big vs small

[dale1988]

hi guys im trying to decide on what snake to get now i know at the end of the day its down to personal preference but i basically wanted to ask some people for there advice now i have basically narrowed it down to either a bredli or a smaller snake from the antaresia group big deifference between the 2 i know but wanted to make a well educated choice before taking on the responsability of owning another pet now i basically wanted to know how many people actually handle these bigger pythons (i have been told a adult bredli can get to around 10 foot) the only thing i worry about with this is if for some reason my snake decides i look tasty noone in my house will help me with handling a 3 metre python let alone a hatchy... so basically wanted to know is this a safe practice handling a snake of this size and girth alone? and also is it going to be a expensive task feeding a snake of this size sorry to ask so many questions but i would prefer to ask and look like a fool than to go out and just buy one of these beautiful creatures and look like a bigger fool any advice greatly appreciated many thanks in advance.

 

[angie90]

I guess if you're worried about the size once it's fully grown, just make sure there is someone else home in case things go wrong? I don't know about 10ft I always thought about 8 but I'm probably wrong, someone else will be able to confirm.
Get it while it's small so your experience can grow with the snake? If you're still worried, just get an ant for now I had a stimmie as my first & it was a great decision for me, because I got the experience with a (generally) more placid & smaller snake.

 

[ssssmithy]

a python let alone a bredli will take a long long time to get to 3mtres long inless you feed it ALOT. so handling a 3mtre bredli or carpet for that matter is not a worry for you. average about 6-7feet at adults for both bredli and morelia spilota in general. the more you feed a snake the bigger it will grow and the faster you will make it grow. so in theory it really is up to you. you should look more at housing,what you have to house them or what you need... antaresia dotnee anything big...or anything aborial. where as bredli would need a larger cage etc.hope this heps

 

[dale1988]

thing is in my house even if something where to go wrong i wouldnt get any help my partner is petrified of snakes and i to thought getting it as a hatchy and it growing with my experience to be a good idea but i just wnted to still find out a little more information before diving into it i was first thinking of getting a smaller species of snake but bredli are just such a good looking snake in my opinion

thanks smithy it does help the other reason i was leaning more towards a bredli was the fact that i have seen spotteds and childrens before in people collections and all they have seemed to do is snap i know it can take a while to get a snake to settle down but its just like they have this complex and they have to attack everything as where most bredli young i have seen are just so chilled out and calm housing is a big deal for me and that was another plus for the smaller species basically i want something i can hold and not have to worry about being tagged every 5 seconds but i know each snake has its own personality

 

[ssssmithy]

well thats your best bet go with a hatchie of whatever python you please, you hooks to hook them out and after a while you will get the hang of it, just never let a large snake get near or around your neck if you will get no help to handle it. but as i said if you only feed the snake every 7 to 10days,and only average sized food items then the snake wont grow excessively fast and catch you unawares. but one thing you should know with any snake is if you get bit and it wraps you up emerse it under water they let go that way

 

[dale1988]

would feeding them smaller meals leave them more hungry and more inclined to be a little snappy?

 

[ssssmithy]

not smaller food items just feeding them the right sized meals,feed them average food items to suit the size of the snake. the breeder you get them from should take you through the correct food sizes and stuff with you.

 

[dale1988]

emailing him now thanks for the info

 

[ssssmithy]

no worries,i know its heaps easy to jump on forums and ask away but honestly alot of experienced herpers fail to give help these days. when i was starting out as a kid i read books,and still to this day and a really good way to learn all the husbantry,handling and history on snakes and reptiles in general you'll need.
so shop around and have a read
cheers smithy.

