African Rock Python
The African Rock Python is the largest of all snake species on the African continent. Large adults, especially females measure between 4 – 5,5 meters. Larger specimens of 7 and 8 meters have been recorded.In the wild adults can reach up to 30 years of age. African Rock Pythons are often found near water in savannah and grassland biomes as well as rocky outcrops. Their preferred retreats are under piles of driftwood and inside old termite mounds and abandoned aardvark (ant-bear) burrows. Mammals such as small to medium sized antelope, dassies (hyrax), rodents, hares, monkeys, monitor lizards, crocodiles and occasionally fish are eaten.During the summer months the female lays between 20 and 60 eggs in a termite mound or aardvark burrow. Large pythons can lay as many as 100 eggs. The female remains with her eggs for the 2 – 3 month incubation period. During this period she will not feed but will leave on occasion to drink. On warm days she will often bask in the sun and then use the absorbed body heat to help incubate the eggs by coiling around them. By constantly twitching her body she also generates heat to help raise the temperature of the eggs. Another advantage of coiling around the eggs is their protection against predators such as mongoose, rats and monitor lizards.The African Rock Python lacks venom glands but is still capable of inflicting a serious bite. Its sharp, recurved teeth often cause severe tissue damage and infection if not disinfected properly.
There are recorded incidents of large African Rock Pythons killing and even eating humans but this is very rare.Prey that is captured is suffocated to death before consuming. Small prey species are sometimes swallowed alive! Pythons do not crush their prey to death.
There are recorded incidents of large African Rock Pythons killing and even eating humans but this is very rare.Prey that is captured is suffocated to death before consuming. Small prey species are sometimes swallowed alive! Pythons do not crush their prey to death.
Burmese Pythons
Burmese Pythons are dark-coloured snakes with many brown blotches bordered in black down the back. The perceived attractiveness of their skin pattern contributes to their popularity with both reptile keepers and the leather industry. The pattern is similar in colour, but different in actual pattern to the African Rock Python , sometimes resulting in confusion of the two species outside of their natural habitats.In the wild, Burmese pythons grow to 3.7 metres (12 ft) on average, while specimens of more than 4 metres (13 ft) are uncommon.Individuals over 5 metres (16 ft) – like a specimen from Cooch Behar with 5.8 metres (19 ft) and 91 kilograms (201 lb) – are very rare. There are reports of snakes more than 6 metres (20 ft) long, but those are often result of confusion between Burmese Pythons and Reticulated Pythons, stretched skins, or simple exaggeration. There are also dwarf forms on Java, Bali and Sulawesi. At Bali they reach an average length of 2 metres (6.6 ft) and on Sulawesi they achieve a maximum of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft).
Dumeril's Boa
Dumeril's boas are a beautiful and interesting snake from Madagascar. Not overly large, and calm in temperment, they make fine pets for the novice keeper.
Neonates posses beautiful hues of peach and pink and are exceptionally pretty snakes. Some adults retain a degree of this coloration while others lose most of it. The pattern however still results in a beautiful snake whether the coloration is retained or not.Dumeril's have some interesting behavior differences from other most other boa species, particularly their style of ambush hunting.
A hungry dumerils will conceal itself within the substrate with only its head barely visible. It will sit this way waiting patiently for a rodent to happen along. Once prey is detected, the snake literally explodes from the substrate seizing and constricting the prey. I often have to clean up cypress mulch that was thrown from the cage during an especially enthusiastic feeding response.
I personally don't reach over my dums when they are in the hunting posture for obvious reasons haha.
I have also seen caudual luring used by my female on a few occasions. Possibly a holdover behavior, since she is not fully grown, but she is about four feet. It will be interesting to see if this behavior is still displayed in a couple of years.
This is not a fast growing species by any means, sometimes taking as long as 4-5 years to reach sexual maturity. Feed them well, but don't try to push them. Their bodies are not designed to reach breeding size in two years, and trying to hurry them alogn will only result in problems.
I recommend a 4'x 2' enclosure for mature adult specimens. A substrate in which they can burrow is preferred.
Temperatures range from the low 80s to the 90-92F.
I have noted a high occurance of shedding difficulty if the humidity is not adequate during this time so misting them through the shed process is highly recommended.
The natural habitat of Madagascar is under constant threat. I have seen estimates that as much as 90% of the rainforest of this island has already been destroyed. This is truly unfortunate for the diverse species of reptiles found there, many of which are found nowhere else.
Any species native to Madagascar are in need of being bred in captivity, but for the Dumeril's boa, we are fortunate that it is fairly well established in captivity and fair numbers are produced annually.
