Andre McAlister/New Concept Reptiles INQ

Hi All,
I just wanted to know if anyone has done business with Andre McAlister of New Concept Reptiles in South Carolina.  I am considering a breeding loan with him and he seems above board by email, but just wanted some input if anyone has any.  The only thing that makes me wonder is his address is listed at a PO box, and those are notorious for scams (he is sending a breedable female boa for my male on condition that I pay shipping up front).  We were placed in contact by his friend who I met locally at a show in St. Louis.  Thanks in advance for any comments.
Rick

Opps.........forgot: &nbsp;Rick Kennedy! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>

I know Andre. He used to live here in San Diego and is very well liked. He has an awesome collection of colubrids and really knows his stuff. I don't think you'll have any problems with him.

Rick....If you have ANY concerns....just call him and have an "oral" (not written) conversation?? You guys might even become friends?? Of course...if Joe says he's OK, he probably is!!
BTW...Have you asked Andre for his address and phone number?? He's going to have to give it to you sooner or later, or you won't be able to send him his snake back?? You can't ship to a PO box?? ....Neil

Rick...I forgot something...even though Andre is probably on the up and up....if you want to have NO WORRIES AT ALL?? Ask him to ship the Boa COD for the shipping charges??

I would like to ask YOU (Rick) a question, if I might?? I really find this very interesting....don't get me wrong...I'm NOT implying ANYTHING with this next question....I'm simply asking because I'm curious!

Andre is sending you a FEMALE boa to have mated with YOUR male?? Correct?? Is Andre letting you KEEP his Female until it gives birth?? Is he paying you for stud service?? Are you sending the snake back right after copulation, and letting Andre send you some babies when they're born?? As I said...I'm just curious?? ....Neil

Now wait a minute!

We just had several raging threads in here about IBD and this one reads that someone is planning on doing a breeding loan from someone they don't know?

With the talk of IBD and the possibility of some sort of plague by just this sort of activity and the probable lack of a quarantine procedure, don't you think this is kind of irresponsible behavior?

IMHO

Rick,

My name is Fred Albury,I am a reptile breeder from California.
You may or may not have heard of me.My business is called Aztec Reptiles. I specialize in Eastern Indigos,Blood Pythons, Madagascar Ground Boas,Argentine Boas,and various types of Columbian boas.
I say all this to make you understand that as a reptile breeder, my standards are pretty high.My cages are kept clean and my snakes are quarantined prior to introduction into my collection.
Out of all the reptile breeders that I have known in the last 12 years,Andree McAllister is probably one of three that have that same committment. His animals are kept CLEAN, he keeps feed and shed records on ALL his snakes, and not in books like me(Handwritten) but neatly and concisely on a computer program desgined for &nbsp;just that. He specializes in kings, rosies, Pituophis andother colubrids. Nothing in his collection is mediocre, he has gotten to point in his business/hobby that he rejects snakes that are just ok.
&nbsp;Example: I have seen "hypomelanistic hognose for sale, time and again, only to see them in person and be disspointed with normal looking hognose.
When Andree sells hognose, and calls them hypomelanistic, they are indeed JUST THAT.

His snakes are what he says, he takes excellent care of them, produces a lot of babies evey year consistantly, and is one of the most trustable person I have EVER known in this industry,
thats because Andree is first of all a consumed hobbyist and secondly a businessman/breeder. i wouldnt hesitate to buy anything from him, or to work out trades with him. Again, after 10+ yearsof this, there are only 3 guys I can honestly say that about. You can stake my business name on it.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sincerely,

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Fred Albury
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;(Aztec Reptiles)


Website: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; www.renegadereptiles.com/aztec.htm

email: NoMutts@user.kingsnake.com

Thanks to those who left informative comments.....Joe, Neil, Fred (yes, I know of you Fred and your comments are much appreciated). &nbsp;Sorry if I missed any others.

Neil, you expressed interest in the details. &nbsp;I was hooked up via a friend of a friend (yea, one of those things) because I lost a female breeder just after comming out of winter and Andre has unpaired females of the same locale. &nbsp;I posted here just to get any extra info I could, and have the relavant details minus the actual phone conversation (pending). &nbsp;Andre will be sending out the female and I will be breeding to my male and holding her until babies are born. &nbsp;Babies will be split, and the female returned unless it is bought outright (he still has 2 other unpaired adult female boas of the same locale). &nbsp;The next phase is to actually call Andre as you hinted before any mailing or shipping is made. &nbsp;Had I not gotten good references by this board and a few others, I probably would not have gone through with this deal so thanks. &nbsp;

Now, this message is for Rich. &nbsp;I will quote you if I may: &nbsp;"probable lack of quarantine" and an inference of "irresponsible." &nbsp;Yes I am aware of your concerns over IBD and animal swapping, etc. &nbsp;That is not the problem. &nbsp;What I do have a problem with is your arrogant assumptions in your delivery. &nbsp;It is as if you assume stupidity on the part of the person posting before knowing anything, and that says something indeed. &nbsp;Could you not have asked me if I quarantine new arrivals, or if I do any breeding loan activity in separate facilities, or obtain vet assistance prior to introducing new animals? &nbsp;Are your comments an ego thing, a self-esteem issue, or do you usually just put the cart before the horse? &nbsp;No I don't personally know Andre, but I also do not know anyone with an available animal/circumstances that I need. &nbsp;Sometimes one has to climb out on a limb a little, take a bit of a risk, while trying to minimize that risk. &nbsp;That takes some degree of intellegence which I have my friend. &nbsp;That is why I posted here and as someone suggested a good connection if not friendship might be made. &nbsp;But if I can read between the lines of your post, and if I followed that logic, I would never effectively branch out in this hobby. &nbsp;Please take a moment to re-read your comments then check your motives. &nbsp;While they are not flamethrowing outright, they could be considered offensive given the assumptions.

I don't know snakes (legal disclaimer).

Is there a "season" that they can breed. I am thinking if you do a quarantine for 6 months (just pulling a number out of the hat) either you will miss the opportunity to breed or you will end up having this guy's snake for a year.

I think in much the same way that Orgies lost the fervor from the 60's (DAMN!!!&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> due to STD's (sexually transmitted disease) is the way that Rich was thinking of breeding trades and IBD. Again since I don't reside in Rich's head this only my opinion and how I took his post.

Could be.........it is just that one could ASK me if I quarantine before assuming I don't or assuming I am about to partake in irresponsible behavior. &nbsp;I came here to get some degree of "protection" before jumping into the orgy!