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cactus2u

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Hi still deciding what snake to get... Ultimately would love a GTP but would this be advisable for a newbie to the herp scene( price is not a factor)? Olives also interest me but what do people with experience recomend? Have been told womas or bhp have ok natures as i have a 7 yr old son whos critter crazy & a wife who not that keen on snakes need something placid 1st up
Also what is involved in interstate buying Im in Cairns?
Does freighting snakes upset them any?
appreciate any feedback cheers:D
 
Hi still deciding what snake to get... Ultimately would love a GTP but would this be advisable for a newbie to the herp scene( price is not a factor)? Olives also interest me but what do people with experience recomend? Have been told womas or bhp have ok natures as i have a 7 yr old son whos critter crazy & a wife who not that keen on snakes need something placid 1st up
Also what is involved in interstate buying Im in Cairns?
Does freighting snakes upset them any?
appreciate any feedback cheers:D


Hey GTP are very fussy and need things to be pretty much perfect to live and from the research I have doen u can't really handle them.... I would start with something else now you say you have a son who is critter crazy... I would start him off with a murray/darling or a bredl python which you can handle easy and have a good temperament. It would be good for your son and your wife for getting used to snakes....
 
or a woma. bullet proof, good to handle, grow to a good size and fantastic feeders. They also look great and have fantastic little personalities!
 
Hey, cactus. I wanted a GTP as my first snake when I was 18, too :) But sadly, they need (and deserve) an owner with a little bit more experience and commitment to keep them happy and healthy! So something more hardy and cruisey would probably be better as your first snake, in my opinion.

Olives and bhps are a large snake - and I mean large. They need good space and heating, and, particularly with olives, you would have a snake that in 2 years, your then 9-year old probably couldn't handle the snake on his own without supervision because of the size. But I've heard they can have lovely temperaments.

All the woma owners will tell you they're fantastic! Mostly easy going, with quirky personalities. And a good size for your family, also.

Other good first snake options, I would say, are spotteds and stimpsons. They are hardy and don't grow so big, so they're great while you are getting on your feet as a herper. Coastals, bredlis, darwins, diamonds, jungles are probably the next step up, being that they are bigger in size, but also (generally) have nice temperaments.

That said, all snakes can, and mostly likely will bite at some stage.

I started with a stimmy, some blueys, and a bearded dragon for the first 8 years of owning reptiles - all easy animals. I've now got a bredli yearling who has taught me about managing snappy snakes :) and I'm moving on to some gecko projects, and within the next 2 years, GTPs and olives. Stepping up means you find your feet as an owner of reptiles, and make less mistakes that effect the happiness or health of your animals. IMO.

Let us know what you decide, cheers
 
GTP: NOT for beginner. they are NOT a hardy species and are not the best handlers around
antaresias: small (1 metre ave) pythons, some have nice colour, most have a great temperament
carpets: bredli and MD usually very placid, bredli imo better colour
aspidties: woma and BHP great snakes, most get used to handling and are great snankes.

from my research
 
not sure on qld regs but in nsw u need to have a R2 license to keep a GTP which u can get after 2 years of the R1 license.

Still waiting to get my license but am probably getting a MD with a jungle shortly after. From the research ive done most jungles apparently snappy lil !*#$@
 
IMO you cant beat an MD for first snake. They are generally very placid, good handlers, good feeders, ideal newbie snakes. My advice would be to make sure u get an established feeder from a reputable breeder who will provide you with a record of previous feeds, both successful and unsuccessful feeds. Makes it easy to see what theire habits are, what is normal and abnormal for them etc.
 
Think about it carefully my first snake is a spotted because they are small and easy for a beginner , however within months I wanted something bigger and prettier and would never have bought a spotted had i known what i do now...but each to their own. I now also have a diamond and both have great temperaments and have never struck or bitten anyone. Next i'd like a hypo bredli
 
Think about it carefully my first snake is a spotted because they are small and easy for a beginner , however within months I wanted something bigger and prettier and would never have bought a spotted had i known what i do now...but each to their own. I now also have a diamond and both have great temperaments and have never struck or bitten anyone. Next i'd like a hypo bredli