 

[Naga_Kanya]

As ssssmithy said, housing's probably one of your biggest concerns; I started with a small snake because I lived in a share house and didn't have room for a big snake tank. The large ones will cost more to feed; I don't breed my own rats because I'm too much of a sook, so they cost me between $10-$12 weekly/fortnightly (I let her tell me when she wants food) to feed my 2.5m long carpet. By contrast, it's $2.50- $3 week/fortnight to feed my Stimson's. In the scheme of things it's not really that much cost wise either way. If you're concerned about a snappy youngster, one of the things I did when I adopted my big one and she was bitey, was wear a pair of nicely fitted leather gloves, which simply made me less likely to flinch when she struck (I wasn't worried about getting tagged, but was worried about what would happen if I flinched and damaged her mouth) and thus more confident overall in my movements, which in turn reassured her and made her less bitey. Pythons don't have massive teeth, and a pair of gloves allows you flexibility, movement, and a bit more confidence that you'll soon discover you won't need anyway once you're accustomed to your snake's behaviour. For the record my Stimson's is a total darling, and has never bitten me in anger or fear ( he got bitey when I cut his food down on some bad advice from a vet, and since I've been feeding him properly again he's back to being lovely). My carpet, now socialised, is the same. If you pick a nicely-behaved hatchling and treat it well, chances are you'll end up with a nicely behaved snake. Good luck.

 

[dale1988]

i am still a little intimidated by big snakes to be honest i have been looking at a few photos on the forum of like bites from bigger pythons and just the shear size of a bigger adult bredli it probably sounds silly lol but im a sook i agree with what your all saying about housing being the biggest problem as im sure its alot easier to house one of these smaller guys over a bredli lol

 

[Bradchip]

I had the same concerns initially, but think if you grow WITH the snake, then it's not so much of a problem. I've had my bredli for just under a year now. I think he was about 60cm's when I got him. He's about 1.3 meters now, but still pretty thin (although he's starting to chunk up a bit). He's an absolute gem too...just gets a little feisty and obnoxious when there's food around.

Wouldn't trade him for anything. The Antaresia didn't, and still don't do much for me personally. Really glad I started out with a Bredli.

 

[dale1988]

in your experience do most bredli start of a little darker and lighten up as i am chasing that really nice red colour like your bredli riley look awesome

 

[Klaery]

Hey dale. What happened to your other snakes? You had a woma and spotted from memory.

 

[Snakewoman]

My Bredli was 8 weeks old when I got her, and was much darker than what she is now, they colour up as they grow. Here's some comparison pics:

 

[mysnakesau]

i am still a little intimidated by big snakes to be honest ......

So was I when I brought my first python home. Sight unseen I was lead to believe I was buying a 2ft yearling and was presented with a 5-footer. 3 ft difference doesn't sound like much but it is when they are thicker round the middle as well. Her hissing use to intimidate the hell out of me, I was too scared to pick her up. But had a couple of snake-keeping friends come over and watching them handle her without any fear helped me a lot. That was 4yrs ago. Now she is 8ft long and my favourite. I still approach all my snakes respectfully, taking extra caution at feed time, but any other time, the fear I once held is gone. I pull any of them out and take them out for sun. I've been choked and have received a nasty feed bite so since them I have learnt even more respect to treat them like wild animals, not cuddly puppies. I let them on my shoulders but won't allow them to do circles round my neck.

You will get to know your python to know how you can handle him. If he is somewhat snappy, you would not let them on your shoulders or in striking distance of your face. Others, like my scarey 5 foot intergrade, will sit on the shoulders and that's it. She just sits there. But my jungles? They don't get the chance because they strike out every time I look at them. I take them out in the sun but into a mesh vivarium when they can enjoy the sun without harassment from me.

 

[Jazzz]

my first was a bredli =] buy 'my first' i mean i got her 4 months ago...

hoping ill grow with her. My confidence has already sky rocketed and im no longer nervous at all around her (even though shes a little snappy).

they take a few years to get to the full size so immediate housing isnt the problem. I picked up my full size enclosure for $250 =] its just like having a bookshelf

 

[blakehose]

Big!

 

[dale1988]

hehe thanks guys for all the info i have started looking for some tv units for conversion im not a very handy person but will give it a try thank you all very much for all your info there does not seem to be a great price difference between the larger or smaller so that has given me alot to think about just one more question i have heard from some people that large rats contain alot more fat and are not good for your snake is this true and if so whats a good substitute?

 

[Jazzz]

you can get chickens or quails =] keep a look out on places like ebay and gumtree. If your getting a hatchy you have plenty of time to shop around