Phil Blais garter contact info? for flame garters.

[Philminator]

Infernalis on another site said he knew of a guy in Canada that had garters but never told me his info :P would anyone here happen to know of Dr. Phil Blais? he lives only a few hours from me but I can't find anything at all on him. He appearantly breeds san fran garters and specializes in flames to where some have been nick named Blais Flame garters. I know I've posted something similar at one point about canadian garter snake breeders and it pretty much was a dead end road but this guy seems to be known by everyone yet I can't find how to get in touch with him as I am off to Montreal in a week or so and wish to pick up some garters from him.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

You will not be able to get snakes from him. From what I understand, and have been told, is that Phil will not even talk to anyone about selling any garter snakes now. I doubt you will even be able to get in touch with him. Contact Charles Parenteau for more info on that one.

[guidofatherof5]

You might drop Scott F. a PM. When I googled "Dr. Phil Blais" I get a couple articles written by Scott. Maybe he has some info.
Just a thought.

[Philminator]

You will not be able to get snakes from him. Phil will not even talk to anyone about selling any garter snakes now. I doubt you will even be able to get in touch with him. Contact Charles Parenteau for more info on that one.

what happened? is he fed up with it? I have tried talking to Scott but the price for shipping to Canada from US for a few snakes is roughly 500$ from what I remember.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

what happened? is he fed up with it? I have tried talking to Scott but the price for shipping to Canada from US for a few snakes is roughly 500$ from what I remember.

no... apparently it involves legal troubles or something. I don't think it's legal for Phil to sell you any snakes and that's why he won't.... it's the reason you do not see Blais flames, anywhere, ever....

[Philminator]

no... apparently it involves legal troubles or something. I don't think it's legal for Phil to sell you any snakes and that's why he won't.... it's the reason you do not see Blais flames, anywhere, ever....

weird because in Quebec where were both from we're allowed to have native species of garters with no license as long as you don't have more than 2 and as for other species the sky is the limit. I wonder if his flames were considered native or something. Ah well :(

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

weird because in Quebec where were both from we're allowed to have native species of garters with no license as long as you don't have more than 2 and as for other species the sky is the limit. I wonder if his flames were considered native or something. Ah well :(

they are eastern garter snakes, aren't those native?

[Philminator]

they are eastern garter snakes, aren't those native?
ah then those are native yes, but depending where in quebec you are located it is 100% legal to own and sell them, the only catch is the amount you're allowed to have. I guess if you breed and sell native species of garters :P it might be difficult as you're likely over the 10 max limit depending where you are.

[charles parenteau]

DrBlais is a good friend of mine and he don't sell garter snake anymore and I dont think he answer to all his Email only the lucky one like me =)....I hope my Flame will have babies someday she is bigger and bigger I think it's four months since she bred with the male !!??And those flame were found where there is the most beautiful flame you can find here in Quebec !!!I dont know why it's so long!??

[Kantar]

where is the underground market for buying garters in canada?!?!

under a rock?
laying near rail road tracks?
sitting on the side of a creek?

I wish it were easier to find a breeder in canada than it is to actually go out and find a snake

[Philminator]

DrBlais is a good friend of mine and he don't sell garter snake anymore and I dont think he answer to all his Email only the lucky one like me =)....I hope my Flame will have babies someday she is bigger and bigger I think it's four months since she bred with the male !!??And those flame were found where there is the most beautiful flame you can find here in Quebec !!!I dont know why it's so long!??

Yes you will indeed have to let me know when your beauty gives birth as I will be interested in a few babies :)

[sirtalis01]

I was lucky enough to get a beautifull adult pair from phill about 8 years ago...alot of you guys remeber that HOT flame...i have some pix somewhere....he dosnt answer emails after what happend.

[Spankenstyne]

where is the underground market for buying garters in canada?!?!

under a rock?
laying near rail road tracks?
sitting on the side of a creek?

I wish it were easier to find a breeder in canada than it is to actually go out and find a snake


A lot of it is due to wildlife restrictions, most places won't let you work with local species (sometimes even non native ssp) and BC for example you cannot even keep any Thamnophis period without a near impossible to get permit.
I bred & sell Checkered Garters out here in Alberta, but due to the reasons you mentioned I tend to have waiting lists & am fortunate enough to not have to deal with the pain in the butt of shipping as I always sell out locally in short order.
In Ontario Port Credit Pets often has Checkereds for sale & several local breeders out there that will have babies on the Reptiles Canada classifieds from time to time, which usually serves the Eastern Canadian market well.