Thats so true... a lot of people avoid the carpet pythons because of their size, and while yes they may grow to some great lengths, it takes many years for them to get to fully grown, by which time you are more confident and competent and have, in a way, grown together.
 
hey...
first snakes are a very individual thing, and it really depends what you want out of your snake...
reptile keeping for me is all about experience, so you start with the basics and go up from there...
GTP are a definite no no for first time keepers... they are not hardy and require constant care and near perfect conditions, and as a first snake they are not a good idea... though they may be beautiful if you dont know exactly what you are doing you can end up harming the snake, which can be detrimental...
i know this will sound typical but i recommend starting with something small, like a children's, stimpsons or snakes similar to that... simply because it gives you the idea of how to take care of them and read body language and handle different situations... they are very hardy and can be very interesting animals...
the plus side is they arent large enough to cause any damage...
if you want something larger... i suggest you work towards it after you get the hang of something a little more manageable...
im sure you can start off with something like a carpet and it will turn out fine... but if you end up with a cranky snake and an unexperienced keeper, it wont be a pleasant experience...
the most important thing is not to jump the gun... there is no rush, it is all a learning experience and you want to get it right
anyway... hope this helps
 
Those saying GTP are not hardy and are not good handlers, out of curiosity do you keep them? (am wondering if this opinion is from your actual experience)
I personally find they are hardy if their "not too demanding" requirement are met. They also handle no differently to any other python species, that being that they are individuals, some are bitey and some not so. I am yet to experience a bitey one myself though and I don't handle regularly at all.

I say they are not a beginners snake because they do have more needs then carpet species and there are easier species available to keep (plus they are class 2 specialised animal), but they are far from the "easy to kill, prone to prolapse, need to live in soaked conditions" species people make them out to be. JMO
 
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frustration hit the nail on the head. my first snake was a woma and i couldnt be happier with him, he is a very calm snake, great feeder, and doesnt mind coming out for a play. Recently i have purchased a jungle python and she is the complete opposite even using a hook to get her out can be a little hard at times. but i am sure she will come good over time.
 
Hi Ya
It s ahard decision isnt it. I read heaps and heaps on this site trying to establish which pythons had the best temperaments. Yes there are some that tend to be more placcid than others but there are always exceptions. Just when I thought womas were quiet i then read a thread with photos of someone woma biting so hard it would let go etc etc. the reality is you will get bitten...its just what snakes do. Also temperament is pot luck you can be lucky or unlucky.

I agree with everyone here...dont get a green tree python.....but do get the snake you want and then do your homework.

Hubby and I followed the same principle we followed when we went into breeding and showing dogs. Find a good breeder with lots of experience. Find someone who will let you see the MUm and Dad if your snake. if the MUM and Dad seem settled then you are increasing the chances that your snake will have a nice temperament....not guarenteed but certainly you ahve a better chance of a nice snake if the baby if related to them. If mum and dad are fiesty...there is a chance their offspring will be the same.

Most importantly you need someone who can advise and help you.
We are in melbourne and have just bought our snake from James at Snakeitup and he has been so supportive...gave us 6 weeks worth of food and lots of help and advice when we took Elvira home. I notice youa re in QLD there are heaps of breeders start looking around and looking at snakes in the flesh to work out what you like....Hubby and i found this so helpful

Hope this helps

Elizabeth
 
If I was to suggest a beginners snake I would have to say a Murray darling.
Many choose an Antaresia species due to size but I find them to be pretty bitey as young especially Macs. And as already mentioned by the time a carpet puts on any decent size you would of had plenty of experience (and a ton more reptiles) in that time lol. Although MD's are not the prettiest or dearest snakes on the market, they deffinately have a great temprement. I havn't met anyone dissapointed in owning a MD. JMO
 
If I was to suggest a beginners snake I would have to say a Murray darling.
Many choose an Antaresia species due to size but I find them to be pretty bitey as young especially Macs. And as already mentioned by the time a carpet puts on any decent size you would of had plenty of experience (and a ton more reptiles) in that time lol. Although MD's are not the prettiest or dearest snakes on the market, they deffinately have a great temprement. I havn't met anyone dissapointed in owning a MD. JMO

I was SOOO with you until you said that they werent pretty...lol... I think my MD is gorgeous. Maybe not the best colours yet, but what hatchy is?!?
 
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