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[olivaceus71]

I have kept several olives for a number of years and just thought I would
share my findings with some of you newer liasis's keepers.

Quite a few books offer info that can be misleading in relation to these gentle giants (all but one of mine, who is a total b****). Pythons of Australia by Geordie Torr for example says that these guys are mainly terrestrial and seldom climb trees. considering that these guys enjoy a meal of birds, find it hard to believe that they do not climb trees.

All of my guys have pretty large enclosures, huge water bowl (they love to soak after a big feed), a large hide, and a piece of furniture my other half made that is basically branches attached to a stand that kind of make the shape of a hand, and cradle an upside down half log. Two of my adults spend nearly all of their time perched high up in the air, sleep there and basically only use their hides when they are going to slough.

Just thought for the people who have brought hatchling olives this year to bear it in mind as I think it is kinda sad seeing these big babies confined just to floor space (I also have large branches going from one side to another).

These are great pythons as long as people remember that they DO get large, are eating/crapping machines, and you should not really handle them at full size when you are alone (not easy extracting a 12ft+ snake from a piece of your anatomy) and remember they like their enclosures hot, hot, hot.

any thoughts
cheers
olivaceus71

ps sorry for the long posts, am home alone (kid free for a night) and don't know what to do with myself.