Rubber Boa
The rubber boa is a small to medium sized snake that may reach about 80 cm. It has a blunt head with small eyes and a blunt tail. Rubber boas vary in color from olive greenish to dark brown, usually with a yellow belly.The rubber boa occurs throughout much of Washington. Populations are spotty, and individuals can be difficult to find even though they are common in some areas. Outside Washington, rubber boas occur in the mountains and canyons of Idaho, western Montana, northwestern Wyoming, northern Utah, northern Nevada, Oregon, and much of California. Click here to go to the Washington Gap Analysis for this species; use the "back" button on your web browser to come back to this pRubber boas live in many habitats, including moist forest, dry pine forest, and shrubby habitats. They seem to be more common where there is moisture such as streams or moist soil underground, although the surface soil may be dry.age.The chubby look and loose skin give the rubber boas get their name. They never bite, but instead curl up into a ball when disturbed; they often hold the blunt tail up, and even make fake "strikes" with it. The bones of the tail are fused into a solid block that is very strong. Rubber boas often eat young rodents, and they probably use the blunt tail to defend ward off the adult rodents. Many snakes have scars on the tail from rodent bites. Unlike most snakes, rubber boas seem to prefer cool temperatures, and are often active throughout the middle of the night.Rubber boas occur widely in Washington, and can be locally common, even though they may be difficult to observe. Their populations appear to be healthy. Habitat destruction is probably the major threat to local populations of rubber boas.
Indian Rock Python
Second largest and heaviest of all the Indian snakes. Head distinct from neck and has symmetrical shields; rostrals, anterior supralabials and anterior and posterior infralabials smooth and arranged in 60-75 rows. Tail short. Body colour pale grey to yellow above and yellow below; flanks paler. A dorsal series of large walnut coloured crown saddles alternate with pinkish laterals giving a blotch pattern on the body.The Indian Rock Python has two distinct subspecies namely Python molurus molurus and Python molurus bivittatus which are popularly known as the Indian and Burmese pythons respectively. Former is distributed in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, and the latter is confined to northeastern India and Andaman and Nicobar Island.The India rock Python is distributed in the whole of the Indian subcontinent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari including northeastern India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ball Python
Ball pythons (Python regius) are found at the edges of the forest lands of Central and Western Africa. They are equally comfortable on the ground and in trees. They are crepuscular, active around dawn and dusk. Called royal pythons in Europe, here in the United States we call them "balls" due to their habit of curling themselves up into a tight ball when they are nervous, their heads pulled firmly into the center. Like most pythons, ball pythons are curious and gentle snakes.
Ball pythons typically reach 4 feet (1.2 m) in length; occasionally there are specimens that reach 5 feet (1.5 m). When properly fed, their bodies become nicely rounded. Like all pythons and boas, ball pythons have anal spurs. These single claws appearing on either side of the vent are the vestigial remains of the hind legs snakes lost during their evolution from lizard to snake millions of years ago. Males have longer spurs than do the females; males also have smaller heads than the females.
Ball pythons, like all pythons and boas, devour a variety of prey in the wild - amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and small mammals. They do not eat mice in the wild, however, and do not recognize the mice we offer them as being something edible. Thus, imported wild-caught ball pythons tend to be very picky eaters, at least initially, and drive their owners to distraction in their attempts to get them to eat something.
Ball pythons are reputed to be able to go for extended periods of time without food; wild-caught ball pythons have gone for a year or more without food until finally enticed to eat lizards and other snakes. This is not a healthy trait and must not be a reason for selecting this species. This should also make you suspicious when a pet store tells you that their ball pythons are eating well.
Buying captive-born ball pythons reduces the stress on the threatened populations in the wild and helps ensure you will get a healthy, established eater and a snake already used to contact with humans. Buying from a reputable breeder will ensure that you will get the help and advice you need to assure that your ball feels comfortable and secure enough to eat after you bring it home and let it get settled for a week or so.
With the increased popularity of reptiles as pets there is increased pressure on wild populations. In addition to the more than 60,000 ball pythons that are imported annually, ball pythons are killed for food and their skin is used for leather in their native land. For some reason, despite their low reproduction rate, wild ball pythons are the least expensive pythons on the market, generally wholesaling for under ten dollars. Imported ball pythons also harbor several different types of parasites which may go unnoticed by the novice snake owner. All around, it is better to buy a captive-born hatchling or an established, well-feeding juvenile, sub-adult or adult than an imported ball of any age.
