Deposit on Black-Headed Python

[mikerccie]

Well, either I'm lucky, crazy or both. I'm making arrangements to put down a deposit on a baby Black-Headed Python. The eggs are laid, and by the time they hatch and the little "Aspidites melanocephalus" are eating on their own it will be January 2007.

The wife and I fell in love with them and started reading (see this month's reptile magazine) and did some more research and decided to bite the bullet and start the process of owning one of these amazing snakes.

This will by far be the most expensive snake I've ever owned, normal BHP hatchlings start out priced like some middle-to-high-end Ball Morphs.

Of course, after he (we expect a male unless the breeder hatches out very few boys) gets settled in, it won't matter what he cost, he'll just be "fred" or "george" or whatever we name him.

Maybe I should name him "Datsun" like the old brand of car, since this snake is going to cost as much as my first car.

[Shelby]

Congrats.. aspidites pythons are some of the coolest snakes around! I'll love seeing pics when you get the little bugger.

[cassandra]

Maybe I should name him "Datsun" like the old brand of car, since this snake is going to cost as much as my first car.

Rofl! Can't wait to see pictures! =)

[adizziedoll]

So much datsun talk lately, I love it!!!


Anyways, cant WAIT to see pictures and your new fella.... or gal??

[JLC]

VERY cool!! Man....January is gonna seem a LONG time in coming, ain't it??? LOL

[Colin Vestrand]

mmm... love blackheaded pythons AND datsuns! woo!

what sort of husbandry requirements are there? sounds like you have plenty of time to get the 'ol viv set up

[mikerccie]

From the web-page of the breeder I'm engaged with:
<begin paste>
Blackheads are very easily housed in captivity. Babies can be started in the commonly seen tub rack systems. All they need is a thermal gradient (80 cool end/ 90 warm end), a suitable substrate, and a water bowl and they will thrive. As they grow, our juveniles are progressively stepped through larger and larger tubs until 4 to 5 feet long. At this point they can be moved into their permanent enclosures. An enclosure with 4 feet by 2 feet of floor space is suitable for adult males. The larger females will benefit from a roomy 6 feet by 2 or 2 ½ feet of floor area. Adults should also be given a wider thermal gradient than offered to juveniles. A basking spot of up to 95 degrees and a cool end temperature down to 80 degrees is ideal. Adult Blackheads greatly appreciate top entry hide boxes, giving the sense of a subterranean burrow.
<end paste>

He co-wrote the June Reptiles Magazine article that helped me decide to pull the trigger.

More data can be seen on his operation and general BHP care at:
www.splitrockreptiles.com

Sign me - patiently waiting

[Shelby]

From what I have read, both womas and black headed pythons are very hardy captives with an appetite like no other. Their expense comes from their relative rarity at this point.. I see them becoming very popular snakes in a few years as they become more affordable.