Favorite Snakes - That Are Different

Both aspidites species - the woma and the blackheaded pythons.

Both snakes are not fussy about husbandry requirments in terms of temps and humidity, both are fantastic eaters and both have amazing temperments - they even shed very easily. Very active in their enclosures and very interactive and curious of their surroundings.

Blackhead pythons get a bit larger than the woma (8 to 9 feet compared to 6 to 7) and also get thicker.

I would classify both species as good beginner "large" snakes due to their docile natures and general hardiness.

The only caveat is that often their feeding responses are so extreme that caution must be exercised to avoid feeding related strikes.

Our womas and blackheads are the only snakes we have that I actually think like to be held. Our largest male woma will bang on the front of his enclosure when we walk into the room until we take him out.

Our herp vet told me that she would never consider keeping a snake until she met our aspidites. She has now asked if she can have a baby from our next clutch.

Great info John, I knew they could be agressive but was under the impression that CBs were much easier to deal with. Still I was not thinking about the size of an adult and the over all caging requirements. Honestly they require a piece of furniture to house properly because yep they love to climb.

It is not my plan to do full care sheets for each animal just to highlight the lesser knowns with a few points about unique requirements, etc.

I will include Scrubs too ladywhipple02 they are a unique snake as well, deffinitely an advanced animal as well. They get big enough to be dangerous and most don't have the best attitudes. I did meet one though who was way over 12 feet and as tame as any burm I have ever seen. She was a rare one though as her owner had several and she was the only one he considered safe by any means.

Skip I will add them both and great suggestions!

The only issue with either is price. They are both fairly expensive but wonderful snakes. Blackheads are really expensive and hard to find. Hopefully more and more people will breed them and in time pricing will come down some,

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Originally Posted by jjspirko

Skip I will add them both and great suggestions!

The only issue with either is price. They are both fairly expensive but wonderful snakes. Blackheads are really expensive and hard to find. Hopefully more and more people will breed them and in time pricing will come down some,

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The womas are starting to come down - my last male I got for $300.00 and he's a beauty - you can get a pair for about $1,200.00 now. It's still a bit hard to get a lone female........

The blackheads will be there in a couple of years.

Erpeton tentaculum

or any Acrochordus.

But if you want terrestrial types, how bout Ungaliophis. That and I'll second the Aspidites.

One more Jack:

The savu python.

Females grow to about 4.5 feet, males to about 3.5 feet or so. The babies have that wonderful orange color and the white eyes can't be beat.rra cotta color.

A very easy to care for snake and definately suitable for the beginner They do like to burrow and mine have appreciated a climbing spot. They are extremely reliable feeders and eat like clockwork.

Savus atart out as nippy, much like the antaresia species but as they mature they become a mellow, handleable snake.

Your right, CB Spilotes are much easier. The key word is potential. I got mine from primareptilia(great people) and they are the only breeders I know selling to the "public". There are a lot of big time keepers working with each other to produce high yellows, Mexican, speckled, etc.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52017

That is Donnie from primareptilia. I'm sure they want to make sure their customers know what they are getting. I would love for my guy to be calm, but I won't be surprised if he bites. A bite from an 11 ft Spilotes is probably something only an advanced keeper can handle, especially since it will probably be on the face.

And your right on about the piece of furniture lol. Talking 4Wx2Dx4H at least.

John

Great stuff and thanks guy and gals.

Some others I have added to my gowing list now are,

Diadem Snakes
Matlocks
Mole Snakes
African Tiger
Cat Eyed Snakes
Black Pines (heck all pines, gophers, bulls are under appreciated)
Black Necked Garter (stunning snakes)

This is going to be a great book but a bigger project then I have ever done in the past. My last book (on sales) was written with a coauthor (Neil Franklin) in three days in a hotel lobby. This is going to be a LOT more work but fun and something I have been doing reasearch, keeping records, etc to eventually do for more then 20 years, so now is the time.

Keep em comming and any other not so well covered topics you would like to see added let me know. Anyone the helps will get listed as a contributor if you want to be mentioned. Call that my bribe, :devilish:

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Originally Posted by jjspirko

Those are two great ones.

I would call the BRB an "advanced snake" due to husbandry requirements but have never kept one so it is all hear say. Would you concur?

The hoggies are great and a good beginner snake too.

Anyone else?

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but aren't the hognose toxic?? the bites more dangerous? Someone here (I think it was kalamazoo) got bit by their hog and had to go to the hospital.


We've got the leucistic TX rat, and the Kenyan sand boa. Both easy keepers, and the KSB is definitely one for a smaller size requirement. I really enjoy our Stimson's boy. Very nippy as a baby and sub-adult, and he almost got away at first, but he's since settled in very nicely, and he's easy to care for, not very picky eater except in shed, and in a smaller sized tub setup. :) :) (Maybe he's still considered a sub-adult...I don't know how big he'll actually mature at.)

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Originally Posted by sweety314

but aren't the hognose toxic?? the bites more dangerous? Someone here (I think it was kalamazoo) got bit by their hog and had to go to the hospital.


We've got the leucistic TX rat, and the Kenyan sand boa. Both easy keepers, and the KSB is definitely one for a smaller size requirement. I really enjoy our Stimson's boy. Very nippy as a baby and sub-adult, and he almost got away at first, but he's since settled in very nicely, and he's easy to care for, not very picky eater except in shed, and in a smaller sized tub setup. :) :) (Maybe he's still considered a sub-adult...I don't know how big he'll actually mature at.)

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Are they toxic? - their salvia is mildly so, but then again so is human saliva. I think the degree of reaction depends on the individual being bitten.

Maybe there is an allergy component there..........a friend of mine was bitten in a feeding strike and constriction by a Macklott's python and had his hand and wrist swell up like a balloon for about 24 hours. I think we can all agree that macklotts are not considered toxic......

My first snake, when I was 12, was a western hognose.

That snake lived 17 years and I was bit only four times - feeding strikes in which he chewed the heck out of my hand - no reaction.

I would classify them as a good beginner snake providing that tongs are used during feeding and other precautionary feeding day measures are taken.

PS - How did that thermostat work out for you?