Murray Darling Carpet Pythons

[Gregory]

This is why I challenged (nicely) Nicole's view on Diamonds. There is so many differing opinions on this and so many other aspects of Python husbandry. I didn't want to start any dramas but no one can say for certain that this is the absolute 100% correct way to keep Diamonds. Obviously here in Sydney you can keep them at similar temps to what is going on outside the house but to suggest that keeping them warmer at night is going to have an adverse affect on them is really a big call to make.


Cheers, Greg.

[pythonss]

hi everyone.

like what has already been said the cause of dps has far from been proven. but what has been excepted by diamond breeders all over the world is that maybe there is at least 3 factors that can contribute to the problem.

1st over heating/ or failure to cool.
2nd lack of uv/or natural sunlight.
3rd over feeding.

which of the 3 is the most detramentle to diamond pythons is not yet evident.
however just let me give you this example.
we brought diamonds that were bred in the tropics in turn we breed these animals.
all of the animals would never have been cooled to the same extent as animals from south of us. We didnt have what we would call a sucseeful fertility rate which can be layed firmly at the feet of not getting the males cool enough prior to breeding..
But one thing that all of the animals did get were natural uv (all were kept out doors.) and they werent ready to breed at 3 years of age. they were grown at a lot slower rate than most diamonds. We have never seen dps up here, and im not saying it has never happened just that we havent seen it. given the area in which we live we should be a prime place for dps to be prevelant if you were to say that dps came from one single factor in there care.
In my opinion the bigest factor in keeping a health diamond is the uv factor. they really do alot better if they are kept out doors where they can bask in the sun at there lesure
And common scence will tell you that wintre cooling is also extremly important. they are a cool climate snake and mother nature has not given them there range in that climate for a joke. they are a dark coloured python this makes absorbtion of heat at a rapid rate very easy on cooler days.
just some thought..
cheers paul.

[Whaa]

Originally Posted by Artie

And if kept at too high temp. for prolonged periods will shorten their life span.

Does this apply to anaresias aswell or just carpets?

[Vat69]

Artie, "And if kept at too high temp. for prolonged periods will shorten their life span." can't that be said for any species? Surely, if you keep any animal at a temp. that is too high for prolonged periods, it will be detrimental to it's health? Did you quote that from your book? Or is this your personal opinion?

Hi Whaa!
That comment was refering to Diamond Pythons as it is suggested (but not proven) that constant high temps lead to Diamond Python Syndrome.

Edit:
As I stated earlier (IMO)I would recommend no heat at night,But this does not mean temps drop from 25 degrees to freezing,If you consider daytime lighting/heating requirements (say 14 hours light/heat in summer that leaves 10 hours without heat) The enclosure SLOWLY drops in temperature leaving the diamond to suffer absolute max coolness for a short period of time only,Before temps again rise to the daytime requirements. I was merely trying to clarify what nicole had tryed to say with a more in depth look to the reasons behind night time cooling.I wasnt trying to say that is the only contributor to DPS but 1 of a few possibilities.
No uvA+B lighting nor natural sunlight as well as overfeeding as Paul has suggested also contributes to DPS. (Well so it is speculated)

[lutzd]

Ok - I've got a question...

Should I cool ALL my snakes overnight>

I have two spotted pythons, 1 diamond and one olive.

The overnight temperatures are not that cold here in Sydney, and I suspect that all but the olive should be cooled.

I guess my question is whether it will cause any HARM to cool them overnight. There seems to be some debate as to whether it is beneficial to cool overnight, but does anyone have any knowledge of it doing any harm.. :

Any guidance folks.

[Artie]

Whaa, as far as I know it only applies to Diamonds.
I think it’s because Diamonds are a cold climate Python (I believe the most cold adaptable Python in the world) and other Pythons are more tolerant to warmer climate.

[Artie]

Vat 69, I did quote that from a book, but have also been told by other breeders>
I had some spotted Pythons and the warm end of my enclosure (on ground) was a constant 30-31degr. 7/24, which was normal for Antaresias, but would not be for Diamonds

[Artie]

Cyber, I think I did mention in my previous posts somewhere that there are three suspected major reasons for DPS, and they were exactly the same as Paul just mentioned as well.
1st is over heating or failure to cool.
2nd is lack of uv/or natural sunlight.
3rd is over feeding (obesity)

As far as temps. go at night, I also mentioned, the Guy I got my Diamond keeps his outside (no heating) and advised me to have the nearest as possible to the Snake’s Sydney habitat, to have heating 8 to 9 hours on in summer. Roughly 4 hours in May, June middle of the day, July no heat at all, August/September four hours again.

Last feed in May, and then next feed in September.
Fresh Water and normal Daylight.
You notice the heat is on for a few hours for a couple of month, even when hibernating, that’s because even in winter we can have some warm days.
That’s about as close as one can get it to a reasonable habitat for a Dyamond Python that’s kept indoors.
So I was told and I am sticking to it.
Cheers Artie

[Artie]

Hi Cybre, in your last post to Whaa, you also mentioned my name, that’s why I directed my last mail to you.
I only just realised that you edited it out since.
A well never mind.
Cheers mate

[Nicole]

Hey Artie,
Here's the sched I'm going by, this is "straight from the horses mouth" (lol) for want of a more flattering way to speak of such a sweet man. :-)


As far as cooling down Tiffany, this is the sort of regime I would
use.........but it's not a rule and everyone does' it differently. So it's
2 to 3 months without food !

How much heat does she get now........maybe 8 - 9 hours per day on ?

Winter heat will tend to be a bit less than 30 - 31 max (because the
ambient air will be 15 - 18 rather than 24 - 25 as in Summer), but she will
still want to be able to get her temp. up to this maximum by basking.

April: 8 to 9 hours per day (ie same as now)
May: 6 hours
June 5
July 4
August 6 - 7
Sept back to Summer timetable (8 or 9 hours)

Not sure why my spring warms up faster than my autumn cools down.........

Last feed: late April, early May........but give her 10 days or so on full summer heat before turning to May timetable. She may even stop
feeding as the days get shorter and nights cooler. Don't worry if this
happens.

First feed in spring: any time in August that she is hungry....i.e.
after you turn heat back to 6 - 7 hours per day.

Handling: No problem any time (I know you are a gently handler !)

hi Artie
Yes I had mentioned your name,it was a typo I made in error (sorry).I had erected the problem once I noticed it.I never ment my thread to be directed at anyone nor to start a debate or argument,I rather wrote it to educate those less in the know about DPS.Anyway no harm done I will now sack my receptionist/secretary without a reference and without 1 weeks notice,sick leave,annual leave or holliday pay as her typing skills were way off lol

[Artie]

Hey Cyber, don't be so mean to your secretary

[Artie]

Hi Nicole, yeah it’s not all that much different from what Peter jot it down for me.
I just checked my notes again and it did say September 8/9 hours heat again.
As far as the four hours go, of course I’ll bring that down gradually.
Ruby is definitely a cold climate Diamond. Always hangs out at the cooler end, unless after feeding.
Cheers

Hi Nic,
You and Artie mention 8-9 hrs heat during summer months.
Would this also include day light length? I thought id use same length as other carpets just lower temps.I am curious now as I had thought 14 hrs daylght AND heat (but lower temps) was sufficient!