Questions about Alpine Blotchies.

[NickBrahz]

Looking to get a Alpine Blotchie within the next 1-2 months but first want to ask some questions so then i know how to set up a home for him, thanks in advance.

1. I have a Eastern, and are wondering how different it is to take care of a Blotchie, are there many differences in care between the two? if so what are they.

2. Is it currently around Birthing season for them? i remember a thread not so long ago from Scott saying hes had started to be born so im guessing it is roughly birthing season, i don't mind getting one that is a few months older in Juvenile stage.

3. What is the rough cost of them, im after one that has a yellow or orange colour to them so i imagine they might be more expensive seeing that they have have more vibrant colours?

Thats all i can think of for now will add any more that i have forgotten.

Cheers,
Nick.

[RoryBreaker]

Alpine Blotchies in Australia can be found in the $100-$250 price range, juvs and adults.

PM Scott on here, he had a heap available to forum members in the classifieds a few months back.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26801
I'm sure he stills has some.

As for all your info on these critters both Scott and Richard are the resident gurus.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Richard.C]

similar keeping to easterns but way more cold hardy and cold damp hardy,also way more dominant to other species than easterns,i find even juvie blotchies will dominate adult easterns if housed together,easterns are a more shy species to that sort of caper,unless housed with other easterns

not baby season here yet

but shouldnt be to far off,i think

[NickBrahz]

Thanks for the replies guys, thought they would be roughly that price for them, the Blotchie would be housed in a separate enclosure to the Eastern so that's no problem that its a more dominating species, would baby season be within the next few months? i don't mind having to wait up to a few months, i would prefer a baby or a Juvie over an adult.

[Scotts1au]

Alpines don't play nice with Easterns, or lowlands for that matter but seem ok generally with their own.

1) Easterns tend to be shy and sneaky eaters, blotchies will often learn to follow you around for food and are generally more bold. Males are more skittish, fight and can be pickier eaters than females, which can be laconic but often gross feeders. Easterns in an outdoor enclosure will often inhabit opposite ends, climb etc. blotchies are happy to pile up on each other for a sunny spot. Outdoors Easterns are prone to RI's, get stressed, particularly if kept with other blueys. Blotchies sexes are more dimorphic (although can be hard to tell as sub adults) but easier at birth strangely with males having generally bigger heads and bolder appearance. Females massively outgrow males from sub-adult onward - I find males generally are mature size in 3 years, females in 2.

If you are buying babies, it pays to check out the adults. Ugly ducking babies can be stunners when older. A baby for example with light coloured blotches but prominent red colouring on the head could end up being a bright red blotched adult, or pink, whereas orange ones are more obvious. A baby that is bright red as a baby is probably sailors warning of an inbred specimen for multi allele recessive genetics meaning that it probably won't breed true to type if bred with a non related animal.

2) Birthing depends where you are. In Western Sydney (eg. Emu Plains) typically in November. In Victoria, anywhere from late December to March with exceptions. In Central Victoria with my animals (stress that could vary with other forms) - the last few years have been pretty close to 15 Feb.

3) You will see them advertised from $50 - 250. I have a couple that I wouldn't let go, full stop. Others I would want $200+ as adults. One thing that I can guarantee is - like any with any animals, if a breeder sees you coming and trying to screw down the price then they will let you have an animals that matches the price. :-) Generally for some reason they are expensive in Sydney, like everything else, expect to pay $140+ for nice animals.

Yellows will be hard to come by, orange are easy, pinks fairly common (although watch out for wild caught ones). There are some really nice reds around but rarely with an advertised price and personally I would want to know something about it -keeping, breeding etc before buying.