[Jeff B]

Now I know more as to why I get no less that 5 emails a month from people in Canada asking if I can ship across the border. I ALWAYS reply "sorry I wish I could, but I don't have a way to do that legally and affordably"
I could get an import/export license but I would still need to have a trans-shipper put it thru at a major port like Chicago. If I lived in a major port city it would be more feasible.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Now I know more as to why I get no less that 5 emails a month from people in Canada asking if I can ship across the border. I ALWAYS reply "sorry I wish I could, but I don't have a way to do that legally and affordably"
I could get an import/export license but I would still need to have a trans-shipper put it thru at a major port like Chicago. If I lived in a major port city it would be more feasible.
I am working on something like that here.... got a local guy with import/export permit, gave me a contaact in Los Angeles and am waiting for a response. might not need the import/export permits as none of the garters we breed are on the CITES list. my friend here thinks it would be around $250 for shipping

[Jeff B]

I am working on something like that here.... got a local guy with import/export permit, gave me a contaact in Los Angeles and am waiting for a response. might not need the import/export permits as none of the garters we breed are on the CITES list. my friend here thinks it would be around $250 for shipping
Don, I thought that any animal going in or out of the country requires and import/export permit and inspection at a major port, regartless of CITES or not. Now YOU personally may not need the import/export if you go thru a trans-shipper in Los Angeles, but somebody there that is handling the export for you will have to have the import/export permit and you will then be paying them a fee for their services. I could be wrong but that is the way understood the process.
I would be curious what you come up with. For me it would be more convienent and cheaper to go tru someone in Chicago, since it's much closer.
Problem is that for a lot of the requests that I get that $250 shipping is more that the snake order costs.

[Chondro788]

I have a local Boa Breeder friend here in my area who sends lots of animals to Europe, and I believe it goes down like Jeff described. But then again, I believe they are considered CITES animals, so.... :confused: I do believe, however, that his go out through NY, even though Chicago is closer, but I may be wrong. Next time I see him, I will ask more. ;)

[Spankenstyne]

Don, I thought that any animal going in or out of the country requires and import/export permit and inspection at a major port, regartless of CITES or not. Now YOU personally may not need the import/export if you go thru a trans-shipper in Los Angeles, but somebody there that is handling the export for you will have to have the import/export permit and you will then be paying them a fee for their services. I could be wrong but that is the way understood the process.
I would be curious what you come up with. For me it would be more convienent and cheaper to go tru someone in Chicago, since it's much closer.
Problem is that for a lot of the requests that I get that $250 shipping is more that the snake order costs.


This is correct. Whoever is exporting the snakes to Canada will need the import/export license and will need to set up the inspection, and have the 3-177 properly filled out.
Here's what I posted previously on what's required to get snakes into Canada: ( this thread here for example: http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/garter-snake-lounge/8585-any-canadian-breeders-usa-ones-shipping-canada.html#post162183 )
This is for non-CITES. CITES will of course be much more difficult with more paperwork involved.

A huge part of the problem with finding people willing to do it is the costs involved. For example the "$20 garters" I've had brought in I've ended up paying more than $300 for when all the freight & fees are factored in. Most people aren't willing to do that on either end of the equation.

[PINJOHN]

I'm not sure what the problem was concerning Dr.phil, but my first reaction was to think it a big big loss to the thamnophis community all those great snakes selectively bred over many years to a spectacular degree, but it suddenly hit me just what a terrible thing it is for Phil to lose the passion of his life after all the love, work, and time, he has put into it,
i first became aware of Dr Phil Blais and his amazing eastern's from the single page spread about him in the Barron's garters and ribbon snakes book, it made reference to an article by him in a reptile hobbyist magazine, i tried to track down that magazine but without success, and have long since lost hope of any chance to do so, but the reason for this somewhat rambling missive is to pass on to Phil my heart felt sorrow for his circumstances and to express the hope that somehow things will work out and allow him to indulge in his love of these great snakes. there is not a single doubt in my heart that the rest of the thamnophis community feel exactly the same way as me about the guy who has put so much into our hobby and who shares our passion, here's truly hoping that it all works out ok

[guidofatherof5]

Was this the issue you were looking for John?
Garter and ribbon snakes - Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?id=GXYZdr60NPMC&pg=PT44&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false)

[ssssnakeluvr]

I emailed the shipping company my friend uses...... last week..... still waiting on a response...

[guidofatherof5]

I have that issue and will post a photo of the one page John is talking about.
As soon as I can find a digital camera.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/blais.jpg
Page#38 of Barron's Reptile Keeper's Guides Garter and Ribbon Snakes by R.D. Bartlett and Patricia Bartlett

[charles parenteau]

nice Steve!!

[Philminator]

Whatever happened to him wether it be the law or him losing passion, I hope that all of us here together can make a difference. My gf has been very supportive of my passion for wildlife and my main focus is Thamnophis's I hope to someday be able to have a nice supply of babies for people in Canada to enjoy them since my fellow US people have no need for me :P as you have an ample amount of breeders down there lol.

[ConcinusMan]

they are eastern garter snakes, aren't those native?

Flame morph is an eastern garter. And flames in particular, originate from WC Canadian snakes.