Ordering / Pricing / Policies

 

Main Uromastyx Breeding Room

PLEASE contact us first to verify the availability of the specimens you want before sending any money!  Once we've received your payment, we will make arrangements with you to ship to your home or office via FedEx Express service.  For most shipments, this runs about $35.  We only use heavily insulated solid core boxes designed specifically for live animal shipping and add heat and/or cold packs as needed.  Each specimen is bagged individually with sufficient padding to insure a safe trip.   We need you to be home (or at the office if delivered there) to accept delivery of your new companion.  We are meticulous in our packing, so you can be assured they will arrive in good condition (we guarantee live delivery - please see below).   We pack assuming everything will go wrong,  thus helping to insure your new arrival will travel in comfort even if somehow delayed (very rare w/ FedEx).   We have not found UPS or Airborne to be reliable for us and will not guarantee any animals insisted by a customer to be shipped by those shippers.  We've used USPS Overnight Express in the past but post 9-11, their service has steadily deteriorated for Express shipments - to the point we can no longer rely on them to meet the delivery dates posted.  We still use them for Priority shipping of supplies but have eliminated them for use on live animal deliveries.  We apologize for the inconvenience this makes for some buyers, but the animals' health has to be our first priority.   Our goal is the arrival of a live, minimally stressed animal. 

Note: We ship at cost (we make no profit off the shipping fees).  Our normal $35 flat rate fee for FedEx 2nd day Express barely covers our shipping boxes (which average about $6), heat or cold packs ($2 each on average) and FedEx's fee ($32+ dollars for most single animal shipments).   

Pricing

Pricing varies by species, age, and source of the individual (our own in-house produced stock verses wild collected verses purchased from other breeders).  Please contact us first to verify the availability of the specimens you want and pricing before sending any money!  For rarer, more expensive species ordered, if you have internet access, we will try to e-mail a photograph of the specimen(s) we pick out for you prior to your purchase so you can make sure they meet your expectations. For hatchlings/ juveniles, please look at our website for photos of representative specimens for that species as they don't vary enough at those ages to justify taking the time to take individual photos for them.  For most specimens, the pricing runs as follows: (listed in order of general availability)

Mali Uromastyx: Hatchlings to yearlings $75, adults $85, Premium Breeders, $95 to $125  All but premium breeders are almost always available.  Best beginners species.

Saharan Uromastyx:  Hatchlings -(Wild Collected/ Ranched)  $125, Captive Bred $145, Wild Collected adolescent to adults $95.  Seasonal availability on all sizes, please call to verify availability.  Wild  collected are NOT a good beginner species.  Captive bred and long term acclimated  wild collecteds good for those with moderate experience.

Ornate Uromastyx: Hatchlings to yearlings -Imported Captive Bred/Ranched $225, Deer Fern Farms stock $250,  Adolescents to adults (sporadically available) $250 up.  Generally available in small numbers.  Good beginners species.

Moroccans: Hatchlings to yearlings, Deer Fern Farms Stock ($125 to $175), other stock and older animals only very rarely available -call for pricing.  Good beginners species.

Indian Uromastyx: Hatchlings to yearlings (Ranched CB) $125 , very sporadic availability.  Good beginner species.

Egyptian: Hatchlings to yearlings (Ranched from U.A.E. or CB from affiliated breeders) $125-$175 up, sporadic availability. Good for beginners with room for a large cage.

Banded: Hatchlings to young adults (Price highly variable, $125 to $225 for wild collecteds, rarely produced in U.S. ).  We hope to produce some spring 2006.    Easy species to keep but too rare to go to beginners at this point.  For sale as breeding stock only and only to experienced breeders only.

Somali:  No captive breds expected for 2006, We do not normally sell wild collected Somalis.  We make exceptions only for experienced keepers and only for use as breeding stock!

Sudanese: Hatchlings to yearlings $195 up (none expected for 2006, check with Urotopia (Lindsay Pike) for availability.  Adolescents to adults good for beginners, hatchlings to smaller juveniles best for those with  extensive experience.

