A Job Well Done!

[kevyn]

I just wanted to say that I think that the licencing system you guys have there is right on. I've been an advocate (though sometimes not very popular) for a similar system over here. I really think that licencing with a fair charge, will cut out alot of the impulse buyers that plague our hobby over here and lead to idiotic legislation.

Also when I read about Conservation officers in Florida ordered to shoot and kill on sight any Burmese Pythons they come across, I can't help but fear for not only the animals but the direction governments will go when it comes to our hobby and the animals we love.

Like it or not, commercialization is the only realistic conservation effort that many of these animals will ever recieve. For some the pet trade will be their salvation. I hate the thought of irresponsible owners blowing it.

So again good job!

[moosenoose]

You're right Kevyn! I like the fact that ppl should require a license to obtain these animals. I believe the errors brought about due to the spontaneous, knee-jerk reaction associated with the buying things like Burmese Pythons etc in the US, helps instill confidence with herpologists here in Australia that our regulation are a correct & sensible approach to pet ownership.

It's such a terrible shame reading about how US rangers have to go about shooting wild Burmese Pythons, due to careless owners releasing them into the wild, because they had no idea of what they were getting involved with in the first place. I'm still for exotics here - but this would have to have very strict guidelines associated with it.

are burmese pythons considered a pest there?

[kevyn]

They're getting to that point. They're not from Florida or anywhere near there. There is a population of wild birds (can't for the life of me remember what type-too many drugs in my teens and early 20's), one of the only populations left, and Burms have been spotted near there. This is bad because of course Burms love birds. Conservation Officers are afraid of Burms wiping out this population. Burmese Pythons are not the only foreign species establishing themselves in the Everglades. Reticulated Pythons, Boa Constrictors, Green Iguanas, Nile Monitors, Spectacled Caimen, and Ball Pythons are just some of the introduced predators feared to be establishing breeding populations in the wilds of Florida. Not to mention the dozens of Geckos, and colubrid snakes that have been introduced.

[Slateman]

I agree Kevyn. I have no problem with current licencing system in NSW

[Fuscus]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...vespecies.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ve/photo3.html

and for those who keep fish

http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/non-native.html

[kevyn]

Great links Fuscus! Thanks.

[Fuscus]

Did you notice the lines
" In the past five years, the U.S. has imported more than 144,000 Burmese pythons." That is a huge number to take out of the wild.

"Hatchlings sell for as little as U.S. $20." I am wondering about the lack of sanity here, selling baby mega-pythons to anyone for such a low price. Sounds like a garrantee for dumping of the animals and the establishment of a feral population.

[kevyn]

Yep I caught that line, and to tell the truth I was a bit surprised. There's no reason for Burmese Pythons to be imported as wc specimens. There must be 10s of thousands produced every year by breeders in the U.S. alone. The only way I can see justifying an import these days is if an usual colour morph turns up. There's no need to import Burms anymore. I get abit pissed when I hear about importing Ball Pythons for the same reason. There's only one explaination for this-greed.

Wild type Burms are really cheap in the U.S. . Even in Canada I can get them for under $100 CND. Do I agree with that price? No. Same thing with the overly exploited Green Iguana sells for about $20 USD. I've seen normal Retics in the U.S. go for under $100USD too. This does make it way too easy for the impulse buyers.

[moosenoose]

do you own any Ball Pythons Kevyn? If so, how big do they grow?

[kevyn]

I don't own any Ball Pythons right now. I just sold my last pair a few months ago to a really good friend of mine and a sure to be great breeder Rob Mensing. Females get about 4-5ft. and males around 3ft. A 5ft. Ball is huge. I always find Ball Pythons a royal (pardon the pun) pain in the a$$. They have a real habbit of going off food for really long periods of time. I always get frustrated with Balls, sell them, and a year or so later Meaghan gives me this sad eyed look while holding a baby Ball for sale and I inevitable will come home with more cute little head-aches.

Meaghan really wants to get into Ball Python morphs, but I'm not really for it. I'd be *****ting myself everytime a $5000CND and up Ball Python missed a week of food. No thanks.

[dobermanmick]

Kevyn
what size do the burmese and retics have to be to breed ? and what size enclosure do they live in at that size ?
also how big are the hatchlings ?
thanks Mick

[Fuscus]

And how many eggs in a clutch?

[kevyn]

Adult Retics can live comfortably and healthily in relatively small enclosures. Bob Clark recommends 36"X72"X36", with ofcourse true giants needing larger enclosures. I've just finalized a deal for a pair of Sulawesi Retics, and my famale may need a larger enclosure as she is 20ft. at the moment. Sulawesi Retics get larger on average than any other Retics. Infact the world record holder was found on the island of Sulawesi.

Retics will lay anywhere from 30-100eggs. Larger females of course will produce larger clutches. Hatchlings average at 28" and can reach 12ft. before their first birthday. Retics need to be atleast 80lbs. before they can breed or over 11ft. . I'd wouldn't attempt to breed a female smaller than 14ft. . Males will breed at 7-9ft.

Burmese Pythons do well also in relatively small enclosures. They are very docile snakes, and really don't do a whole lot of moving. I keep mine in a similar size as my Retics, depending on the size of the specimen. Female Burms should be atleast 40lbs. to breed. I recommend 50-60lbs. for a first breeding, any less and egg retention is a risk. Females will lay 20-80gs but more is very possible. Mike Wilbanks owner of Constrictors Unlimited has a large albino female that has layed over 80 eggs 2yrs. running. Males will breed around 6-9ft.

[dobermanmick]

Thanks for the info Kevyn. Do they get scary to handle when they get to that size ?