With diligence, and the continued efforts of dedicated breeders, we should be able to continue to enjoy keeping these snakes for years to come.
Neonates posses beautiful hues of peach and pink and are exceptionally pretty snakes. Some adults retain a degree of this coloration while others lose most of it. The pattern however still results in a beautiful snake whether the coloration is retained or not.Dumeril's have some interesting behavior differences from other most other boa species, particularly their style of ambush hunting.
A hungry dumerils will conceal itself within the substrate with only its head barely visible. It will sit this way waiting patiently for a rodent to happen along. Once prey is detected, the snake literally explodes from the substrate seizing and constricting the prey. I often have to clean up cypress mulch that was thrown from the cage during an especially enthusiastic feeding response.
I personally don't reach over my dums when they are in the hunting posture for obvious reasons haha.
I have also seen caudual luring used by my female on a few occasions. Possibly a holdover behavior, since she is not fully grown, but she is about four feet. It will be interesting to see if this behavior is still displayed in a couple of years.
This is not a fast growing species by any means, sometimes taking as long as 4-5 years to reach sexual maturity. Feed them well, but don't try to push them. Their bodies are not designed to reach breeding size in two years, and trying to hurry them alogn will only result in problems.
I recommend a 4'x 2' enclosure for mature adult specimens. A substrate in which they can burrow is preferred.
Temperatures range from the low 80s to the 90-92F.
I have noted a high occurance of shedding difficulty if the humidity is not adequate during this time so misting them through the shed process is highly recommended.
The natural habitat of Madagascar is under constant threat. I have seen estimates that as much as 90% of the rainforest of this island has already been destroyed. This is truly unfortunate for the diverse species of reptiles found there, many of which are found nowhere else.
Any species native to Madagascar are in need of being bred in captivity, but for the Dumeril's boa, we are fortunate that it is fairly well established in captivity and fair numbers are produced annually.
With diligence, and the continued efforts of dedicated breeders, we should be able to continue to enjoy keeping these snakes for years to come.
Children's Python
Children's pythons come from the North of Australia. The name is not derived from any relationship to children, but in honor of John George Children, who was a curator of the zoological collection at the British Museum in the 19th Century. They are also called the faded python as their spotted pattern fades as they mature. They inhabit many different types of habitat, and because of this adaptability they do well in captivity. In the wild, children's pythons feed on lizards and frogs when young, and may include some mammalian prey as adults. Our captive bred children's pythons are fed exclusively on frozen/thawed mice.
Emerald Tree Boa
Emerald Tree Boas are very similar to the green tree python. They are bright green in colour with a yellow coloured underside. They have an irregular zigzag stripe along their back and they reach lengths between 1.5 and 2 m (5 - 5.5 ft).
They have a strong prehensile tail which helps them to move around between the branches of trees. They spend their days coiled over branches with their head resting in the middle of the coils and they hunt at night.
Their eyes have vertical pupils which help them to sense movement and they have deep pits in the scales around their mouth for detecting heat given off by their prey.
Habitat
Emerald Tree Boas are found in the rainforests of northern South America. They are solitary and they spend their life among the branches of trees, only descending to the ground to move between them.
Diet
Emerald Tree Boas are non-venomous carnivores that feed on small mammals and birds. Juveniles also sometimes feed on small reptiles andamphibians.
Breeding
Female Emerald Tree Boas retain fertilized eggs inside their body while each young snake develops within their shell, being nourished by its yolk. When they are fully developed they hatch inside the female and she gives birth to 10 - 20 live young that are approximately 30 cms (12 inches) in length.
The young snakes are brick-red, orange, bright red or yellow in colour and they change to their characteristic green after a year.
They have a strong prehensile tail which helps them to move around between the branches of trees. They spend their days coiled over branches with their head resting in the middle of the coils and they hunt at night.
Their eyes have vertical pupils which help them to sense movement and they have deep pits in the scales around their mouth for detecting heat given off by their prey.
Habitat
Emerald Tree Boas are found in the rainforests of northern South America. They are solitary and they spend their life among the branches of trees, only descending to the ground to move between them.
Diet
Emerald Tree Boas are non-venomous carnivores that feed on small mammals and birds. Juveniles also sometimes feed on small reptiles andamphibians.
Breeding
Female Emerald Tree Boas retain fertilized eggs inside their body while each young snake develops within their shell, being nourished by its yolk. When they are fully developed they hatch inside the female and she gives birth to 10 - 20 live young that are approximately 30 cms (12 inches) in length.
The young snakes are brick-red, orange, bright red or yellow in colour and they change to their characteristic green after a year.