Algerian Leopard Uromastyx:  Wild-Collected juveniles-adolescents $$175-$225. CB's hopefully for 2006.   Good for beginners but for 2006  these will be sold to potential breeding homes only.  Unlikely to be imported again any time soon and relatively rare in the U.S.

Ebony Uromastyx:  Possible clutches in 2006  $250 for hatchlings- For breeding stock use only to moderately experienced breeders only.

Rainbow Benti:  Hatchlings to yearlings (for sale only to experienced breeders for breeding stock use only)  $250   NOT a good species for beginners!

Orange Benti:  Hoping for  a few wild collecteds available in 2006, price variable but expect $175.    For experienced keepers only! 

                                Non-Uromastyx Species

Chuckwallas: First CB's expected in 2006, prices not set yet but likely $150 to $200.

Russian Tortoises: Wild Collected $55 to $95, CB $75.   Generally available

Golden Greek Tortoises: Wild Collected, $95 to $125 very limited numbers, CB hopefully in 2006.

Libyan Spur Thigh Tortoises: Wild Collected, $95 to $125 very limited numbers, CB hopefully in 2006.

                                           Rare Cats

  (Note: we are developing a separate photo web site for our cats - please look for it's completion in late 2006).

Bengals: Deer Fern Farms Stock Seasonally Available.   Leopard Spotted -$300 to $700, Marbles $250 to $500 for pet to show quality registered kittens. 

Savannahs: Deer Fern Farms Stock Seasonally Available, limited numbers - best to reserve.  F1 Males $3,000 to $5,000.   F1 Females $6,000 to $8,000 (No F1's  expected for 2006).  F2 Males $$1,500 to 2,500.   F2 Females $3,000 to $4,000.  F5's $800 to $1,200.

Policies

We strongly believe that many reptile species will be lost to future herpetoculturalists if we don't establish viable domestic populations in reputable breeding programs ASAP. In our opinion, a viable long-term breeding program requires setting up multiple bloodlines of each species. This can be very space consuming, therefore severely limiting the number of species we feel we can reasonably work with. Thus we only work with a few select species which we personally enjoy. While our goal is to specialize in providing superior captive bred (CB) specimens, we are still actively building up our breeding stocks and thus buy groups of select wild-collected (WC) specimens. In order to get the best pricing and be able to buy first-picks (the best specimens) direct from the original importers, we purchase sizable hand-selected groups (please see below to read how we handle our for-sale specimens).

We are strong supporters of captive propagation efforts and are always seeking additional healthy clutches produced by other breeders for resale to our customers. These are an excellent choice for pet and breeder specimens as long as they have been properly handled. They tend to be a little more expensive than wild collected specimens, but if we don't support these efforts, the day will come when many reptile species will be unavailable to future hobbyist /pet lovers. In our opinion, funneling a reasonable portion of wild-collected specimens into potential captive breeding programs is also one of the few legitimate justifications for collecting specimens from wild populations. Captive breeding also eventually reduces the demand for wild-collected specimens, easing pressures on wild populations. The extra cost is thus well justified. We consult with other breeders constantly to insure the specimens produced are as healthy and vigorous as possible. Thus if you're goals are similar to ours -wanting truly the best available and specimens with the best potential to thrive for you, please consider some of our stock, either acclimated wild-collected or captive-produced, for your breeders or pets.

We have long term relationships with several  major importers and most major Uromastyx breeders in the United States.  As mentioned above, we discuss clutches with other breeders and routinely buy stock from our fellow breeders.  We buy well started hatchlings on up and hold them for at least 2 weeks to get them settled in and ready for shipping before offering them to our customers.  For wild collected stock, when possible, we fly out to the original importers facilities and handpick our specimens in person.  When not, we have on site people we've personally trained to  examine and pull the Uros to our specifications.   We hold all specimens at least two weeks (most several months) while we acclimate them and monitor their food intake and weight gains.  We don't release specimens until they have demonstrated a consecutive two week weight gain and to all outward appearances are acclimated and doing well.

