Will Liasis ever take off?

[TrpnBils]

Other than a pair of Savus a couple of weeks ago, I haven't even seen any Liasis at shows lately. With the lack of crazy pattern and color morphs, do you think this genus will ever become mainstream?

[Skiploder]

Other than a pair of Savus a couple of weeks ago, I haven't even seen any Liasis at shows lately. With the lack of crazy pattern and color morphs, do you think this genus will ever become mainstream?

Define mainstream.

There are plenty of snakes out there that are "mainstream" that don't have crazy patterns or color morphs.

[TrpnBils]

Define mainstream.

* Popular enough to be kept by more than a handful of die-hard fans.

* Enjoyed enough by the general herpkeeping public to be referred to as something other than "that brown/green snake"

* Kept by enough people that there are more than two decent caresheets to be found on the entire Web

* Kept frequently enough that the Liasis board on this and other forums doesn't sit dormant for months on end until somebody who has already posted dozens of pictures of their snakes posts them again (or posts discussion topics like this) just to try to generate some activity on the forum.

All I'm saying is that with corns, kings, milks, balls, redtails, burms, etc. you seem to have an almost endless supply of color and pattern variations. Each one makes that morph the next "must have" version of an already popular snake. For something like a Macklott's python, there isn't even an albino form that I'm aware of, so it seems unlikely that they'll explode into popularity overnight like some other species have done in recent years.

Most Liasis also have a reputation that precedes them - almost every reference I can find about this genus before about 2002 focuses on how aggressive they are. That's turned around slightly in the past few years and now I at least see "they'll grow out of it." Of course, other snakes have this reputation too...look at GTPs for example. I keep these too, and it seems to me that most people who see mine bite me from time to time almost invariably lean towards "but they look so cool!" As a result of that, even green trees, which have less variation than most commonly kept snakes are
increasingly popular in captivity.

I think they're great, but I don't see this happening for the Liasis genus...

[Skiploder]

* Popular enough to be kept by more than a handful of die-hard fans.

I think you are underestimating the numbers of olives, macklott's, savus and fuscus out there.

While they do not enjoy the popularity of the more ubiquitous colubrids, they are out there in quantities that exceed a "handful".

* Enjoyed enough by the general herpkeeping public to be referred to as something other than "that brown/green snake"

I would look at it this way - they are enjoyed by a select and discriminating segment of the reptile hobby.

In general, they do not have the temperaments found with ball, corn and the more popular snake species. Temperament and manageable size have a great deal to do with popularity. Olives and fuscus don't fit the latter and liasis - in general - don't fit the former.

* Kept by enough people that there are more than two decent caresheets to be found on the entire Web

Care sheets are often not worth the space they take up. Gopher and pine snakes are very popular, as are antaresia pythons. Neither are represented by a plethora of care sheets.

* Kept frequently enough that the Liasis board on this and other forums doesn't sit dormant for months on end until somebody who has already posted dozens of pictures of their snakes posts them again (or posts discussion topics like this) just to try to generate some activity on the forum.

This is a ball python forum. Have you checked out the Aussie Snakes and Pythons site? Or the Morelia Pythons site? They are quite a bit more active with respect to liasis than this site.

All I'm saying is that with corns, kings, milks, balls, redtails, burms, etc. you seem to have an almost endless supply of color and pattern variations. Each one makes that morph the next "must have" version of an already popular snake. For something like a Macklott's python, there isn't even an albino form that I'm aware of, so it seems unlikely that they'll explode into popularity overnight like some other species have done in recent years.

It does seem unlikely indeed. I think you thoroughly answered your own question.

]Most Liasis also have a reputation that precedes them - almost every reference I can find about this genus before about 2002 focuses on how aggressive they are. That's turned around slightly in the past few years and now I at least see "they'll grow out of it." Of course, other snakes have this reputation too...look at GTPs for example. I keep these too, and it seems to me that most people who see mine bite me from time to time almost invariably lean towards "but they look so cool!" As a result of that, even green trees, which have less variation than most commonly kept snakes are
increasingly popular in captivity.

The reputation - in many respects - is deserved.

Oh - there are exceptional examples in any species - but on average, liasis can be a tad more pissy than snakes that enjoy a widespread popularity.

I think they're great, but I don't see this happening for the Liasis genus...

I think they are great too. I also don't see them reaching the popularity of lampropeltis, regius or even morelia and aspidites.

[TrpnBils]

It does seem unlikely indeed. I think you thoroughly answered your own question.

You're right... my mistake. I won't waste any more of your time, sir.

[LadyOhh]

I think part of the problem also is the size.

Most people are daunted by them.

But then again, most people start with Corns or Balls.

Don't worry. Some people will branch out into them

[Patrick Long]

You're right... my mistake. I won't waste any more of your time, sir.

What the hell is wrong with all of these new people coming here, then getting pissed off at the answers we give.


This is the 5th thread I have read where a new member asks questions gets answers, and is either EXTREMELY mad over the answers, or instantly becomes a smart arse.

[TrpnBils]

What the hell is wrong with all of these new people coming here, then getting pissed off at the answers we give.


This is the 5th thread I have read where a new member asks questions gets answers, and is either EXTREMELY mad over the answers, or instantly becomes a smart arse.

I'm not pissed... I posted a thread about something I've wondered about since I picked up my Macks awhile back. I had a simple observation that I almost never see Liasis at shows and end up being told that I'm wrong..."you're underestimating the numbers out there." I'm not estimating numbers at all...I've seen TWO Macklott's in the past 5ish years and TWO Savus.

If you'd like to keep this as your own private club for people who have been members for years upon years, then ask a mod to discontinue new membership.

[blackcrystal22]

I'm not pissed... I posted a thread about something I've wondered about since I picked up my Macks awhile back. I had a simple observation that I almost never see Liasis at shows and end up being told that I'm wrong..."you're underestimating the numbers out there." I'm not estimating numbers at all...I've seen TWO Macklott's in the past 5ish years and TWO Savus.

If you'd like to keep this as your own private club for people who have been members for years upon years, then ask a mod to discontinue new membership.

Just because YOU haven't seen them, doesn't mean they're not out there.
So yes, you are underestimating the numbers.

[TrpnBils]

I think part of the problem also is the size.

Most people are daunted by them.

But then again, most people start with Corns or Balls.

Don't worry. Some people will branch out into them

True about size, but look at how many retics and burms are out there at shows. I don't think I'd classify any Liasis as beginner snakes, so of course for things like corns, balls, milks, kings will be more popular with people keeping first herps. I would think they fall more into a secondary herp vein (i.e. "Some experience needed" but not to the extent of a hot or something).

I think one thing that could definitely work in their favor is their activity level. People like active snakes, and my Macklotts are probably among the most active of all mine. I'd be curious to see if anybody raised any more interest in them if there were ever an amelanistic morph bred...I think they've got a lot to offer the hobby.