Help a n00b out! Questions on buying/keeping pythons

[the.badger]

Hahaha well at least I won't be the only addict.

 

[bredli84]

badger, the woma is on the advanced lic, the bhp is not.

MD's are great pythons, my better half has a beautiful little one.
as for price, there are fashion trends in reptile keeping just like anywhere else. Darwins have a reputation of being more aggresive (read: defensive), so do waters jungles etc, this may or may not be justified.

also, animals like BHP's and womas are more exy due to relative rarity, they are more recently introduced to the hobby, so there are fewer available. this is also why womas are on the advanced licence, they do not require anymore specialised keeping than a regular carpet.

 

[the.badger]

Haha well that's just daft isn't it?

 

[bredli84]

Haha well that's just daft isn't it?

you are beginning to understand

EDIT: check out this little beauty
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/australian-snakes/murray-darling-carpet-at-9-months-91736

 

[ravan]

i personally love murray-darlings! they are gorgeous!
hehe yes its addictive, i've just gotten my first, and already have plans for two more, and started making a list of those that i want in future
& again yes about the bredli, they are lovely natured, had never held a snake until my boyfriend showed me his bredli, now his bredli likes to rub up against my face and give me kisses!

 

[pythonmum]

Why do you need an advanced license for the BHP and woma? Any why are some species like the Darwins and the Brissies so much cheaper than some of the others? They don't seem as popular as say the bredlis or the diamonds etc.

Does anyone know anything much about the Murray Darlings? They don't seem to be very popular either.

Regulations vary by state, but BHPs are regular license while womas are more restricted in NSW based on their abundance in the wild. Diamonds are lovely, but have different requirements from most carpets. Read up on DPS (Diamond Python Syndrome) if you consider getting one. For more on MDs, check out Doc Rock's article about inland carpet pythons (MDs) at SXR (www.sxr.com.au).

Darwins are easy to keep and breed, hence the reasonable price. They also include the albino Darwins, which are NOT cheap!

My Darwins (Tigger and Shakura)

My Stimson (Lisa)

 

[buttss66]

If you want to see lots of different snakes in the flesh before you make up your mind, Pales for Scales in Ballarat has heaps. I took my daughter up there today for a look and then we went to the Wildlife and Reptile Park. Good day out! You'll pay heaps more for a snake at any pet shop but it doesn't cost anything to look and get advice and then buy from a breeder when you're ready.

 

[MrKite]

I can give you a tip Badger.

A breeder by the name of Roy Pails, who has a shop located in Ballarat is a good bloke to buy from. He has a big shop so you can ask questionsand gather information straight from the horses mouth so to speak.

I was just up there last weekend, and i know for a fact that he has plenty of Bredli pythons in stock, hypo's and regulars alike. I held a couple, and they had great temprements, and clean patterning.

Was considering buying one of his Hypo's (was a fantastic looking snake, but opted for a different species).

Anyway, if its not too far of a drive, i'd consider making the trip, it will be worth it.

Visit the website: www.pailsforscales.com.au

Should give alot of info and contact details.

Hope that helps.

 

[MrKite]

If you want to see lots of different snakes in the flesh before you make up your mind, Pales for Scales in Ballarat has heaps. I took my daughter up there today for a look and then we went to the Wildlife and Reptile Park. Good day out! You'll pay heaps more for a snake at any pet shop but it doesn't cost anything to look and get advice and then buy from a breeder when you're ready.

Oh geez, you got in before me! i should have taken more notice, hehe.

 

[buttss66]

Oh geez, you got in before me! i should have taken more notice, hehe.

Haha. Great minds.......

 

[the.badger]

Wow bredli84, that's a fine looking MD she has there! So white. What a beaty. And pythonmum, your Darwins are spectacular! The classic guy looks really tiger-ish. Love love love the albino... would it be rude to ask what they go for? I clearly have no idea haha. I'll probably drop dead when I find out.

Thanks buttss66 and MrKite for the tip, I've been looking on the Pails for Scales website and they seem to have heaps of stock (even some GTP so I hear, but that's never going to happen) so I'll definately head on up there and check out the range when I get a day off.... If I ever get a day off.

