Stimson's Python Photos

[Lolo76]

I was hanging out with James the Stimson's Python tonight, and got some nice photos of him... he loves to be a bracelet, and apparently a hair accessory too.











And then he headed for my hair...




I think this could be the next big trend!

[Lorgakor]

Beautiful snake. I keep thinking it looks more like a Children's than a Stimson's.

[Skiploder]

Beautiful snake. I keep thinking it looks more like a Children's than a Stimson's.

It was my snake and after I adopted him, I tracked down the producer and verified (along with scalation) that it was stimsoni.

This is not the first time someone has opined on a forum that stimsonsi is a childreni or a childreni is a stimsoni. Stimson's and Children's pythons have a wide variability depending on locality.

Luckily,yoou can do the scale counts to differentiate between the two species.

Here are a list of photo links of Stimson's that have a more faded pattern - but are still stimson's.

http://www.southernxreptiles.com/ChildSlim.htm
http://www.southernxreptiles.com/ChildNimble.htm
http://www.inlandreptile.com/galleri..._&_Eggs_fs.JPG
http://www.inlandreptile.com/galleri..._&_Eggs_fs.JPG
http://members.chello.nl/l.westerd8/...lli%2023-7.jpg

[Lorgakor]

Oh I wasn't doubting that it was a Stimson's, sorry I just reread my post and it totally looks that way lol! I just meant that with that reduced spotting it sure looks more like a childreni. I also haven't seen that many adult Stimmies. It is a very nice snake.

[Skiploder]

A little bit of a history lesson and a bit of back ground for those who often get confused between childreni and stimsoni.

Many years ago, all four antaresia species recognized today were called Chidren's (liasis). The original "children's" were imported from NW Qld. This is an are which is a know intergrade area between what we now recognize as stimmies and childreni.

When I got my first group of stimson's in 1998, I had two that looked identical to James. The other three had lighter background coloration and more pronounced blotching. Many of the VPI stims I have seen over the years look much like old James.

Most pure childreni experience a definitive fading of pattern as they age. Ol' James is in excess of 6 years old and his color has stayed the same during the years I had him. After a shed, his blotching is much more pronounced.

Over the years, Aussie enthusiasts have furthered refined the species depending on locality (much as they have with womas). We here in the States have animals that are an intermixing of locales.

Point being - Laura: This won't be the last time someone thinks James is a children's. I know who produced him and based on my discussions with that breeder and my experience with all four antaresia species, I have no doubt what he is.

There is a wide variability in stimmie markings, from a slightly faded pattern with smaller markings (similar to a Children's) to a much lighter almost piped in background with large boldly colored blotches.

[Skiploder]

Oh I wasn't doubting that it was a Stimson's, sorry I just reread my post and it totally looks that way lol! I just meant that with that reduced spotting it sure looks more like a childreni. I also haven't seen that many adult Stimmies. It is a very nice snake.

I know you didn't - and my apologies if I came off harsh..........it's just that when Laura posted the thread I knew it was a matter of time before someone made that observation.

When I sold anthill babies, I had a client who posted pics of his new pair on a forum.

About three posters told him that he had been robbed - that he had been sold children's pythons.......................another told him he had been sold a spotted.

While I agree that Stimsoni, Childreni and Maculosa look similar as babies, Perthensis do not...............

Anyway..........

[Elise.m]

Very cute guy there Laura! Any breeding plans for him or just a pet?

[Lolo76]

Very cute guy there Laura! Any breeding plans for him or just a pet?

Thanks! He's just a pet for now, but maybe I'll get him a girlfriend at some point... if I can find a female Stimsoni, that is.

[Lolo76]

Oh, and thanks for the other comments - and to Craig for explaining the difference in species, since I'm still a bit clueless about these guys.

Btw Craig, everyone on the Morelia forum thinks he's fat... I thought he was fine, but apparently he needs to join Dash on her diet. He ate a live adult mouse last week, and I'll probably wait 10-14 days between meals for a while.

[Jason Bowden]

Cool hair snake!
Might catch on after The Clash of the Titans comes out!