tentacled snakes

[Lrptls]

has any one here purchased or know some one who has purchased tentacled snakes? they are my favorite snakes in the world and i would do almost any thing to get them. i have seen them for sale on the internet a few times before but havn't for a really long time. i was wondering if any one knew a place that regularly gets them. thanks for any help.

[Adrian]

Maybe try the aquatics section, as i think people who deal with them are primarily aquarium enthusiasts. They sound quite interesting from what i read

[CamHanna]

There are a few people on kingsnake .com who have kept them; I don't remember who at the moment but it might be worth doing a search or making a post. Anecdotally, they are very particular about their water chemistry and are prone to skin infections.

Good Luck
Cam

[mark129er]

Water chemistry, in general, is easy enough to take care of. I don't know about the requirements of these snakes. With proper testing and due care water chemistry can be maintained quite easily.

[CamHanna]

Water chemistry's not a problem when you know what it should be. Tentaculum maintenance is still very experimental and there are only very basic guidelines available. These snakes are prone to fungal infections and often expire quite quickly.

[ElapidaeBoidae]

The tentacled snake does get fungal infections in poor water condition just like the file snake. Both must have the most elaborate filtration systems to maintain a suitable enviornment. They die off quickly in captivity, and are illegal in multiple places due to the fact that they would be invasive to native species. I looked into getting a couple, obviously it is very hard to even find a place that will sell them. One reason is because it is a big risk to even try to sell them for profit, they are fragile. They feed on fish, and not your typical goldfish. You would need to raise minnows, and shiners. Their aquarium setup needs to be a mangrove style, which is not easily done in small spaces. Their mortality rating is very high. If you take up this unique species be prepared for some major frustration.

[Lrptls]

thank you very much for the replies. i dont doubt at all that they are extremly difficult to care for. i hear more often of them dieing when people get them than them living healthy. this does scare me but as i said, they are my favorite snakes, i would do almost any thing to get them and i would give up hours of my day every day if i had to in order to keep them alive. i would spend my last penny to give them the best set up i could, even raise fish to feed them. i really would do any thing if i could just find them to buy them.

i did see a long time ago some one selling them on kingsnake. there is another website where they list them but they are always out and i have only seen them get them once before. i will keep checking them. if i ever see them i think i'll post on here incase any one else is interested.

[ElapidaeBoidae]

ok cool, whats this place your talking about...if they have tentacleds then they must sell other exotics, they would be awesome to work with, they are venomous though...just enough to paralyze fish.

[marisa]

Toronto Zoo keeps a tank of them. I got pics last time I was there, not great pics but something.

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/images/zoo/tentaclesnake.jpg">

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/images/zoo/tentaclesnake2.jpg">

Marisa

[Lrptls]

http://www.diamondreptile.com/pricelist.htm
this is the site that has them listed, they do have alot of cool stuff.

marisa thanks for sharing your pictures, they are awesome. i have actually only seen real live tentacled snakes once as the zoo in DC, my friends had to literaly pull me away from the tank. i was so in aw, my eyes were watery.

[Jason Wakelin]

Hi,

You could also try www.vanaqua.org , and see what they say. It is the web address for the Vancouver Aquarium. They have been maintaining and (possibly) breeding them for a short while now. I first noticed them approx. 8 months ago, and everytime I go back (I am a member), there are more babies in the tank with the adults. I'm not positive as to whether they are being captive bred, or the adults were wild caught and gravid at capture. But either way they are having some success. I believe Andrew is the name of the keeper in charge of them.

Jason