Wiggles, the Children's Python

[Bogertophis]

I was thinking that all king snakes are the same. You learn something new every day.

I've known my share of the "foody" king snakes (speckled, California kings, desert kings, Mexican black kings, etc.) but not mountain kings. As usual, Malum Argenteum is spot on.

[Malum Argenteum]

I think it is really interesting to contemplate (and experience) the differences between taxa. There are the broad groups that we can make broad generalized comparisons between, such as the kings and mountain kings; another example is the different groups of boas: US natives vs the other terrestrial boas vs the arboreal boas. Another example is probably (I've kept none of these) the Australian pythons and the Asian pythons.

There stark differences even within a genus -- differences within Python, or within Lampropeltis, are vivid examples. Even between closely related species there are differences. The two rosy boa species (Lichanura trivirgata and L orcutti) are different in size and behavior/temperament, and even within L. orcutti there are those differences between the coastal and high desert locales. Outside of snakes, I think of Coelonyx (banded geckos) for intergeneric differences -- some species are rainforest dwellers, some in pretty harsh desert, and there are empirically established differences in physiology (preferred body temp; especially rate of evaporation).

This is one of the main reasons I like to keep a really broad range of herps -- to see how wildly different they all are, even in close relatives. Super interesting stuff.

[Homebody]

Is my boy overweight?



I noticed that his body narrows suddenly at the tail.

[Bogertophis]

He's well-nourished but I wouldn't necessarily say "overweight". Are you sure it's a male?

[Homebody]

He's well-nourished but I wouldn't necessarily say "overweight". Are you sure it's a male?

That was the seller's representation. Why do you ask?

[Bogertophis]

That was the seller's representation. Why do you ask?

Just a thought- I've never sexed any Children's pythons, but I have sexed other kinds of snakes. Just not seeing a pronounced hemipenal bulge below his cloaca- his tail looks more female to me, or at least in those photos. Females sometimes have "hips" like that. Plus there's no females (same species & size) to compare his tail length to, so I just wondered. Mistakes happen, especially in young squirmy snakes being sexed. And appearance is not the most reliable way to sex snakes anyway. Don't let it keep you awake nights. Besides, the name Wiggles can go either way.

[Homebody]

I'll keep it mind. Glad to hear he's not overweight yet. Though, I still plan to switch back to smaller Reptilinks with my next order due to his recent inconsistent feeding.

[Homebody]

What a stark color difference! My boy (or girl) looks very different depending on the light.

Also, a funny thing happened last night. When I went to put him back in his enclosure, he wouldn't let go of my hand. Usually, he's eager to escape my grasp, but not last night. At first, I thought he was holding on because he was afraid of falling. So, I rested my hand on the floor of his enclosure and waited for him to let go, but he wouldn't do it. Then, I thought, maybe he's just not ready to go back. Maybe, he's starting to enjoy handling a bit, but then, I noticed that he was holding on awful tight. Suddenly, it dawned on me that that he was constricting me, and that he wouldn't let go until my heart stopped beating. So, I peeled him off as gently as I could. Silly snek. Won't eat his reptilinks, but, my hand, that he'll eat.

[Bogertophis]

So glad you didn't wait for your heart to stop beating- Good call! What a little predator! Can't blame him for preferring fresh over Reptilinks- I guess he thought you were "offering"?

[Malum Argenteum]

I've offered Reptilinks to snakes that continued to prefer my arm (hand, sweatshirt, snake hook...) over the links. Not kidding.