We routinely examine all stock for parasites, but we do not advocate the total elimination of common nematodes/pinworms.  Reptiles can not chew their food and do not have rumens and thus are relatively inefficient at digesting plant matter.  They rely on gut bacteria and protozoa for the proper enzymes, and since they don't chew their food,  the action of nematodes helps breakup the food mass for more efficient digestion.   Thus in theory the total elimination of nematodes is actually disadvantageous.   We ourselves have seen this in poorer growth rates in nematode-free Mali juveniles verses those with low levels of nematodes.   But it's not a free lunch.  Excess nematodes or non-mutualistic parasites such as tapeworms hoard too many nutrients for themselves resulting in weight loss and poor overall condition in your Uromastyx.  Therefore we monitor nematode levels in our animals and periodically apply Panacur (fenbendazole) or Albendazole.   Once acclimated, we worm all wild collected stock, but again, we use dosages intended to limit but not totally eliminate nematodes.  At your request, we can re-worm any for-sale specimens if you have a strong wish for us to do so, but we advise against this.  Please note Uro's pick up parasite eggs from leafy vegetables (yes, even those from the store) and insects, so even if you have a parasite-free specimen, it will likely need worming periodically (we worm all our breeding stock annually prior to brumation plus all hatchlings every 2 to 3 months).

When possible, we'll e-mail you high resolution photographs of  the exact specimens you'd receive for adult speciemns, so you can verify that they meet your expectations (for hatchlings/ juveniles, please look at our website for photos of representative specimens for that species as they don't vary enough at those ages to justify taking the time to take individual photos for them).   We try to point out any notable imperfections such as scars, missing toes etc. and supply their current weight and size information so there are no surprises.  This is the exact animal you will receive.   We guarantee live delivery of what to the best of our ability to tell is a healthy, acclimated specimen.  The only exception is if the shipper (FedEx) fails to deliver the box for more than 3 days (or you fail to be available to receive the shipment on it's pre-arranged arrival date set up with you by e-mail or phone).   No shipper guarantees live arrival even if they are at fault and we can't be held responsible for their errors.   We will replace any specimens lost in this manner at a reduced cost to the buyer (essentially at cost or wholesale plus shipping).   We do need the deceased Uro's returned by priority mail or a good photo of it for verification, at our discretion.  Note to date, in the 12 years we've been shipping, this has only been a problem once (with UPS) as we pack in a manner to allow for a more than reasonable degree of shipper mishandling.  

Most specimens need about a week or so to settle into a new home and we send complete acclimation instructions along with your new arrivals.  We offer phone and e-mail support for any questions or concerns you may have at any time.   We do insist you read our  Care Sheet for the Genus Uromastyx prior to making your purchase and you must have their housing setup prior to our shipping to you.   If you'll follow these guidelines and contact us immediately if you think there may be a problem with your new pets, we'll guarantee your satisfaction for 2 weeks from the time of purchase.   If at any point during that time you are unsatisfied with the health of your animal, you may return it (in the same manner it was shipped to you, normally FedEx Express) for a refund of the purchase price minus shipping costs.  The only exception is for specimens which have been injured by the new owner, either by physical abuse by other pets, being dropped, burns, bites from cage mates, or crushing injuries from poorly supported rocks or similar cage furnishings.  Additionally, if a specimen isn't eating after the first week, you must contact us immediately so we can assess what's wrong and instruct you on how to  proceed (it's almost always a temperature/housing problem that we can fix over the phone with a discussion with you on what to change etc.)   We don't cover Veterinary examinations or other bills you may chose to incur in working with your animal.   We give you our time for free - please use it when needed.    Please, even if you are an experienced reptile keeper, read our care sheet.  Uromastyx are hardy, easy keepers if you'll just follow our guidelines. 

PLEASE NOTE: Some of these species are rare and/or not advisable for beginners. We reserve the right to assess your ability to properly maintain these species prior to purchase and to refuse to sell specific animals to what we feel are unsuitable homes or circumstances.  Please review our care sheets posted for each species. You MUST have their enclosures setup prior to purchase. We guarantee your satisfaction with our animals for 2 weeks after purchase as long as you follow the above guidelines. We supply extensive after-purchase aid and are available at any time to help with maintenance/breeding concerns etc. We strongly believe helping others to succeed benefits us all as herpetoculturalists and we don't believe in "trade secrets"!

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Email: douglasdix@deerfernfarms.com