White Lip Care Questions

[Sasquatch Art]

For a couple of years now I have been dying to introduce a pair of White Lip Pythons into my family. I have been reading about them but of course with many care sheets they are jumbled and a bit different from each other.
I love both the black (southern) and Gold/yellowish (northern) “races”, with that I am still unsure which I would be getting. I have heard that that the southern does get bigger but that is not a problem with me. I am aware of the horrible rap that they carry. With that I have many many questions to ask.
I was reading I would say a dozen different care guides and about half said that they love swimming while the other half said that they will only occasionally soak.
• Should I have a nice swimming area or just a large bowl for soaking?
I again got two different ideas on a basking spot. One I read mentioned 12-14 hours for basking while many never even mentioned such.
• Basking spot? If so what temp?
Humidity I have read anywhere between 75-90%, while I have read temps to be 68-75…
• Do you know of any breeders? (I have heard that they are tuff to breed in captivity)
I wouldn’t be getting a pair for probably a year or so I just want to be prepared for that day when it comes.
Thank you

[Skiploder]

I love both the black (southern) and Gold/yellowish (northern) “races”, with that I am still unsure which I would be getting. I have heard that that the southern does get bigger but that is not a problem with me. I am aware of the horrible rap that they carry. With that I have many many questions to ask.

Black phase does get a bit bigger.

I was reading I would say a dozen different care guides and about half said that they love swimming while the other half said that they will only occasionally soak.
• Should I have a nice swimming area or just a large bowl for soaking?

Large water bowl.

I again got two different ideas on a basking spot. One I read mentioned 12-14 hours for basking while many never even mentioned such.
• Basking spot? If so what temp?
Humidity I have read anywhere between 75-90%, while I have read temps to be 68-75…

75 to 80 %. Basking spot at about 90 degrees. Cool end of the cage maybe at about 80 to 83 degrees. Night drop (if possible) of about 7 degrees. I raised out a black phase male a few years ago and he was not much of a basker. He preferred to hang out in the hot end of his enlosure in a cork log.

Big time climber. I ended up moving him to a custom 16" high enclosure with a dowel installed about 12" up and along the length of it. As soon as the lights went out, he hung from this "branch" all night long.

The photoperiod should be about 12 hours a day with a decrease to 9 to 10 during the winter months. If varying the temperature, I would sync it with the photoperiod.

Do you know of any breeders? (I have heard that they are tuff to breed in captivity)
I wouldn’t be getting a pair for probably a year or so I just want to be prepared for that day when it comes.
Thank you

No. I purchased my black phase from the East Bay Vivarium. I'd glance through the classifieds on KS and see if anyone is breeding them.

[Sasquatch Art]

Wow great information. Thank you so much!!

*Have to print this out*

[morti]

My wife and I have a reverse trio. They are the single most ill-tempered snakes in the history of snakes. They are truly evil and want nothing more than to bite me in the face repeatedly. When they are not biting, they are flinging projectile urine at you.

We love them very much though.

[smilin-buddha]

We are always hurt by the ones we love

[Kennyxemerson]

this guy I know in cali just offered to sell me his northern for 150 cause he cant keep it (he already has 4-5 retics, and an HUGE amount of inverts) I am still thinking about it. haha :]