I agree with all the above, I would love one, but the costs, maintenance etc and even the scare factor puts me off, a big enough black head still gets me anxious let alone a full grown olive - I've never even dealt or handled one myself! Dave - don't think you've posted pics of the Olive, come on........
I understand and respect the processes, but $300 a year with no involvement from DPaW seems steep. If they where coming to inspect the husbandry, well being and premises of the animal every 6 months I can understand the cost. I think the cost is more in place to prevent any Joe getting to that level.
The larger monitors are spectacular, but I feel they should be left in the wild, just don't seem like an animal that would adapt to captivity too well?
I buy all rats and DOC from pythonalia - seems a fair price and I end up getting stuck there for over an hour chatting away to Paul and Annette who will always show new snakes they've obtained or bred (which to say the least is very impressive). For this reason I'm not to concerned of the cost as I enjoy going there, mind you 8.50 for a medium adult rat is OK for my wallet, compared to some shops.
Alex- if you want to go halves in a bag of DOC let me know, I think altona do 1000 for $60 or something ridiculous.
Side question, you guys remove the yolks etc form your chicks? I used to, but haven't for quite some time no and I only feed 1-2 chicks with every rat at feeds just to help fill them up (ive read they don't offer much to snakes interms of nutrition etc)