Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Squamata · Original Poster #1 24-Jun-07, 11:50 AM

Hi all,
Wanted to share some pics of Willy my Southern WA Woma.

I also wanted to put the call out if anyone in WA has a female Southern Woma they would be interested in letting Willy mate with. I have already been successful breeding my Sandfire Womas and WILL NOT hybridise him. I want pure blood.

I have had him for over 1 year in quarantine, he is in prime condition and as he is such a unique animal it would be a shame not to mate him especially as they are one of the most endangered snakes in Australia.

I believe that the Southern Woma is rarer than the Rough scaled python and my dream would be to one day breed Southern Womas to help build their population in captivity and make them available to all you mad herps out there.

Cheers
Karen

mysnakesau · #2 24-Jun-07, 02:16 PM

Karen you would want to take care advertising such an activity that you don't attract disease or mites into your collection. Whats the point quarantining him for 12 months and then just go an accept a mating possibly from ppl you don't know, not a good move. JMO, thats all.

BTW - he is a beautiful snake

hornet · #3 24-Jun-07, 02:25 PM

i think if someone has anything that rare they are gonna take care of it, they are probably the most endangered snake in aus

junglepython2 · #4 24-Jun-07, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysnakesau

Karen you would want to take care advertising such an activity that you don't attract disease or mites into your collection. Whats the point quarantining him for 12 months and then just go an accept a mating possibly from ppl you don't know, not a good move. JMO, thats all.

BTW - he is a beautiful snake

What choice does she have? It's unlikely if anyone out there is willing to sell a breeding female, plus she can put both into quarantine when she tries to breed so there is no need to risk any other animals in her collection.

Squamata · Original Poster #5 24-Jun-07, 02:39 PM

I would be foolish to take on just anybodies python, i would put the python through the rigorous checks i give all new additions, but if anyone has a snake as rare as him, i can almost guarantee that the keeper would give it the utmost care and have quarantined it too!

It is a risk i have to take, and both pythons would be kept totally separate from the rest of my collection.

You still havent answered my question tho! Does anyone in WA have a female? Even for scientific research?

Thanks for your comments so far, i will post more pics of him as soon he is has shed.

Aslan · #6 24-Jun-07, 03:06 PM

I agree - in order to breed them it is a risk that will likely need to be taken as he is a stunning animal and the locale is very rare...

Squamata · Original Poster #7 27-Jun-07, 11:15 AM

Here are a few more photos for you to enjoy of Willy

I would like to get on with the job at hand and find a mate for him, conserving this species is of utmost importance, maybe one day i will be able to contribute my knowledge of this wonderful animal to those who wish to know.

Enjoy enjoy, a friend of mine with a digital SLR took these for me and my thanks Gabby for taking such wonderful pics.

aspidito · #8 27-Jun-07, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the pics Karen, I know I'm biased but you cant beat a nice woma & he is a stunner.
Is'nt there a group in WA that commenced a breeding programe of the southern woma some years ago?

Squamata · Original Poster #9 27-Jun-07, 10:09 PM

Thanks Aspidites, he is a stunner isnt he!!

I understand that Brian Bush and Brad Maryan put out a call for there to be a breeding programme started, but to my knowledge none have ever been found, not to say that this is gospel because i am sure that there are people out there with them, or know where to find them. Only the taker who caught Willy could possibly know where to find another one...

It would be such a shame to not breed him....being able to do something for the conservation of his species would be such a reward, to know that i may of made a little difference in this world of ours, well Willy will.

I live in hope....

BTW my partners no. plates are ASPIDITES...hes mad about bhps and womas too!!

PilbaraPythons · #10 27-Jun-07, 10:27 PM

There have definitely been a few others specimens found and they are held in captivity right now.
By the way does your specimen have a mid-row scale count of 59 which I suspect it will be close to? My belief is that in the near future it shall be shown that there is very little difference genetically and otherwise between these and specimens found of S.A (besides the obvious sub-ocular difference). I hope you find yourself a female for it in any case.
I have spent very little time in that area but after viewing some very good intact habitat I am quite confident that if we bothered to spend enough time looking for them there, we would turn up a few.

Cheers Dave

Squamata · Original Poster #11 28-Jun-07, 07:50 PM

Thanks Dave,
He has just shed so i will see if i can count them up and i will have a super close look to see the sub-ocular difference... I will let you know my findings...Or you could always ask the taker to confirm the locale he was taken from.
I cant go and catch one myself but i have a few lookouts and with any luck we may just come up with one. I would be extremely happy the day we do find one.
He is so beautiful and even his temperament is gentler than my northerns. It would be such a shame to never mate him.
Anyway thanks Dave you have given me hope.

Cheer Karen