MD Feeding

[noodles502]

I don't know if this is in the right place but anyway.
I have been looking into getting a snake for a while, and I've been interested in the Murray Darling python (mainly because I like the look of them and they're apparently pretty placid).
I'm fourteen and it'll be a while before I get one (I need to save up and research a bit more), but what are your experiences with them like? I was tossing up between a MD or a spotted, but I like the idea of a larger snake. What would you guys recommend?
Also, with feeding, how often would I be feeding a MD? What size rat would it need as an adult?
Thanks in advance

 

[Mick666]

Hi, and welcome. I think most people here are going to say to get whichever python interests you the most. I love my carpets, but I also have spotteds, a water python and a woma. I recommend getting a young one and getting used to it while it grows. By the time it's large, it won't be intimidating, but if you started with a full grown scrub python it would be a different story. Adult carpets can do well on a large rat every two or three weeks. Most pythons tolerate handling quite well, out of 40 I have 3 that strike when I go to pick them up, (two jungles and a water python). Once I pick them up they're fine.

 

[Shire pythons]

Mds are really placid carpets in my experience .

 

[noodles502]

I think I'll go with the MD
Where do you guys get your frozen feeders from? I was looking at the insane pet shop prices and was looking around online and found http://www.rodentfarm.com.au/
Has anyone else bought food from here? Is there anywhere else you would recommend?

 

[Bl69aze]

Rodent farm is very reputable, but the best would be to breed your own or buy from a local small business - pet shop prices are ridicules u pay almost 50% more for half the size of a rat size (places selling 5x 100g small rats for 25$, pet shops sell the “small rats” at 5x 70g each for 35$

 

[Snapped]

My first snake was a 4yo 6 foot Murray Darling, he taught me so much about snake keeping, he was and still is very placid, he taught me quite a lot. (I still have him, and he's been handled by a 4yo and complete novices, under supervision of course).

Here's a good link about snake keeping in general, its a good introduction to what snakes need, have a read of it. And article 10 road tests pythons, so also a good read in that regard.

http://www.southernxreptiles.com/RA ARTICLE PAGE.htm

 

[noodles502]

Thanks for the replies!
I'll probably have a bit of a look to see if there are any breeders near me (I definitely don't have the guts to breed my own haha)

 

[Schnappy]

There are rat groups on Facebook where you can find local feed breeders.. I would assume people on here would be, too. Good luck!

 

[cagey]

My MD is very chilled; except for food; although this can vary from an all-out strike to a slow slide up and a slow inhalation of the rat over a 15-20 minute period.