

[BillyCostume]

Keep an eye out for a female now. Its awesome they are gonna keep an eye on it for you the first month or so. I'd still quarantine it yourself though.

It'll definitely be kept away from the rest of my collection. They're great people and they produce some nice animals themselves. I have a leopard BCI coming in from them as well....just a few more feedings and she's all mine :D

[pet_snake_78]

It really all depends. There are some guys who really only sell A+ animals that they've kept for at least a couple of weeks and given TLC. Then there's guys who would sell something the day they picked it up, sell animals that are obviously ill, etc. One guy I buy imports from even gives a lot of them a couple of rounds of treatment for parasites before he sends em on to me. I've recommended him to a number of friends who also had good luck with both Indo and South American species. The animals arent always cheap but I do believe the quality is going up and the quantities go down and people become pickier about what imports they will accept.