In captivity, young ball pythons will grow about a foot a year during the first three years. They will reach sexual maturity in three to five years. The longest living ball python on record was over 48 years old when it died. Egg-layers, female ball pythons encircle their four to ten eggs, remaining with then from the time they are laid until they hatch. During this three month period, they will not leave the eggs and will not eat.
Ball pythons typically reach 4 feet (1.2 m) in length; occasionally there are specimens that reach 5 feet (1.5 m). When properly fed, their bodies become nicely rounded. Like all pythons and boas, ball pythons have anal spurs. These single claws appearing on either side of the vent are the vestigial remains of the hind legs snakes lost during their evolution from lizard to snake millions of years ago. Males have longer spurs than do the females; males also have smaller heads than the females.
Ball pythons, like all pythons and boas, devour a variety of prey in the wild - amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and small mammals. They do not eat mice in the wild, however, and do not recognize the mice we offer them as being something edible. Thus, imported wild-caught ball pythons tend to be very picky eaters, at least initially, and drive their owners to distraction in their attempts to get them to eat something.
Ball pythons are reputed to be able to go for extended periods of time without food; wild-caught ball pythons have gone for a year or more without food until finally enticed to eat lizards and other snakes. This is not a healthy trait and must not be a reason for selecting this species. This should also make you suspicious when a pet store tells you that their ball pythons are eating well.
Buying captive-born ball pythons reduces the stress on the threatened populations in the wild and helps ensure you will get a healthy, established eater and a snake already used to contact with humans. Buying from a reputable breeder will ensure that you will get the help and advice you need to assure that your ball feels comfortable and secure enough to eat after you bring it home and let it get settled for a week or so.
With the increased popularity of reptiles as pets there is increased pressure on wild populations. In addition to the more than 60,000 ball pythons that are imported annually, ball pythons are killed for food and their skin is used for leather in their native land. For some reason, despite their low reproduction rate, wild ball pythons are the least expensive pythons on the market, generally wholesaling for under ten dollars. Imported ball pythons also harbor several different types of parasites which may go unnoticed by the novice snake owner. All around, it is better to buy a captive-born hatchling or an established, well-feeding juvenile, sub-adult or adult than an imported ball of any age.
In captivity, young ball pythons will grow about a foot a year during the first three years. They will reach sexual maturity in three to five years. The longest living ball python on record was over 48 years old when it died. Egg-layers, female ball pythons encircle their four to ten eggs, remaining with then from the time they are laid until they hatch. During this three month period, they will not leave the eggs and will not eat.
Yellow Anaconda
Yellow Anacondas are smaller than their close relation, the Green Anaconda. They reach lengths of approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) and they are known to have a life span of approximately 25 - 30 years.
Their base colour is a yellowish/brown and they are covered in black blotches and rosettes. They are known to have an aggressive disposition.
Habitat
Yellow Anacondas are found in the swamps, marshes and rivers of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Western Brazil and North East Argentina. They prefer water to land and like areas that have thick waterside vegetation.
Diet
Yellow Anacondas mainly feed on birds, rodents and fish. They prefer to hunt live prey, but will scavenge for dead animals. They suffocate their prey by wrapping themselves around it and constricting. They then consume it whole and head first.
Breeding
Yellow Anacondas breed during the rainy season and usually in the water. They will have litters of 20 - 40 but as many as 100 young are possible. Gestation usually lasts approximately 6 months and they become sexually mature at 3 - 4 years of age.
Predators
Humans are the main threat to fully grown Anacondas however, young Anacondas are prey for many animals including caimans and members of the cat family.
Interesting Facts
Yellow Anacondas are also known as:
Sucuri Amarela
Paraguayan Anaconda
Their base colour is a yellowish/brown and they are covered in black blotches and rosettes. They are known to have an aggressive disposition.
Habitat
Yellow Anacondas are found in the swamps, marshes and rivers of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Western Brazil and North East Argentina. They prefer water to land and like areas that have thick waterside vegetation.
Diet
Yellow Anacondas mainly feed on birds, rodents and fish. They prefer to hunt live prey, but will scavenge for dead animals. They suffocate their prey by wrapping themselves around it and constricting. They then consume it whole and head first.
Breeding
Yellow Anacondas breed during the rainy season and usually in the water. They will have litters of 20 - 40 but as many as 100 young are possible. Gestation usually lasts approximately 6 months and they become sexually mature at 3 - 4 years of age.
Predators
Humans are the main threat to fully grown Anacondas however, young Anacondas are prey for many animals including caimans and members of the cat family.
Interesting Facts
Yellow Anacondas are also known as:
Sucuri Amarela
Paraguayan Anaconda