No Olive for Us...But suggestions requested...

[KathandStu]

Well after much deliberation Stu & I have decided that we couldn't keep an Olive in an enclosure big enough to keep it happy, so we are not going to get one. :cry: It's very dissapointing because I just love Olives but I refuse to make a poor animal unhappy just to cater to my selfish whims.

So we are looking into getting another python which would be more suited to a smaller enclosure. I was hoping you guys could offer some suggestions? (And yes snakes are very addictive...you can all say "I told you so!" now) :wink:

The enclosure will be 1200 long, about 500 deep & about 600 high (though could be made higher if required).

We would love to have a python which is reletivly easy to look after (so no super high humidity needs or hard-to-get diet needs).

We are looking to get a hatchie (as opposed to a yearling or adult) & would pay up to about $300 (plus postage of course).

I am not overly fussed about Diamonds but any other python suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kathy & Stu

 

[MrBredli]

Get a Water Python, they're just like a smaller version of the Olive Python.

 

[KathandStu]

MrBredli: Do they need any special requirements? ANy idea how much they cost as hatchies? I will do some research into them now you have my intrest piqued! Thanks.

 

[peterjohnson64]

Here Here to that.

Perhaps you should start a poll Kath & Stu so as to see. You could put water python, BHP, Retic & Other. Some one did it recently. Of course, you choose the snakes cause I know a BHP will be more than $300.

 

[MrBredli]

No special requirements, looking at $150-250 for a hatchling.

 

[staffsrule]

Water pythons are stunning. A mate of mine got a pair a couple of weeks ago, I had never realy taken much notice of them till I saw his !! His female was a real sweety, very placid, the male a bit more firey, but once out of his enclosure was not too bad.

 

[Reptilia]

Why not a nice bredl? One of the easiest to look after and close to your price range.

 

[swampie]

Bredli or one of the childrens group, maybe a patternless childreni they look like mini olives . You could get one of the Darwin form of olives they dont grow as big as other olives (average 2.3-2.5m).

 

[KathandStu]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I am really intrigued by water pythons now that MrBredli has brought them to my attention. They are very beautiful looking pythons & as pointed out, not difficult to keep. I am going to do alot of research on Water Pythons & some of the others mentioned (I am not one to make snap decisions). Bredlis are really nice looking too Reptilia...So many choices. I guess I am leaning towards Water's only because I had my heart set on an Olive & there are so many similarities between them. I will definatly look into Bredlis though.

 

[inthegrass]

why not try a murray darling, very easy to look after.and reasonably priced.
cheers.

 

[NCHERPS]

I reckon you can't go wrong with a Stimsons python.
I have some lovely hatchies for sale, feeding well $225.

PM me if your interested, I am just down the road from Parramatta.

Cheers
Neil

 

[alexr]

but I refuse to make a poor animal unhappy just to cater to my selfish whims

Can you come around and talk to my wife.

Why not a nice bredl?

I love bredl too Reptilia - (after diamonds though)

Do you have an outside area - maybe you could keep an olive outside like was suggested in the other thread?

 

[ihaveherps]

did you consider a split level enclosure for your olive? it would increase the floor size, just a thought before you give up on the idea.

 

[KathandStu]

Alexr: Unfortunatly I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment block with a tiny (really tiny) balcony so outdoors isn't really an option. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Ihaveherps: I must admit that I had briefly entertained the thought for split-leveling an enclosure but we decided that doing that would make the enclosure too tall & as I said I live in a pretty small apartment so anyt piece of furniture that high would totally over-shadow the rest of the room (which wouldn't bother me so much but I wouldn't like to restrict my son any more than he already is with playing space.) Thanks for the suggestion though. Much appreciated.

 

[africancichlidau]

I'm with Mr. Bred on this one, mini olive for sure

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Water Pythons are beautiful, tough and EASY to keep. Just make sure you feed them with tongs - a hungry WP is an awesome thing, especially if it thinks it's tucker time!!!

Go for it.

Jamie.

 

[herptrader]

Others that would suit the enclosure would be jungles because they are at the smaller end of the carpet range. We have one that is a stunning looking animal and an excellent handler.

Womas would also fit in there quite nicely and have great personalities. It is a pity that they are so expensive.

If it is the irridesence of Olives that has apealed to you the humble children's pythons also show irridesence... probably more than olives. A pair of childreni could be housed together in an enclosure of that size where as most other species would do better separated.

--
Herp Shop - http://www.herpshop.com.au

January 2006 Herp Shop Special
Order your copy of the
** Hot off the press **
"The More Complete Chondro"
during January 2006 and receive a bonus free Oz Herp Thermometer and Oz Herp Hygrometer with each copy.
These neat little units normally sell for $6 each or $10 the pair.

 

[Gilleni]

Perhaps a pair of paternless Childrens would be good..

Like Mini Olive look-a-likes..

 

[Scale_Addiction]

kath&stu -

I keep water pythons, and they are a great animal, i keep two localities, a QLD & an NT, the NT one is quite short, maybe only 1.3-1.5m... the QLDs are around 1.8m, they are not as active as olives, and ARE often aggresive, but if you hunt around for the right one, you'll be right.

i actually have a pair of the mini-olives that swampie suggested, they won't be ready to breed till next year, but i will have some hatchies available in the future, as adults, they literally look like mini-olives, i have seen some forms that are close, but the parents of my pair are dead-set look alikes. they are of course just a patternless chocolate/olive form of a childreni. great for dropping peoples jaws though.

 

[TrueBlue]

kath-stu, your snakes should be kept in a spare room out of high traffic, and cooking smell areas, where children cant and dont play if you want to keep them de-stressed. Keeping most snakes in those sort of areas is asking for trouble IMO.