 

[Troyster]

the advice i was given when i was looking is that bredli and murrays are probably the better 2 to start of with so i researched them and decided i liked the murray better,and being from sa we have our own local python as do you in victoria where bredlis are from nt.another thing i liked about the murray is their colouring and size they dont generally get as big as a bredli only around 8 foot where bredlis get to 10 or so enclosed is a pic of my murray at about 8 months cheers Troy

 

[mrillusion]

well i think a coastal would be good for U umm but it from a breeder u will have to look for in the classifieds on this site and others like herp trader and such my first snake was a coastal try get it at a younger age so u get used to them from a young age and they get used to you and also so u dont end up with a 6ft python trying to bite your arm off when u first get it for the first few weeks LOL

enclosures u could try the classifilds again and also custom enclosure makers

dogs i would say dont let them near the snake because dogs can kill snakes and/or stress them but depends on the dog as well.

 

[mrillusion]

My Darwins (Tigger and Shakura)

lol nice pythons PM its like ying and yang

 

[pythonmum]

Thanks folks. They both look better now, having shed again. The het is getting very high contrast with yellow background and black/brown markings. The albino is getting more orange in her markings. Both have lovely temperaments.

Badger - going rate for an albino hatchling is $4000 - $6000. Hets (like Tigger) which are normal coloured but carry the albino gene are $800 - $1500. Normal Darwins are around $250. The price of albinos will fall as more people breed them, but they are particularly nice snakes and should stay above the $1000 mark for some time. Start saving or join the next "Win an Albino" contest on here. It was SO worth it!

 

[the.badger]

Wow, way to go pythonmum! Congrats! Well that price is not as bad as I first thought, as I have seen some albinos for around the $20K mark... But $1000 is affordable. So now we play the waiting game.... Hehe.

So pythonmum, about your het - is the only reason you'd get a het to breed with another het or albino? Because if you just wanted a pet then you'd just get a classic since they look the same? Am I right in thinking this?

Thanks Troyster, your MD is a lil cutie!

About MD's - we went to look at one tonight, he was a 3 year old male and he seemed fairly skinny and small for his age at about 1metre or so. Is this normal for a MD or has he been starved or something? The owner says she feeds him every 4 - 8 weeks on one large rat. He was still a great snake IMHO, his colouring were nothing spectacular (I don't think, not that I know a heck of a lot about what's considered desirable) but he was very inquisitive and bold, not cage defensive and didn't mind having his owners hand brush agains his head.

So what should I expect to pay for a 3yp male MD anyway?

PS. Sorry if I'm getting too far from the topic, direct me to another thread if you guys think it's inappropriate.

 

[pythonmum]

So pythonmum, about your het - is the only reason you'd get a het to breed with another het or albino? Because if you just wanted a pet then you'd just get a classic since they look the same? Am I right in thinking this?

Yes, I got a het because I wanted to breed albinos. Look at the thread here about Darwin colour change to see a truly stunning classic Darwin. It's hard to pick the pattern when they are very young, but they colour up beautifully.

As far as the MD goes, it sounds small to me. IMO it should be fed twice as often. My Darwin girl is not quite a year old and already about a meter long (hard to get a good measurement). She weighs 189g with an empty stomach. She's a nicely grown snake that has not been power fed or underfed. My other Morelia are smaller.

 

[the.badger]

Aww pythonmum, now you make me want to get the MD just to save him from starvation. Poor dude. So will that mean he'll be small forever or will he start growing again if he was to be fed more often?

I saw the thread on the Darwin colour change, definately one amazing looking snake. I love the lighter colourations in all snakes. Is that type of colour change common in Darwins?

 

[Luke1]

answers in Red!

Firstly, where should we buy the snake from? The shops we went to didn't really have a massive range, most of the snakes were kept in Chinese take-away containers which I found a bit off, and I think one of the shops had a bunch of cross-bred things because all of their markings looked identical although they were labelled as different breeds. Is it OK to buy from a shop or would would it be better to buy from a breeder? If so, are there any pages which list the breeders in Victoria? I looked on the net but came up with nicks. I'd be willing to travel within Victoria of course, but would prefer not to order from interstate as I'd like to handle the snake first to get a feel for its temprament.
Personally...i wwouldn't buy from a shop unless you knew the keeper well and if you knew that his snakes were healthy etc...the probs with alot of shops is they sell em alot more expensive then what you can buy them!

