Cave Dwelling Rats

[Zoe]

I daresay I think they are beautiful snakes... Where can I find them? What do they go for? How difficult are they?

Thanks!
Zoe

[gonesnakee]

Contact Simon R. Samson (I think I got it right) he's on the ssnakess forums & breeds them. I also believe that Hiss'N'Hers pythons of Montreal(? not sure) breed them also. If you want a similar version of the same type snake try Scales Zoo (Ryan & Sheila on SSNAKESS also) they have baby Tawain Beauties available & I myself will have Vietnamese Blue Beauties available in the next couple of months (13 eggs incubating). The Taiwans & the VBB aren't as nice, but they cost about a third the price. If you get one spend lots of time with it when it's young because they can become quite nasty otherwise. Good Luck Mark I.

[gonesnakee]

Oh & I forgot to mention they grow superfast. I sold a yearling female VBB this weeekend that was around 6 feet already & she was taking 3 XL mice weekly or could take small rats. Like I said this is why its good to tame them when they are young before they turn into 6 foot biting machines like the one Katt & Vanan will be dealing with HEH HEH Mark I.

[gonesnakee]

There is one for sale in the ssnakess classifieds right now, boa mania has one $300 which is much cheaper than some I've seen before as much as $500 a piece. Mark I.

[Simon R. Sansom]

Hi Zoe,
Yes, I am attempting to produce Cavers this year. My female looks quite gravid, to say the least. Fingers crossed for viable eggs.
To the best of my knowledge, the first and only Canadian to produce them is Dr. Philippe Blais, and I now own his breeders.
Again, to the best of my knowledge Boa-Mania has a single yearling male, and they've had him for a while. Most folks looking to purchase CDRS's are buying with an eye towards breeding, hence they want pairs. It can be difficult to sell a single male. However if you're looking for one just as a pet, it might be worth getting, particularly as it's a yearling and is assumedly feeding well, etc.
They are wonderful snakes, and my adults have the best temperaments. They are more deliberate and gentle than a corn snake. My male is pushing eight feet in length and is most impressive.
As far as price goes, I think that $500.00 each is a little bit steep. I would say $375.00 - $400.00 would be more like it. Remember, they are not exactly common in Canada yet.
For example, If you were to find a breeder in the U.S. who would even be bothered to export you a pair, you would likely pay about $500.00 U.S per pair (convert that into Canadian dollars) + Shipping + U.S. inspection fee + GST + PST, etc. You will quickly see that it becomes a VERY expensive proposition.
A perfect example is my pair of Trans-Pecos Rat Snakes. Even though I piggy-backed them with a friend's order, and split shipping costs, etc, with him, they still ended up costing me almost two-and-a-half times their U.S. value, so I believe that some of these costs must be reflected in the pricing of any babies that we produce. This is the reason that Canadian prices often SEEM high, but when you consider all the extra costs and difficulties involved in importing, it can actually be quite reasonable.
Anyway, that's the way I see it.
And for the record, my last name is spelled exactly as seen on my posts. It's S-a-N-s-o-M...Sansom.

Thanks everyone!

Cheers!

Simon

[Katt]

I find importing from the states incredibly cheap.

All we do is pay for shipping to a contact in the states, drive down, pay duty at the border, drive in. Of course, for non CITES stuff. It pays to be near the border.

As for Mark. Please send more of your bitey mean animals. We are impressed and super happy with the blue beauty and cali king!! Thanks!!!

As for cavers, those guys are on my list this year. I plan to buy American, in order that we can diversify bloodlines in Canada, it would not do to have a limited gene pool up here.

I'll be excited to see Simon's cavers this year. Good luck!!

[gonesnakee]

Hi everyone, Sorry on the name Simon I was too lazy to look so I guessed & also good luck on the breeding process. Katt glad to hear your have recv. your new snakes. Did the CK try to eat you right away? Better feed that hungry boy. I was showing spectators at the TARAS show him as an example of what a hungry CK can be like. Glad to hear you are happy with him & the VBB. Bring on the Rat snakes people! Mark I.

[Simon R. Sansom]

LOL! That's okay, Mark...everyone gets it wrong!

Simon

[gonesnakee]

No one spells mine right either. Mark IsBell