I guess you'd probably have to settle on a breed of snake that you're after before finding a breeder? So can you guys recommend a particular breed that would be suited to first timers? We're not looking to breed or anything, and would like to handle the snake a fair bit, so we wouldn't want anything TOO big (probably not over 8 foot?? is that considered big??), or a snappy snake (I've heard that Children's Pythons can be a bit bitey). I realise it's a personal preference but we're not overly interested in colouration, we're just after a friendly and suitable pet.
my first snake was a spotted python...they get a bit over a meter...i think though if you want a snake to handle...get Murray darlings...they are so placid....they are big...but not to big if you no what i mean! if not interested in colour...murrays are the way to go! they are awosme!

I quite like the look of albino snakes but I'm guessing they'd be waaaaay out of our price range. The hubbby likes tree snakes but from what I understand tree snakes aren't great for a first timer (messy, fragile and flighty???). My absolute fave looking snakes are the hypo pigmented guys, they are simply stunning! But I would imagine they'd be hard to find?? Any ideas on this?
we'd all love albinos LOL!!! yea they are expensive!!!! tree snakes are a good snake imo...they might be harder to look after and no to hot kean on being held or anything but unlike pythons they are out during the day racing around the enclsoure!!! they have good colours to and if you really wanted to you could get one and breed feeder fish for it!

I've got plenty of info on general maintenance, but was wondering if it would be suitable to keep its enclosure in a busy and noisy room like the lounge room, or if it would be better to give the little fella some privacy in a spare bedroom or something? Also, we have 2 dogs, and while we'll keep the dogs outside when handling the snake, I was wondering if we should keep the enclosure in a room that the dogs do go into? Does having dogs around stress snakes out? They're not crazy yappy dogs or anything, but I wondered if their scent might affect the snake...
if your lounge room is often noisy and busy...don't put him in there! even though they can't here you they feel vibrations and if you have music booming all the time don't have him in there...or atleast not untile hes larger! all my snakes are in my bed room! best place imo...if i ever get introuble and get sent to my room i have em to keep me company!!!

Also on enclosures, is it better to upsize as the snake grows, or is it just the bigger the better? And can you put real plants in a snake enclosure or not? I've only seen fake plants in most enclosures except the diamond and jungle pythons... Does watering the plants create a humidity level that's too high for other breeds? And is it better to get an enclosure with a bit of height to it so the snake can climb, or is 2 foot OK? I guess this depends on the breed aswell...
upsize as it grows...i put a pair of hatchling bredlis in a 3ft tank and they are going fine...you can do that...they will use the space and its easier to get a temperature gradient....and a 3ft tank makes it look better imo! you can do them up etc...most carpets climb...if not all...they will use the space...i had a dead light in my tank and the bredlis climbing into it and wouldn't come down! just to give you an idea...my tank that has the bredlis in is 3ft x 1 1/2ft x 1 1/2 ft. you could house a smallish hatchling in there! eg...45 cm snake!

Anything I've forgotten? As you can tell, I really don't have much of a clue about any of this and I really feel I need to get as much info as possible in the next 6 weeks (or however long it takes to get a license) because I want the best for our snake, and the best snake for us, seeings as it's going to be around for the next 15 years! Any help would be awesome.
dont forget about feeding...don't over feed them...you can feed them regularly but not like what humans and lizards eat. the more food you give them the more and faster they'll grow...put it in comparison with a human eating a large rat...and a meidum snake eating the same size weight etc rat....most of that rat will be put to energy for a human and some will be passed through...where as a snake...most will be digested and part of it will grown that length (only a small fraction) but all that will do into bone development and stuff like that and it will keep the food in it for quite some time...because in the wild it could be another 4 weeks until they get another decent feed!
If your snake is a bit snappy when you get him...don't put on gloves...the teeth can get caugh on the material and be torn out...and the snake can get an infection and very possibly die...learnt the hard way with having to pay huge medical bills for antibiotics etc....
keep a close eye on the temperature too...have hides in both sides of the tank...one in the hot end...other in the cool...so if he gets hot he can move...or if your heat mats' thermastat blows and the temp aint controlled...they can burn! mine melted the tank! LOL

 

[the.badger]

Thanks Luke1, great answers, and I loved your ideas on GTS's, I didn't realise they're a daytime snake. But I think we'll start with a python. I've already accepted the fact that it will be the first of many haha.